A New Old Experience
The light wind continues, but the surf keeps rolling in. Today was a day I had to get in the water. I would have grabbed my 8.8 GPS to test, but my big boom is broken so instead I took a brand new 7.5 Fluid sample - the biggest sail I could rig. I also used a brand new Starboard Futura 133L board. Two firsts at once! The combo proved fruitful and with a little pumping I was up and planing. I enjoyed cruising outside the reef watching the big swells rolling under me. The waves looked fun, but I knew I was having more fun cruising on that gear than if I was out struggling on wave gear. Being old, fat and out of shape has it's drawbacks!
Hessel the intern was out on the Starboard SUP 12'2" and his new 4.7 Super Freak. On the inside I was slogging and he easily passed me and out pointed me. "Have a go" he said, so I did. I was completely unable to hook into the miniscule 22" harness lines on his Super Model boom but it did not matter. I cruised to the reef and instinctively flare gybed (a manouver I have not done in 15+ years!)and cuised back in gliding along. It all seemed very right and very familiar.
Being the aforementioned big wuss, I went back and got my 7.5 rig with the nice big 32"harness lines. I was back out on the water and flying. The sensation of a longboard is so different from a shortboard. To me it feels a lot like yacht sailing the way the board cuts through the water in a steady purposful advance. Shortboards are great when they are planing, but when they are not they really suck. Not so the longboard that smoothly accelerates with no awkward transition.
Unfortunately the light and wind were fading so as the sun sojourned behind the West Maui mountains it was time to call it a day. By the time I was back on the beach I was planning my next adventure on the longboard and trying to figure out where I could tie on a hand-line for fishing!
So that was my first longboard session on Maui, and it took me right back to my roots on a gravel pit 20 something years ago.It was fun!
Try it.
Hessel the intern was out on the Starboard SUP 12'2" and his new 4.7 Super Freak. On the inside I was slogging and he easily passed me and out pointed me. "Have a go" he said, so I did. I was completely unable to hook into the miniscule 22" harness lines on his Super Model boom but it did not matter. I cruised to the reef and instinctively flare gybed (a manouver I have not done in 15+ years!)and cuised back in gliding along. It all seemed very right and very familiar.
Being the aforementioned big wuss, I went back and got my 7.5 rig with the nice big 32"harness lines. I was back out on the water and flying. The sensation of a longboard is so different from a shortboard. To me it feels a lot like yacht sailing the way the board cuts through the water in a steady purposful advance. Shortboards are great when they are planing, but when they are not they really suck. Not so the longboard that smoothly accelerates with no awkward transition.
Unfortunately the light and wind were fading so as the sun sojourned behind the West Maui mountains it was time to call it a day. By the time I was back on the beach I was planning my next adventure on the longboard and trying to figure out where I could tie on a hand-line for fishing!
So that was my first longboard session on Maui, and it took me right back to my roots on a gravel pit 20 something years ago.It was fun!
Try it.
posted by Jeffrey, Glenn and Tom at
1/16/2008 05:52:00 PM
1 Comments:
The Futura is a blast to use. I've used it only once and hope to use it again soon. I sampled the 155 Litre on an unusual wind day, onshore and dark. A combination that you have to try at least once in your life. The most fun I've had in a long time.
The wind was about 20 mph when I went out at 5:45 and kept accumulating. I used the 6 m fluid bagged out and held on for the ride. The futura planes so well and is super lite.
The kiters at kite beach could only stand and watch as i hauled ass up and down their white sand beach.
Much Mahalos to Kanaha Kai Maui for affording me such an epic night ride. Being the only one on the water, except for the turtles and fishies, gave me a chance to reflect, and the Futura made this epic session a reality.
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