Gliding in the blue

Friday 4 27.

There was a Hot Sails film-shoot for the 2008 sails. 10.30 at Hookipa was the time and place for the "business meeting".
Me, Glenn, Dioni Guadagnino and Taka (Japanese sailor that gave name to the windsurf move). Tom Hammerton joined us later on for the speed sails shoot.
Just being is such company was a great honor.

This one inspired the title.


The day was gorgeous. I had the longboard with me and, even though there were no 2008 Superfreaks to show, I didn't miss the opportunity to sail an uncrowded Hookipa (3 surfers out when I first got out... they seemed pleased to watch this new thing... maybe they were windsurfers...).
Ok, I may risk to state the obvious... Hookipa is not the best for longboard sailing. At least not the right at the point! Too fast and steep...
I wanted to ride a few lefts at Middles, but there were too many surfers and i didn't invade their space...

Backside ride at the point.


Glenn shortly joined me and for at least half an hour we had Hookipa all to ourselves, before the others showed up. It was so nice...

Look at the glide of the longboard again.


I was riding my new 12.2 Starboard longboard. Here you find a short write-up of a test I did a few weeks ago.
Not much to add about the board... it's a sweet board that works great in small to medium waves. Prolly not as comfortable in really big stuff (like logo to mast), specially if choppy.
This time I had a huge central fin and two side fins. Great drive in the turns, but a bit slow overall. Got to try a smaller central fin.
I went out on a 5.0, because it was 11.30 and I knew the wind would have picked more (as it did). The sail size on a longboard doesn't really matter... or at least doesn't matter as much as it does on shortboard. Overpowered is a bit uncomfortable. Underpowered is not a problem.

Signature move.


Try to erase all you know about wave riding on a shortboard if you're getting to sail a longboard for the first time. The lines you do and the things you do to achieve them are completely different.
If you're a longboard surfer (SUP even better), then the shock won't be that much...
Leave all your aggressiveness and radicality on the beach and bring in some style, smoothness and relaxation. And this is the most difficult thing to do...

Look how my back foot is on the inside rail. Footstraps would not allow that.


The reasons I got these photos on my camera is that I hired one of the lifeguards to take them... What you're looking at costed me a 12 pack... whatcha think? Worth it?
Here are the other ones...

Hitting a mini lip.


Later in the afternoon they gave me a Fluid 6.0 2008. I first put it on my slalom board and reached some ultrasound speeds and then I switched to a 91l wave board. I caught a few backside lefts at Lanes and then I saw the videographer leave his position on the rocks.
"Well, I guess we're done", I thought.
Sailed back to Hoo and caught a logo high lonely beauty that only wanted to be ridden...
The wind had dropped enough for most sailors on shortboards and 5.0s to get back in. I was on a 91l and a 6.0... I was planing most of time and I could easily catch a bunch of head to logo high waves. Of course the wave riding on a 91l board cannot be particularly radical, but it was perfect after the longboard. Plus, I didn't want to wipe out with a brand new all monofilm 6.0... and thank god I didn't! Instead, I had an unexpected huge amount of extra fun...

I don't know how long I sailed, but I was just as tired as happy. We all enjoyed a cold beer sitting on the rail talking about the waves and commenting on the girls that were passing on the beach...

Overall, a grand day. Five stars.