Kiss My Ass, Kick My Ass

Had a lovely solo session at Towd Point on Sunday (woulda been a buddy sesh with Bill if he arrived earlier...he launched as I packed it in.)  6.2 on the 109 in sunny onshore NW...modest ramps on port, and a sweet jibatorium on the inside on starboard.   I missed the East Coast Windsurfing Festival, so I decided to have my own little event.   How'd I do?

The High Point:   Had a duck jibe so sweet, so glorious carve lost not a drop of speed switched feet late perfect posture...at Starbucks they now serve a duckjibe-ccino with four extra sugars that has a photo of me printed on the cup.  OMG did I throw a duck jibe.  "Kiss my ass," I thought as I ripped away from the duck.

The multiple Low Points:  My planing upwind 360's attempts.   On vacation in Bonaire earlier this year, I learned the carving upwind 360.  Or at least I was taught the steps of the UW360, and hit six of them dry.  Would I be able to recreate my successes?

Not on Sunday.  Oh man.   

"Sheet out while carving upwind."  Check

"Luff the sail as you bring it forward."  Check

"Head over nose of board."  Check

"Backwind pivot jibe."  Check

"Drop back into counterbalance position."   I (slam) am (slam) trying (slam) to find that (big slam) position (you get the idea.)

Kicked my ass.   The Starbucks guy saw it all, so the duckjibe-ccino was cancelled before they even printed up the cups.

Comments

[kurt]

extend front arm and pull in w back arm as nose goes
through the wind for 360 uw. its just a heli tack
that keeps going around

[Michael]

Hi Kurt...I have no trouble getting the nose to come around (see my comment about "backwind pivot jibe")...I was getting launched as the sail repowered on the original tack. I suspect I was reaching back too far on the boom with back hand...that (combined with a powered 6.2) gave the sail too much leverage. I was hitting them in Bonaire on a smaller sail. Thanks for the thought though!

[kurt]

sounds like you got it then. big sails take more skill. congrats!