Feb 25

Lac Bay, Bonaire
18   5.5 Retro  MR118

Fully powered sessions, almost overpowered. Did a lot of bouncing off the chop in the middle of the blue water sections.

Feb 24

Lac Bay, Bonaire
14    7.5 Retro   MR118

Good session. Jibes are coming easier and getting closer to not being  stall jibes.

Feb 23

Bonaire Lac Bay

16

7.5 Retro, 6.5 Retro

MR118

Started out on the 7.5 but was overpowered - everything felt weird. Rigged down to the 6.5 and things were back to normal. Had the boom centered between the 2nd and 3rd white band on the sail.

Feb 22

Bonaire Lac Bay

15

6.5 Retro

MR118

Good session (three 30 minute fully powered, constant sailing sessions). Made most 'stall jibes' going in either direction. One key is that on the foot switch, the forward foot needs to go towards the centerline of the board, usually right behind the mast base. Moved the boom up so that the boom bar is on the third white mark on the sail from the bottom. Feels a little weird but will give it a try as everyone says to raise the boom.

Feb 21

Bonaire Lac Bay

13

7.5 Retro

MR118

25 minute session stopped by rain squall and then no wind. Port jibes seem to be coming easier. Still spinning out when pointing too high into the wind. New seat harness, impact vest, wetsuit and rash guard all worked well.

Feb 19

Bonaire Lac Bay

15

7.5 Retro

MR118

Good session. The sailing spot was almost deserted. Only a couple of other people sailing. Still doing a 'stall jibe' but completion percentage is good, especially on starboard jibes.

Feb 17

Bonaire Lac Bay

15-18

6.5 Retro

MR118

Well powered. Getting better at jibes but still not planning jibes. I am waiting too long to flip the sail.

Feb 15

Bonaire Lac Bay

15

7.5 Retro

MR118

Well powered to at times overpowered in the blue water. Today's highlight: made about 80% of my jibes including one that was almost a powered jibe. I think the key was focusing on the foot transition yesterday helped in completing jibes today. Sailed for about 1.5 to 2 hours in two sessions. Got tired by the end of each session but was able to recover in about an hour to go out again. Side note: some guy was snorkeling in the middle of the blue water channel wearing a black wetsuit, black hood. Fortunately had a red snorkel. He was lucky there were not very many sailors out today...

Feb 14

Bonaire Lac Bay

18-20

5.5 Retro

MR118

Well powered. Made most of my jibes although they were not planning. Getting the feel of the foot transition so next is doing it sooner and flipping the sail sooner. Sailed a solid hour, rested an hour and sailed another 30 minutes. Was tired at that point.

Feb 13

Bonaire Lac Bay

10-12

7.5 Retro

MR118

Got on a plane in the gusts but 10 knots was not enough. Ended up slogging back from the other side of the bay - demonstrated that the MR118 is the correct board for these conditions.

Feb 6

Bonaire Lac Bay

13-15

7.5 Retro

MR118

Well powered. Got some good runs, even made a couple of slow step jibes (a first with the 7.5 sail). Wind picked up later in the afternoon to about 17 knots and was overpowered.

Feb 5

Bonaire Lac Bay

18-20

5.5 Retro

MR118

Well powered in the blue water. Jibes are starting to connect. Starboard jibes I'm making but stepping and flipping too late. Port jibes are hit or miss, I tend to wait too long to step and am not as careful when I step on where my weight goes.  I tracked Taty Frans across the blue water - kept up with him but of course, he was on his freestyle board and didn't know we were racing :-).

Feb 2

Bonaire Lac Bay

17-19

5.5 Retro

MR118

Still good setup for this wind but chop in the middle of the bay was starting to make control an issue. My ankles were sore after sailing because of trying to control the board. I raised the boom a couple of inches in moved the harness lines together a little. Next session I will raise the boom again and narrow the harness lines a little more. Raising the boom did increase the leverage on the mast and therefore the feeling of control.

Feb 1

Bonaire Lac Bay

15-17

5.5 Retro

MR118

Good sail for this wind. Comfortably powered. Confirmed that sail size effects my jibes - made most of my jibes with the 5.5 sail. Not fully planing jibes but at least I didn't fall in. My basic approach was to carve the jibe, end up breifly sailing clew first and then flip the sail. I could see where a narrower board will be nicer if the wind gets much stronger - chop height picked up so did some bouncing around. On the other hand, maybe this wide board will make chop hops easier...