Heavenly day at sea
Ascension day 2019, Sun and wind.

Doubted about the amount of wind, Jurjen was using his 7.8 slalom, but had not brought anything smaller, Menno with 7.0 slalom. Wind was more than predicted.
To be on the safe side: Duke 5.9 on the FSW 102 and MFC 29cm.
In the beginning wind was not that strong, little pumping and bearing off wind to get planing. Fortunately the wind picked up quickly, had to increase the downhaul of the sail a couple of times.
Nice waves to jump with left foot in front (not my best direction). Sailing back in, could do some waveriding. The FSW 102 is quite a big board, so it doesn't want to turn tightly, but it's very nice alround, early planing.
Perfect conditions to test the Single Thruster 99 properly. Difficult to choose correct set of fins, eventually for the MFC 22cm with 12cm K4 Ezzy gone, because they have 3 degrees toe-in.
Stept on the board and was planing instantaneously. Took a bit of getting used to the different pressure on the fins, very different than with the FSW 102, also the lift is very different, boards is much more in the water. But after a short time you get used to it.
Menno get back onto the water again. Menno sailed behind me with his slalom gear, clearly did not have his set under control, so let's see if I could keep up with a thruster waveboard.
I was able to stay ahead, because his slalom set bounced to much over the waves, that made him slow.
Getting back in, did more and more wave riding. The ST99 sails nicely, stance on board is pretty pleasant. Board with these fins can turn very tightly. Because of the volume the board planes through almost everything.
ST99 's footstraps are somewhat worn, plastic in the footstraps is torn, next time DaKines on it, that will make the ride even more pleasant.
Wind started to drop quickly, many surfers stopped, but I had a big sail with the 5.9, went to shore for the FSW 102, reduced the trim in the sail and I could plane again.
Wind continued to diminish, sailed until I could not plane anymore.

Super day, sun came early, so delicious weather. Pretty fun waves. Perhaps the Blokkendam had been better, because of the high tide it was a long walk to get into the water, almost no beach in front of the dam left.
I like the Single Thruster 99, need to test a bit more, the FSW 102 is also really fine board, but only less good in Golfrijden.

De Kouse

Present: Jurjen, Menno (flappie)

12:00 0.5 hour Wind: SW
Board: JP Freestyle Wave 102 Pro - MFC Freewave 29cm
Sail: North Duke 5.9 - North Platinum 430 - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  Set worked really well from the start, Freewave 29cm worked very well. Wind picked up quickly, so increased the downhaul and outhaul of the sail. Could easily get upwind, waveriding was ok at best, but board just can't make short turns.
12:45 2.25 hour Wind: SW
Board: JP Single Thruster 99 - MFC 2K 22cm/K4 Ezzy Asymmetric 2x12cm
Sail: North Duke 5.9 - North Platinum 430 - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  First time with good winds with the JP Single Thruster 99. Board turns clearly better than the FreestyleWave 102. Waveriding is a lot easier, although of course it is still quite a big board. If I did my best the board was still pretty fast too. Went upwind very well height, maybe even something too easy, next time need to try bit less less fin area under it. Control was really well, jumping less easily than the FreestyleWave. Only footstraps, the original ones that have become too flat, are not really fine, next time use a set DaKine Core Contour.
15:15 1.25 hour Wind: SW
Board: JP Freestyle Wave 102 Pro - MFC Freewave 29cm
Sail: North Duke 5.9 - North Platinum 430 - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  Little less trim and set was still workin really well. Speed good, little jumping. Sailed untill the wind dropped too much to keep plaining.