In my never ending search for the ever eluding free time when it blows I finally got it after months of waiting.

Had a blast in 17-20 knots on the Kona One with a KA 6.4 Kult on the local Queens Lake, the board flies! True planing on the fin and feet in the straps for the first time in near 20 years! What a hoot, it all come back to me really quickly. This board's a great confidence booster, sure it's a big mutha but once it picks up its skirt it really takes off. I'm really impressed with it and the sail especially when it loads up.

Unfortunately my fitness level is down and I tired really quickly, the old mid '80s Gaastra Wave harness contributed to most of the tiredness as after one fall the thing was nearly around my armpits! Being a little larger than back then around the middle doesn't help. The end result was the harness lines seemed to have lengthened by 4" due to the chest high hook. I was man handling the sail in most runs which killed my arms and back. Nevertheless I was enjoying the feel of planing again even if the runs were cut short due to me sheeting out to rest my arms. If that harness stayed down it would have been a much different story.

Front straps were easy to get into but the back ones were more difficult as this is the first board I've ever sailed with 2 parallel rear straps and they are wide apart compared to my old single rear strap wave board. If there was a single strap I would have found it as my foot instinctively found its way a little forward and between the 2 rear straps and missed them altogether! I would have maintained more speed and longer runs if I found those rear straps (+ being hooked up properly). Just have to retrain my brain, having a strap off centre feels really weird. But all good and all positive progress, I can still sail heavy winds! Yay!

Waterstarts in that kind of wind came back to me so quickly too, they were a doddle even with the big floaty arse of the Kona One and mine! I was stoked I could still do them confidently and without thinking. Terrific confidence booster.

A few more fast runs on flat water to get around handling a modern rig and my gybes half sorted and I'm off to the ocean again and really test myself in breaking bumpy water. I'm having a ball. I've been away way too long!

flipper4444 said...

....There great boards, and there doing a good job bringing guys back into the sport, wich is awesome.

It's been doing everything I want in light winds, so it is a surprise it actually honks in stronger wind. That stepped tail is a great idea, it shortens the board by around one foot and responds well to foot pressure at speed. I might take the daggerboard out and see if I can point the bugger without it. It has the rail length to do it. Good practice for when I go "outside" and to train me to get back on a shorter board or dedicated wave longboard (no centreboards). As Big Kev used to say, "I'm excited!".

And then you will have to change your name to "Sinkinagain" !!

Great to hear old son, your hooked again and will have to join those pesky Marauders[}:)]

OBTW, can I have my DVD's back please?

nosinkanow said...

Had a blast in 17-20 knots on the Kona One with a KA 6.4 Kult on the local Queens Lake, the board flies!

Hi nosinka! You mentioned Queens Lake? I don't suppose that's Laurieton's Queens? If so, where did you put in and how did you find it? Not too shallow? Decent runs or fairly short? Thank you!

needsalt said...
Hi nosinka! You mentioned Queens Lake? I don't suppose that's Laurieton's Queens? If so, where did you put in and how did you find it? Not too shallow? Decent runs or fairly short? Thank you!

Yes it's at Laurieton. More recently I've been launching from the Sailboat Club at Laurieton but previosly from Bob's Creek side of the Pacific Hwy when I lived in that area. Although shallow for a lake its size it would be around 7' at the deepest rare holes and the rest an average of 5'. Near no risk of grounding your fin anywhere once off the mostly muddy banks. Depending on wind you can get very long runs, the lake is no less than 5klm along the widest part and around 3klm across. It's not a bad spot to sail. The local speed sailing guys use this lake often and have done over 35knots so it's OK.

KenHo said...

And then you will have to change your name to "Sinkinagain" !!

Noooooooo! If I ever feel I can use it I still have the same board as I did back then waiting to be dusted down and sank even more. It'll take a hell of a lot of wind to get me planing on that thing again. But nice if it happened.