First autumn storm
Big storm expected, up to 9 bft.
Wind was south in the morning and was going to turn north or northwest.
Jurjen had parked at the restaurant, conveniently, the trees stop wind and rain, on the shore a lot more pleasant.
Wind wasn't WNW yet, so on the shore there was no wind at all.
Jurjen was on the water with 6.8 freerace but came off to rig: 5.3. In terms of wind I could have taken smaller, but had to use the FSW 102 to get away from the shore in the wind shadows.

JP FSW 102 with Banzai 5.3 and Makani 26cm
Close to the shore bobbing, on the edge of the shallow water: wind, a lot of wind, together with Jurjen to the other side, the further we came the stronger the wind. On the way back exactly the other way around, closer to the shore less wind than on the other side. On the other side the water was also flatter, so I stayed in the part where there were more waves and the wind just a little less. Luckily I had been back at the Grevelingendam the other day, so I got used to the waves, which are really different than at the Brouwersdam. I had quickly trimmed the 5.3 to over maximum, and even then it was usually too big. But I almost always had enough control to sail, jump and ride waves. Especially on the edge of the shallows there were quite nice waves where 3 back-side hits were possible. Due to the strong wind, I was going upwind too easily with the Makani 26cm, it felt I was always trying to get downwind. Actually I had to go to a smaller sail and board, but with the wind direction that was not yet possible.

JP FSW 102 with Banzai 5.3 and Wave Warrior 24cm
A lot better than the Makani, more control, more pressure on my front foot. Still got upwind easily enough. Could still waveride without getting spinouts. Only the turns were wider, but not necessarily worse, but took a bit of getting used to. Until the wind suddenly got stronger and I could no longer close the 5.3: the wind had turned to WNW and was coming through really strong. Time for smaller kit.

AHD with Banzai 4.2 and Wave Warrior 22cm
Doubted between 3.7 and 4.2. 3.7 could, but looking at the water, the foam didn't seem to blow away yet, so the 3.7 is not necessary, and if the wind would turn back slightly to West the 3.7 was too small to come back to the shore.
First meters from the shore minimal, but once in the deep water: strong wind. Quickly to the shore for more trim in the 4.2. With the 4.2 finally trimmed over max it sailed very well between the hardest gusts. But those strongest gusts were really extreme. They were mostly at the beginning of the showers. At first, needed to get used to the AHD. From the 102 switching to the narrow AHD took some getting used to, but once used to it even planing jibes sometimes went well. Jumping, back-side waveriding. Enjoying it. Grevelingendam can sometimes be really nice spot.
Sailed until I was almost exhausted. With even more chance of wind on the weekend, that's a good idea.

Steven and Yentel
It was very quiet, only someting like 10 surfers on the water. Steven Van Broeckhoven and Yentel Caers were both there for a while, Yentel came when Steven had just left. Both have shown why they have (been) world champions and what is possible on a lake. Steven started with a planing Pushloop, and that on the Grevelingen, so clean so much control!! Then some Forwards, Backloops and the necessary freestyle tricks. When the wind turned and increase, Steven went home. Before I got on the water with the 4.2, Yentel arrived. We almost went on the water at the same time. Yentel goes downwind, then upwind in the waves and jumps high, higher than I have seen anyone else jump at the Grevelingen. While descending: Forward! Yentel did a Staled Forward on the Grevelingen! Then followed the Backwards, Pushloops etc. His Pushloop was higher than Steven's, but clearly less controlled and certainly not planing. Thanks dudes for the show! Downside, you spontaneously think you can't do anything yourself.

Unfortunately the wind in the beginning was W and not WNW, so near the side no wind at all and so I could not sail with a smaller kit. But nevertheless, I had a good time. Steven and Yentel provided the extra entertainment.

Grevelingendam

Present: Jurjen

14:45 1.5 hour Wind: W 12/30 kts
Board: JP Freestyle Wave 102 Pro - Makani Kaku 26cm
Sail: Goya Banzai Pro 5.3 - Goya Eightyfive Pro 400 - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  Worked very well, sail was often large, but still had control. Fin was big, could get upwind far too easily, no pressure on my front foot at all.
Jumping went well, quite some nice waves for back-side wave riding. Only in the hardest gusts was it really a challenge. A 4.2 would be much better. But because the wind was still too west, there was no wind near the shore thus a smaller set was not an option.
16:15 0.75 hour Wind: W 12/30 kts
Board: JP Freestyle Wave 102 Pro - Select Wave Warrior 24cm
Sail: Goya Banzai Pro 5.3 - Goya Eightyfive Pro 400 - AL360 E3 Carbon 160-220
  In the middle of the Grevelingen the sail was too big, but near the shore no wind, wind was still too west. The Wave Warrior 24cm gives more control than the Makani 26cm. More pressure on my front foot, more control. Board seems to turn less tight, maybe it's because the board no longer turns over my back foot.
17:15 1 hour Wind: W/NW 28/45 kts
Board: AHD Power Wave 253 - Select Wave Warrior 22cm
Sail: Goya Banzai X Pro 4.2 - Goya Ninety Pro 370 - AL360 E3 Carbon 140-200
  Took some getting used to, switching from the 102 to the 75 liters, so much narrower. 4.2 was quickly trimmed to the maximum, gusts were sometimes really extreme. In the hardest, 40+ knots gusts, it was impossible to sail, but otherwise it was fun. Waves got even higher, even more better wave riding and jumping. Control of the AHD was great again.