lulls: 6
    average: 14
    gusts: 16

By the time I escaped my cubicle and got to the lake, the wind had backed off a bit. Laura was already there with the 6.4 rigged and ready to go. Practiced heli-tacks, pirouettes, sail-body 360's. Successfully did my first boomerang. Found it more natural to do from the port tack, but with a little practice, got it working on the starboard tack. I was fascinated by this move, trying to figure out what makes the sail sometimes go all the way to the water, hang around for awhile, and then come back...while other times, it didn't stray very far at all before coming back. Not sure yet what makes the difference in the way it behaves. Sometimes the rig even goes all the way around to the other (windward) side of the board and then comes back. You could probably turn this into a transition by stepping around to the front of the board and grabbing the rig on the other side. I'll try that next time. I probably tried the boomerang around 30 times. I'm thinking that this seemingly tame and simple move may have some cross-over skills benefit to other moves such as the vulcan, in that there will be less fear in letting go of the rig.

Didn't try any catapults with the big board this time, but I looked at the WindSport article once again for the first time after having tried the catapults. I was under the false impression that the catapult did not simulate the full range of motion of the forward loop, but after looking at the photo sequence of the catapult vs the loop, it seems to be pretty much the same range of motion...the only difference being that there's a board attached to your feet in the front loop. It makes the forward loop seem much more approachable now.

Post-session beer: Real Ale Blanco Pale