friday 03 december 2021
Pieter Bijl was photographed, up close, with a North Sails XOver proto. I haven't seen any pictures from that close. [Read...]
wednesday 07 april 2021
In 2019 North Sails windsurfing changed its name to Duotone. As a fan of North Sails, I didn't like it. North Sails is coming back now. Pieter Bijl has been spotted prototypes for a while now, now there are official photos. They are based on the 3Di technique. These should be lighter and more durable [Read...]
tuesday 26 may 2020
Prediction was wind until 14:00 and then decreasing. Sailed with the iSonic 101 with E-Type 6.6. From the shore, I could plane almost immediately. A little further from the shore immediately nice power in the sail. Set sailed nicely. Wind increased, sail become too big. Switched to FSW 102 with Banzai 5.3
Step on: plane, first wave: jump. Planing jibes also quickly went well. Sail feels so much lighter than the 6.6, Was good, more wind than predicted, it did not decrease, but actually increased. Nice bit of freeriding. After three days I was getting really tired, it was a good weekend. [Read...]
sunday 16 february 2020
Another storm this weekend: Dennis, strongest wind on Sunday. But Saturday also a nice wind predicted. Jurjen was already on the water. Started with the Freewave 102 with Ice 5.3 and MFC OnShore 24cm. Wind was gusty, fin not perfect for the flat water. Tested the Super Mini 103 of Jurjen, special board. Then took the Makani 26cm under the JP 102: that works very well.
Wind wasn't super, temperature wasn't cold, but certainly last hour was wonderfully sailing. [Read...]
thursday 26 september 2019
The whole afternoon a lot of rain predicted. Before the rain sailed with the iSonic 117, S-Type SL 8.3 and Busca 46cm. Lots of variation in the wind, happy with the variable outhaul. Sailed untill the showers came. In the evening, after the showers went to go surfing again: iSonic 117 with S-Type SL 8.3 and Sonntag SL-P 44cm. Nice sailing until the wind died. Several 490 masts tested. [Read...]
sunday 08 september 2019
Good prediction, from noon the wind would increase to 25 knots.
Started with the Ice 5.3: testing between the FreestyleWave 102 and SingleThruster 99. Sailed the SingleThruster 99 for the first time without thrusters: works very well. Wind increased, time for the Ice 4.7, so no more testing with the 100L boards, but delicious with the FSWF 84, used the K4 Rockets (18/12) under it. Looking for waves to jump and wave. Was a really lovely afternoon, very good wind, unfortunately no sun. [Read...]
monday 05 august 2019
After more than 15 years of sailing with DaKine Core Contour footstraps, one is broken, one that I bought used. I have many sets, but this is the only one with cracks. Also the other 2 of the set are still have no signs of cracks. [Read...]
sunday 04 august 2019
Good wind predicted: 20 to 25 knots, so of to Zeeland.
Used the Ice 5.3 al day. Sailed a lot on the JP Single Thruster 99 Pro, tested with different fins. Also used the FreestyleWave 102 to compare. Sail was often a bit big. Weather was delicious, nice and warm and the sun showed itself. Today, the SingleThruster 99 was more fun than the FreestyleWave 102.
Was nice to sail together with Martijn and Marvin. [Read...]
sunday 21 july 2019
Had missed a beautiful sunday afternoon, so took a couple of hours of from work to go today.
My 2nd Warp F2010 8.0: Training sail used for the first time.
Tested with the iSonic 117 with different fins: Z-Fins 42cm, 44cm and Sonntag SL-X 43cm. Wind was minimal, but with a few pumps I could planing. Not a lot of pressure in the sail, but planing. Clear blue sky, delicious. Little getting used to the curve of the Severne boom.
Delicious sailing, 8.0 quite the time not full-power, looking back the 9.0 would have been better.
The sun made it a very lovely day. [Read...]
sunday 23 june 2019
Wind predicted for all the day: 14-18 knots. In the morning, it was already 20-24 knots. So quick to the sea. On arrival wind was gone. All afternoon sailed with the iSonic 127 and Warp 9.0. Tested several fins: Z-Fins 46cm, Select 50cm, Sonntag 48cm and Boss 49cm. Wind fortunately picked up and allowed me to sail. Good light weather test day. [Read...]
saterday 22 june 2019
Storm wind predicted, good time to make a choice between the AHD Power Wave 253 and the JP Single Thruster 75. Crowded at Kabbelaarsbank. Sailed all day with the Voodoo 3.7, started with the JP FSW 84, soon switched to the AHD Pro Wave 253, then the JP Single Thruster 75. Switched a lot between the AHD and the ST 75, see which board is better in these circumstances. What a day, real summer storm, not cold, and gusts over 45 knots. Especially after the rain was gone it was very good. [Read...]
sunday 09 june 2019
Ascension day 2019, Sun and wind. Started with the Duke 5.9 on the FSW 102 and MFC 29cm. Soon switched to the Single Thruster 99 to test it. Opted for the MFC 22cm with 12cm K4 Ezzy thrusters. Waveriding is very nice. When the wind decreased took the FSW 102 again, sailed until I could hardly plane anymore.
Top day, sun came early, so delicious weather. Pretty fun waves.
Could do some good testing of The Single Thruster 99, but need more time to test, the FSW 102 is a really good board. [Read...]
friday 31 may 2019
My 7 year old Neil Pryde UXT 48cm is broken, does not lock well anymore. Time for a new one. I am looking for a long 46cm+ extension that is solid and easy to use. That is not so easy in 2019. The Duotone extensions are too short, other brands have other disadvantages. [Read...]
sunday 19 may 2019
Went sailing with the slalom competition guys at Oostvoornse Meer. Wind direction NNE, which is not at all favourable. Used iSonic 127 with Warp 9.0 and Z-Fins 46cm. Used a Power XT 2.0 for the first time: impressed. Wind was extremely gusty and turned a lot. Not a very nice session. Worked on the trim of the 9.0 a bit. Not really nice sailing, but instructive. [Read...]
sunday 12 may 2019
A few years back, Pieter Bijl has made a very good video about camber and batten tension tuning. What is the correct tension, how do you adjust it to etc. Useful for everyone who is sailing with cambersails. [Read...]
monday 15 april 2019
Cold Weekend, RegioCup zuid cancelled, some free sailing. iSonic 127 with Warp 9.0 and Z-Fins 46 S--: lots of lift. Then used the Boss 49cm, more familiar. Stance on the board not good. Only in gusts enough to plane. At the end of the afternoon more sun, warmer and wind slightly better. [Read...]
sunday 24 february 2019
Nico Prien also has a very useful vlog about sail trim. Good summary of the main trim points of the sail. Also interesting for non competition surfers. [Read...]
sunday 24 february 2019
Nico Prien is one of the young PWA surfers. He often makes fun and instructive vlogs. Especially his technical vlogs are instructive. This one is about board trim. [Read...]