First evening session of the year: klotsbak
N to NNE 16 to 21 knots predicted. On arrival 17 knots on the beach, only 1 other, light, surfer on the water with 5.3 and he could barely get planing. With the 6.0 I would definitely have be the same, just to be sure took the 6.6 to be able to plane easily. But then I had to take the iSonic 101, slalom at Perry's? With these wave/chop? Could be a challenge.

iSonic 101 with E-Type 6.6 and SL-X 34cm
First put all the footstraps to the right size/position for my new thicker winter shoes, front even a bit wider to be able to get in and out easily.
On the water, the 6.6 soon turned out to be on the big side, clearly had to have a little more downhaul and outhaul: that helped. Outward, the waves were tricky, cross to the sailing directionf, sometimes steep. Beyond the measuring post it was chaos, waves from 2 sides, not possible to timing, trying to relax a bit and letting board run free over everything. Even gybing was difficult because, as you almost always would go over a piece of steep chop. Almost no planin gybes, but fortunately hardly fallen in.
With the SL-X 34 sometimes some effort to keep upwind enough. Really had to consciously get upwind. Also partly because I often had to go downwind a lot to miss the highest wave peaks. Wasn't exactly standing relaxed on the board either: rear footstrap was too big, so harder to keep control over the board.
After an hour it was time for a sip, good time to adjust the footstraps and swap the SL-X for the Busca.
During the break Kees came to ask if someone could lend a Powerbox Wave fin. A Belgian windsurfer, (because of Corona illegal at the Brouwersdam?) had forgotten his fin, not a good idea. Of course I'll lend it to you, you hope somebody will lend you something if you ever forget something.

iSonic 101 with E-Type 6.6 and Busca 34cm
After my short break the wind was clearly less, was even briefly bobbing. Wind came back slowly. Water was also clearly flatter and less chaotic, or that Busca works so much better that it seemed so. Speed was obviously better. With the footstraps better adjusted, it clearly sailed a lot more relaxed. Winds continued to increase, sometimes making the 6.6 too big. At the end sailed a lot of runs with the other surfers. Then you really notice how big the speed difference of that iSonic is compared to the wave boards. Especially if you can find a somewhat flatter piece of water and let board go really hard. Outwardly, the difference was a lot less, then the waveboards just sail easier through this kind of chop.

Clear blue sky, good wind, at the start not cold, but as always with Perry's: tricky chop/waves, especially with the iSonic.
Fortunately no shore break today, so easy water in and out, that is is not always the case at Perry's.

Brouwersdam Zuid

16:00 1 hour Wind: N/NE 15/18 kts
Board: Starboard iSonic 101 - Sonntag SL-X 34cm
Sail: North E-Type 6.6 - North Platinum(11) 460 - AL360 E3 Carbon 180-230
  Tough conditions. Waves/chop at Perry's are always tricky with Northern winds, even if they aren't that strong. With the iSonic, it was even more difficult. Really took a while to find trim and get used to the conditions. Especially going out, against the sometimes steep waves, it was difficult. Rear footstraps were also too big, so I wasn't comfortable on the board. SL-X 34 feels a bit on the small side for this wind, sometimes had to do my best to get upwind. Especially going outward, I often went downwind to avoid the steepest peaks of the waves.
17:00 1.75 hour Wind: N/NE 16/21 kts
Board: Starboard iSonic 101 - Busca Slalom 34cm
Sail: North E-Type 6.6 - North Platinum(11) 460 - AL360 E3 Carbon 180-230
  Rear footstraps a bit smaller: much better. Busca also ran up wind better, which made it easier for me to sail my own courses. Wind seemed to decrease a bit, so a little less trim in the sail. Water also a bit calmer so that I could easily let the set go fast. Until the wind picked up a lot again, sail max trim and the 6.6 in the gusts sometimes even too big. Especially back to the beach it was a bit downwind: very nice full-speed. But outwardly, it was even heavier.