Wednesday, May 09, 2012
Figuring out this GoPro Thang...
I built a cheap tail mount for my GoPro, which hasn't seen a whole lot of action yet... so I am trying to learn how to use my video editing software, and figure out where the best mounting points are. Unfortunately, we've had not so much wind, so I've only played with the boom tail mount. Keen to try a mast mount next.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Annual Pilgrimage
I haven't posted in a long time... perhaps since I haven't sailed in a long time.
Looking forward to 2 weeks in Hatteras for a lot of reasons! Staying oceanfront week 1 in Avon, then heading to Rodanthe for week 2, soundfront. It's gonna be sweet!
Bring on the wind!
Looking forward to 2 weeks in Hatteras for a lot of reasons! Staying oceanfront week 1 in Avon, then heading to Rodanthe for week 2, soundfront. It's gonna be sweet!
Bring on the wind!
Monday, December 05, 2011
Too much rubber.... can't breath....
Probably sailed my last session of 2011. Decent day for December, a couple weeks ago - almost 10°C and wind about 20-25kts from the south. Sailed at RMC with my buddy Greg, a virtual spa for windsurfing. Other clubs should take note of how awesome this place is.
The Session
To be honest, I've had better sessions, but damn, how often can you sail in 10°C air in December! What a treat. It was a bit light to start off, but soon ramped up to decent 4.7. The chop cleans up nicely as it enters the bay, so generally, you either have relatively flat water, or nice small rollers. It's pretty clean, and definitely satisfies a freestylers demands for a nice mix of flat, but with the odd ramp for shove-its and loopage.
Quite bizarre, but I've landed more 540's here than anywhere else, but I'd say I've never landed a single grubby. Something is wrong with me.
One thing that is noteworthy. The rubber. Oh my god the rubber. It is for sure a novelty to sail this late, but in one way, its a huge pain in the ass. All that damn rubber to put on, take off, and generally withstand for the whole session. It makes it very hard to breath, never mind sense where your feet are...
The RMC Windsurfing Club
The RMC Windsurf Club is situated in the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston, sandwiched between the outlet of the Great Cataraqui River to the west, and Navy Bay and Fort Henry to the East. It's a small bay, maybe 250 m wide or so, and tucked away just a bit so the place works best on a southerly, but you can still get out to the main Kingston Harbour on a southwester.
So what is so special about the place? Well, first off, it's actually got a bit of a scene going with lots of keen cadets partaking at any time of the year (consider Mark, another sailor out yesterday, learning waterstarts in ~8°C water). This is quite remarkable for Kingston, where the scene has dwindled to a select few holdouts, including moi. The place is situated on a rocky shoreline, but alas, connect together a whack of floating docks and voila, you have the easiest launch on the planet. Step right on the board and go!!! Now, tack onto that a clubhouse building with rigging space for a couple sails, an anemometer, a hot shower, and a sound system, and BOOM! Deeluxe! It's a pleasure to sail here!
Wanna know what else? It's a club, complete with lots of learning kit, and its open to the public. Talk about a sweet place to learn! I think this website is a bit old, but check it out here: http://www.rmcwindsurfing.com/
Other
I think Greg, Mark and Gen sailed again yesterday, Dec 15. Cranking southerlies again, probably 30kts +. Hardcore for sure! Happy Santa sail guys!
 |
| RMC in early December... Photo by Craig Butler |
The Session
To be honest, I've had better sessions, but damn, how often can you sail in 10°C air in December! What a treat. It was a bit light to start off, but soon ramped up to decent 4.7. The chop cleans up nicely as it enters the bay, so generally, you either have relatively flat water, or nice small rollers. It's pretty clean, and definitely satisfies a freestylers demands for a nice mix of flat, but with the odd ramp for shove-its and loopage.
Quite bizarre, but I've landed more 540's here than anywhere else, but I'd say I've never landed a single grubby. Something is wrong with me.
