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Today I wanted to visit Grassy Point again because a couple of the guys and I are looking at a potential new launch, but it will be a lot of work to get it. We are scouting the situation, and it involved sailing up to the "Playground" AKA "Jump City".
It was too light today to be very choppy, but I had a lot of fun. I usually don't like to sail light wind at Grassy Point because of the potential for running aground with the longer fins I use with my bigger sails. However, Dick W. loaned me a prototype fin (wooden, glassed over). It's 12" long and very thick, with lots of chord.
On a day with the average about 20 mph, I would have normally used my 7.8 and 17.5" weed fin, but maybe my 6.6 and Carve 111 with a 14.5 or 15.5 inch weed. However, I didn't want to chance hitting something so I used Dick's fin with my 6.6, but on the Allstar 70. This is an uncommon combination. Today, though, it ROCKED. I had a blast.
The fin has a lot of lift, it really punches you onto a plane quickly, and in a lot less wind than you'd think. The rumor is that it won't be as fast as a high aspect, thin foil fin, but I felt like I had plenty of speed. I wasn't getting killed by the guys I was sailing with, at least. So, the fin did it's job. I may buy a carbon version of it, too, depending on the cost. The darn thing might even work with my 7.8... might have to try it. Sounds crazy, I know, but I had fun with it. If it works for me with the 7.8, then it will open up sailing Grassy in light wind, which is pretty common (it will blow at least 10-20 here 5-6 days a week, and stronger 2-3 days).
I actually sailed from just before six o'clock to almost eight o'clock. It seemed really late, but it was good wind. We had a good time.
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