Nice way to get 2008 started (finally!!!!). Auckland has been seriously lacking wind - and after a very unsuccessful 7 hour drive on Saturday with all the boys to Ngunguru to try it out (Where did that forecast 35 knot SE wind go anyway?), today was brilliant.
Great to get out with Loomo, Bruce, Chris and Johnny W - although gutted to hear that Chris smoked me while on The Dark Side.
Sail and board choice was a lottery at the start of the day as it was super gusty on the course - and picking the angle from the cliffs was tough. Really wasn't sure how it would work out - but the TBII 58 and 6.5m Vapour worked a charm. Just gotta love that board.
First run of the day at 140 degrees off - through rolling chop - felt like a shocker and I was stunned to see the 37 on the dial. For the first 2 hours, the turn in onto the course was just ugly. The best approach appeared to be to charge at the marker pole as fast as possible while trying to get the apparent wind forward enough through the turn in to get down the course. The NASTY rolling chop didn't help much. Damn nearly hit the pole once as the shoulders of the board dug in through the turn - no idea how I kept that one together....
By the time the flat water arrived (at dead low tide) the best of the wind had gone and so had my legs - and unfortunately the end off my sensational Broosie 30cm fin (sorry mate).
Still. Great day.