saterday 30 november 2024

Storm Bert predicted: 30 to 48 knots, SSW, but dry and very warm for time of year. The wind was quite disappointing. Sailed the Banzai 4.7 on the Grip 9.3 with MFC 21/11cm thruster fins. Low tide and south wind, so a long walk to have free wind. Further out, the wind only got stronger and it was hands full. Unfortunately, the wind dropped quickly after the first half hour. At the end I could only plane towards the beach, by using the waves to get into plane. Going out it was no longer possible to plane. With 16 degrees it was nice and warm, a little bit of sun. Because of that the water felt very fresh. [Read...]

saterday 05 october 2024

Forecast looked like very strong winds, really a storm. The morning itself the wind was a lot less. Sailed with the Banzai 4.7 on the Slate 96, later on the One 95. Demolished 2DaKine Core Contour footstraps. Except for a few small showers, it was completely dry. Especially the first hour was great, wind was the best and the waves too: top afternoon. [Read...]

friday 13 september 2024

Finally good WSW wind predicted: another evening sessions. Sailed with the Banzai 4.7 on the Wave Slate 96 with MFC 16/11 quad. Wind was very gusty, very often very strong, sometimes almost completely gone. It was tough, sometimes very hard gusts 30+ knots, other times standing still. Water from almost flat to more than 1.5 meters of waves. But despite the circumstances, nice sailing and had fun. [Read...]

friday 13 september 2024

Forecast was very good for a nice evening session at Brouwersdam south. Too bad the direction was NW and it was high-tide: the infamous shore-break. Sailed the Banzai 5.3 on the Goya One 95 with MFC 21/11cm Often beautiful and high waves. Wave riding with left foot front, little experience and front-side I can't go in that direction. Short session, still a bit tired from yesterday morning good wind again. Nice to ride wave left foot in front, I definitely need to practice more often. Waves were really nice and high at times. [Read...]

sunday 07 july 2024

Today Breda Live festival, but the bands before 18:00 were less interesting and the forecast with 30 to 35 knots was too tempting. Unfortunately I had forgot my smaller wave boards. Sailed with the Banzai 3.7 with Fanatic Grip 93, first with 18/10cm thrusters, later with 14.5/10cm quad set-up. Extreme strong wind! First impression of the Fanatic Grip 93 in these conditions is not bad. Thruster seems to give more controle than as a quad. Almost everyone found it impossible to sail or complained much harder than I did: it was really windy: 50+ kts gusts. [Read...]

sunday 07 july 2024

Forecast looked good for days, good wind in the afternoon and evening. Started with the Banzai 6.0 on the F-Cross 113 with Supercross 34cm. In the beginning: minimal, later too big and fast for the waves. Switched to the Banzai 5.3 on the One 95 with 21/11 thrusters. Jumping over both sides possible. Back-side wave riding fun. Sometimes even multiple hits on one wave. One of the best sessions of the year: lovely sunshine, lovely constant wind. [Read...]

tuesday 25 june 2024

Wind was predicted SW and would turn to south around 1 or 2 o'clock. So you want to sail before 1. Doubted between te 4.2 and 4.7. Sailed the Banzai 4.2 on the Grip 93 with MFC 20/10 thrusters. I couldn't plane all the time, wind sometimes really dropped. Wind was very gusty and turned a bit, but the weather was very nice. It was very busy with a lot of surfing buddies on the water! [Read...]

saterday 20 april 2024

Good WNW predicted, some showers in the morning, later less rain. Sailed the Banzai 4.2 on the Grip 93 with MFC 20/10cm thrusters. Nice afternoon: Wind was stronger than expected. It was only 9 degrees and with so much wind: quite chilly. I didn't wear mittens, and sometimes that was only just possible. [Read...]

thursday 11 april 2024

Strong winds forecast all day, up to 40 knots. In the evening it would start to decrease. Was able to leave work a few hours earlier. I was at the dam just before 4. Sailed the Banzai 3.7 on the Grip 93 with quad fins. 4.2 would have been better. Luckily not much rain, but a bit chilly, compared to last weekend. Was a fun session. [Read...]

