As usual I specify summer windsurfing on water as opposed to winter windsurfing on ice n snow 😊
This year was supposed to be the year about the foot straps. However, once again that did NOT happen. As FORCE10 from quebecwind suggested, Hatteras is not only key, but actually required in order to actually "get better". Here in Montreal, one goes windsurfing when one can, depending on work, family and obviously weather. Unfortunately I also did NOT make it down to Lake Champlain this year.
As usual, my big longboard and 8.x sails are my saviours. They can go in 20 to about 50 kph winds with some chop as well. By end of September the Mistral Equipe II XR board was used 21 out of 28 sessions; that's 75% of the time !! Since the 8.x sails get used on other boards as well, they were used 25 out of 28 sessions which is almost 90% of the time !!!
All the other longboards were sold: Mistral Equipe I, Fanatic Ultra CAT and Mistral Equipe II CHS.
The Mistral Equipe II XR is a special board in the sense that it has a LOT of float with 260 litres, is quite light since it is carbon and is fairly narrow at 66 cm. The Hot Sails Maui SpeedFreak 8.5 is also a special sail because it is made out of modern dacron and has a PVC window. This all makes it light, durable with a VERY large wind range ... This year I also purchased another NP mast to replace the one broken on the trip to Hatteras last year - 2015...
Took less videos this year, but did take the occasional one ...
Have been trying to determine what the next board down should be. Have a JP SLW92 which I almost sold until buddies warned me to keep it until I have fully managed it in order to really benefit from it - yes, foot straps ... I have taken the board out about four times this year and do always enjoy those sessions ...
Tried a SB iS 117W, but knew it was beyond me and would take some time to benefit from its amazing qualities. Traded it out for an AHD SL2 132 and am trying to get full benefit out of its qualities...Agree with "parked" on seabreeze forum that it does NOT feel like 132 litres of flotation. Oh well, time to lose weight and improve skills :-)
Most changes this year were in terms of boards and not sails ...
Not much in terms of BIG wind sessions, but am definitely more comfortable in 7-oh conditions. Just not sure which of my boards is the ideal one in those conditions. I still believe in my formula of sail size times 10 is ideal board width in terms of conditions. This works for 7-10 in any case. Formula with 10+ meter sails, 80 cm wide boards with 8.x sails and 70 cm wide boards for 7.x sails. A nice board for 7-oh is the Fanatic Hawk 135 (245x73) , but they don't make them any more :-( Was looking at the Fanatic Blast new in 2017 and it seems to cost almost $3000 !!! Around 2007 when I purchased my AHD FF 160, boards were closer to $1000 and I saw them rise to about $2000, but now they are at $3000 !!!
At the end of 2016 I purchased a 2006 Fanatic Shark 145 HRS which is 263 cm x 75 cm and will go very well with a sail of 7.x. The board was purchased as it has many options for foot strap placement. Yvente says it is a keeper and so, will need to re-evaluate my quiver in 2017...
My smallest sail is a 6.3 and I am estimating the next one down should be a 5.4 with probably a 105-110 litre board. Obviously this can be rented at Hatteras and I discovered (after big wind day :-) that this equipment can be rented from VoilOKA @ OKA as well !!
As stated, need to lose weight and improve skills. SURE hope Hatteras happens again next spring !!!
At the chalet, the BIC Dufour is in BAD shape and needs repair. Found another for fifty bucks and managed to do a clip with a bit of wind - before the board pretty much fell into disrepair. Will need to repair my original board after all ...
After writing this report ... went out @ OKA using the above home made selfie stick made from a wooden broom handle. While rushing to aid a kiter in need I broke the stick without realising and lost my GoPro 3 Silver. Oh well ... lesson learned. Good thing I still have my trusty GoPro 1.
At the end of the year I got a Pictek (GoPro copy) which I will test out and compare with the GoPro. It is about one third the price of a GoPro.