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Bird was blowing a bit more than expected today when I arrived (with my new home-built trailer!). Others were rigging their mid-5's so I put up my 6.6. The first 30-45 minutes was a blast. I even had to put a little more outhaul on when I sailed up and out a little bit.
I was following Mike M. on a run up to the third island and out that way when I had to stop to put more outhaul on and I lost him. So I headed back and saw some other sailors out on the other side of the channel closer to the launch. I sailed out to join them and hit bottom as I was crossing... like before. I guess I'll have to be more careful. I walked a little and got across, and had a blast sailing out there for about 15 minutes before it started dying. That turned out to be it, though I was able to sail in just barely not planing.
While I was out across the channel I had one of my best jumps ever, and one of my best jibes ever. The whole time I was getting little chop hops -- maybe not even getting the fin out on some, others just a little above the water, as I graduate to bigger stuff and get more comfortable. Out on the other side where the chop can be bigger (but not huge) I launch off of one two foot face and was definitely a couple of feet off the water. I landed it well, too. It was pretty neat. I'm looking forward to some windier days with bigger chop -- and the Bay. Getting a little air is refreshing -- it gets the blood flowing and you forget to look where you are going, you are just looking for ramps.
The jibe was sweeeet. A big problem I was having while jibing was the carve, I wasn't going for it enough. Actually, it wasn't so much not "going for it" but not having my foot far enough on the edge of the board to really get it carving. WHOA! When you do it right, it is awesome. I could feel the edge of the board and when I put pressure on it, I really came around fast, threw the sail, grabbed it and was off again. You could hear me hollering three miles back to shore!
More of that tomorrow, hopefully!
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