One thing that is noteworthy. The rubber. Oh my god the rubber. It is for sure a novelty to sail this late, but in one way, its a huge pain in the ass. All that damn rubber to put on, take off, and generally withstand for the whole session. It makes it very hard to breath, never mind sense where your feet are...
 |
| Gregger ripping a jibe on the inside. RMC. Photo: Craig Butler |
The RMC Windsurfing Club
The RMC Windsurf Club is situated in the Royal Military College (RMC) in Kingston, sandwiched between the outlet of the Great Cataraqui River to the west, and Navy Bay and Fort Henry to the East. It's a small bay, maybe 250 m wide or so, and tucked away just a bit so the place works best on a southerly, but you can still get out to the main Kingston Harbour on a southwester.
So what is so special about the place? Well, first off, it's actually got a bit of a scene going with lots of keen cadets partaking at any time of the year (consider Mark, another sailor out yesterday, learning waterstarts in ~8°C water). This is quite remarkable for Kingston, where the scene has dwindled to a select few holdouts, including moi. The place is situated on a rocky shoreline, but alas, connect together a whack of floating docks and voila, you have the easiest launch on the planet. Step right on the board and go!!! Now, tack onto that a clubhouse building with rigging space for a couple sails, an anemometer, a hot shower, and a sound system, and BOOM! Deeluxe! It's a pleasure to sail here!
Wanna know what else? It's a club, complete with lots of learning kit, and its open to the public. Talk about a sweet place to learn! I think this website is a bit old, but check it out here: http://www.rmcwindsurfing.com/
Other
I think Greg, Mark and Gen sailed again yesterday, Dec 15. Cranking southerlies again, probably 30kts +. Hardcore for sure! Happy Santa sail guys!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Weekend was a ripper!
Killer weekend. Finally. The shite year-of-sucky-wind seems like a long time ago after this past weekend.
Saturday: 35-45kts SW. Sailed Mac's at Sandbanks. Not as clean as I've seen it, but love sailing op'ed 3.7 since that extra power is helpful in getting back at the wave for a smack.
Sunday: 25kts ish, WSW. Sailed Mac's a bit again, but tired from Saturday. This fat ass is a bit much for 4.7 on a 76L waveboard.
Monday: 30-45kt treat, WSW. Sailed Emily St in Kingston with my old mates for a change. Great times! Started off in solid 4.2 in building waves, then nuked to op'ed 3.7 again and the place just lit up. Big rollers for jibing on the outside, making them oh-so-smooth, then legit frontside waves on the inside for 1 or 2 hits full power. Loved it!
Thanks to Craig Butler for the photos. Some more of his are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wavespirephoto/
Sandbanks:
Emily Street:
Saturday: 35-45kts SW. Sailed Mac's at Sandbanks. Not as clean as I've seen it, but love sailing op'ed 3.7 since that extra power is helpful in getting back at the wave for a smack.
Sunday: 25kts ish, WSW. Sailed Mac's a bit again, but tired from Saturday. This fat ass is a bit much for 4.7 on a 76L waveboard.
Monday: 30-45kt treat, WSW. Sailed Emily St in Kingston with my old mates for a change. Great times! Started off in solid 4.2 in building waves, then nuked to op'ed 3.7 again and the place just lit up. Big rollers for jibing on the outside, making them oh-so-smooth, then legit frontside waves on the inside for 1 or 2 hits full power. Loved it!
Thanks to Craig Butler for the photos. Some more of his are here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wavespirephoto/
Sandbanks:
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
'Rip'-hood to Fatherhood - The whole thing.
Here is the complete Rip-hood to Fatherhood article, as per my previous 3 posts, but available as a much easier to read PDF. Enjoy.
LINK
LINK
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
'Rip'-hood to Fatherhood Part 3/3
Well, this is the last of it. If you've enjoyed the write-up, let me know in the comments please. Feedback appreciated.
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