sunday 07 april 2024

Forecast for 25 degrees this weekend, 15 degrees on Friday and up to 40 knots turning from S to SW wind. Sailed the Banazi 4.7. First on the Wave Slate 96, later on the Grip 93. Lovely afternoon, clear blue almost all afternoon and not cold. I'm getting more and more friends with the Grip, I'll put Dakine Core Contours on it. I find the original foot straps much too soft. [Read...]

sunday 17 march 2024

Very good wind forecast and also warm for the time of year. Sailed with the Banzai 4.7. First on the Wave Slate, later the Goya One and ended on the Wave Slate again. Another 4 seals were released, went to have a look. Not very cold, no cap or gloves needed. Lots of sun. Especially at the end there are also nice waves. [Read...]

monday 05 february 2024

Good wind forecast, SW and dry. Few surfers at the Blokkendam. Sailed with the Banzai 5.3 on the Goya One 95 with MFC 21/10cm fins. In the beginning wind was not strong. Later the 5.3 was too big. It was cloudy, certainly not warm. Especially in the last hour more and more nice waves. [Read...]

thursday 21 december 2023

First day of my Christmas holidays, 11 degrees and wind force 7 predicted: Storm Pia. Sailed with Banzai 3.7 on the Goya 81 with K4 Scorcher 20/10cm thruster set I found Pia disappointing this afternoon, 3.7 with minimum trim was just too small at the end. Temperature was not disappointing, sailed without gloves. Had no rain. Even a short bit of sunshine. [Read...]

thursday 23 november 2023

Forecast 25 to 35 knots southwest, about 13 degrees and probably dry, perfect for the Blokkendam. Not early on the dam. It was quite busy. Saled the Banzai 4.7, first on the Goya One 95, later on the Fanatic Grip 93. Sailed on until the wind began to die down and it became dusk. Amazing afternoon, not really cold yet, good wind and especially last hour really good waves. Very happy with the Grip. [Read...]

sunday 15 october 2023

Forecast was 25 to 42 knots SW Sailed with the Banzai 4.2 on the JP Slate with MFC QS300/11cm Just before high tide onto the water. First bit of bobbing, then planing. Wind was just a little too south for the best conditions. Later rain and very strong winds! Sailed until the wind was gone and had to float back to the shore. Bizarrely gusty. Bizarrely different waves, Bizarrely heavy shower. But sometimes really enjoy the waves. Lots of waveriding. If it was good, it was really really good! [Read...]

thursday 12 october 2023

Couldn't leave early, had to leave on time, but forecast looked very good. Sailed with the Banzai 4.7 on the Slate 94 with MFC 300/10cm quad fins. Good choice, especially in the beginning: great. Even sailing out already some waveriding: I don't do that enough. Back to the beach a lot of nice waves for 1 or 2 back-side hits. Many beautiful waves up to a meter high or just a little more. 2nd run in, 2 attempts front-side because the waves were so beautiful. Finished with sail on minimum trim and last bit of bobbing back to the beach. [Read...]

friday 11 august 2023

Today's forecast: 36 knots of wind from the southwest. I started with the 4.2 sail on the JP Slate 96 board with a quad setup with my new MFC rear fins. The wind was strong, great for testing out the Slate as Quad. Waves were plentiful for back-side waveriding. As the tide came in, waves got bigger, up to 1.5 meters. Eventually, the wind became too strong for the 4.2 sail: switched to the Goya Custom Thruster 81 board but then the wind had dropped. I returned to the JP Slate 96 as the wind picked up. Overall, a great day on the water. Made a mistake with the Goya 81, would have been better to use it earlier. [Read...]

thursday 13 july 2023

Finally good wind from the right direction: WSW, perfect for the Brouwersdam. Sailed the Banzai 4.2 on the Wave Slate 96, first as thruster, later tried quad setup. Not expecting that we would really get 40+ knots. Impressed with the control of the Slate 96. With 40+ knots still just golfing, board never felt too big. First time sailing the Wave Slate as a quad, I liked it quite a bit, I'll try it more often. It was wonderful to have a really good wave session again: enjoyed. [Read...]