Chris Parkinson (1758km):
5526 days ago Started at the local (Island bay) at 1100 for the turn of the tide. Wind was 5-15 from sw to nw. After a couple of hours of sitting in wind holes I had a break. The wind filled in to perfection but on returning to the water I slipped on the exposed papa rock, sat hard on my arse, and smashed the tail of the titan.
Only option left (Starboard W58 in garage having fin box realigned) was the Yellow submarine (Cut down Strapper 88L 53cm wide salom) that floats like a brick. Since I only had the 7m Redline with me that got attached as did a stupidly small slider 29 fin.
Well since the tide was coming in I cheated a bit and played in the shallows in the bay with the cliffs increasing the windspeed due to the funnel effect. Only a 260m run in the bay but I had not sailed this board for about 18months since I added a bit of V to the tail. Very surprised that the fin worked so well as its area is so very small. Even managed a run out of the bay down towards Kauri Point MOD wharf before I realised I was doing 20 odd knots in 15k wind on a board I have never been able to jibe because it preferred to sink rather than turn.
Well I did managed to jibe it and picked up the alpha for the day. John (another local windsurfer) came down to the beach and pissed himself laughing at me sailing back with water at mid-thigh with the board acting like, well, a submarine.
So not stunning results but it taught me a bit about fins and unlikley combos...
@ Martin - hope you are now feeling better after that crash on Thursday - sorry you could'nt sail - that CA would have smoked!!
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