Huge swell rolled into Hawaii the last few days. So big… the whole world is feeling it . Just drooling over some of the footage. Its just amazing. Heart stopping stuff.

A few links

http://www.youtube.com/user/oxbowater

http://windsurfmaui.blogspot.com/

http://www.amauiblog.com/

http://mauisurfreport.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wBRjCJSOVc&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii1GnwojLVs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ZlBmpjB-Vc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii1GnwojLVs&feature=related

The highest wind speed ever recorded was at Mount Washington, New Hampshire, USA. On April 12, 1934 it reached a record breaing 231 mph.

Commonwealth Bay, at George V Coast just south of Australia and on the coast of Antarctica, has been named by scientists as the windiest place in the world, the “Home of the Blizzard.” Here masses of dense cold air from high on the Antarctic Plateau slide downhill toward the coast. The shape of the land tends to funnel and therefore concentrate the winds so that they often accelerate to speeds of over 200 miles per hour.

Wind by anual average in the USA: http://rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/maps/chap2/2-01m.html

It’s that time of year to check out your gear. Cold water sailing is fun and exhilarating but a little more care should be given to safety. Here is a quick guide to checking and changing one of the most critical parts of the rig. The mast base (Universal joint). I have three. All three of the tendons holding it together needed to be replaced. I am changing them twice a year now. They cost $25 a piece but can save you and your gear. When they break one, often the board gets damaged at the same time. Imagine loosing a part of your gear… sail or board!!! Spend the money… its worth it. Bruno at 2rad has them in stock.

Dont forget to check the line that holds it all together. You can sail back with this setup even if the tendon breaks.

To check the mast base tendon you need to disassemble it. Mine are done with an Allen key.

 Insert a thin screwdriver shaft into the hole that holds the screw.

Bend the screwdriver up and down and check for cracks on both sides of the hole. This is a fairly huge crack, If you even see a nick, its time to change it.

 Another killer day at Sandbanks. The wind was even stronger than last week. The beach was a onshore but we decided to give it a shot. Nuclear and gusty onshore conditions were chalenging but far from fun. Packed it up and headed for macs. Dreamy down the line sailing with sky high jumps. It was amazing!!! Great gang of sailers and yet another great video form Nicolas Chapleau.

Here are my pics:
http://www.photostockplus.com/home.php?tmpl=51&user_id=9&action=viewalbum&event=334509

Here is the rocking video form Nicolas Chapleau:
http://www.vimeo.com/6978391

Sandbanks Windsurfing Sept. 28th, 2009 from Nicolas Chapleau on Vimeo.

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WOW… An incredible trip with lots of laughs screams and thanks… rather than prayers. Jack, Pierre and I piled everything we had into the truck and stacked a few extras on the roof. We arrived in Picton confident and ready to sail. The meters were already reading 37 mph and the forecast was for it to build and shift a little making it even more heavenly. As we passed through the town of Picton we received a call from Marc who was already on the spot. He said it was blowing strong and the waves were about 6 feet and clean. Al of a sudden we got hit with a massive rain storm… even some lightning. Some trees had fallen and the streets had some flash flooding.

By the time we arrived at West point (mac’s) it was just about flat!!! The wind had dropped and I wasn’t even sure if 5.4 would work. 85 liter wave and 5.4 turned out to be ridiculously big… one tack and I was back. Jack came in shortly after on his 5.0. No way!!! I rigged a 4.7 and decided to hold on even though it was still way too much. Needed a little getting used too I figured… a massive jump and my back strap tears open. The screw had broken. I floated her down from a pretty massive jump and brought her in. Actually that was the best thing that happened to me because now… on 3.7, I was finally tuned!!! Sweet!!! Still over, but blasting off super clean waves and ripping it down the line.

Most of the pics you see are on the inside. The outside waves where actually unbelievable!!! The scene on the water was surreal. Towering waves and all around rippers doing their thing over and over again. Tuns of room and good sections no matter were you sailed it.

Day two was light but had nice waves in the morning and perfect down the line conditions at athol bay. Shlog out and surf in. Still a lot of fun. Look out Robby Naish… Canadians sail frontside too

Sbx is world class and man did we have fun, lots more to come hopefully.

I know I should clean out the photos and not post so many but I just cant do it. I am oooing and ahing the whole time. They get bigger as you go along. Enjoy!

Here are some more photos from a local photog and sailer http://www.flickr.com/photos/ottawaws/sets/72157622486838446/show/

Resorting to the web for a fix and man… What a fix!!!

Josh at home from umi pictures on Vimeo.

Awesome day! What a surprise. I arrived at the beach around 1:30. Stuck at the border coming in and then a ticket. Man I was pissed with myself. I have been caught in the same place three times and we all know they are there. Just after the border. But after the wait coming in… I needed a rest stop. Then I had to sit there waiting for my ticket. The wind blowing and I was seeing colors I had to pee so bad.

Only one windsurfer on the water when I arrived. Did not seem to stay long. I had about 3 hours to myself with the kite gang. Funny thing. Its actually less crowded feeling with the kiters. No one stuck in the breakers or in the jybe areas. It was seriously awesome to have it like this and the wind… what a surprise.

5.4, 85 Wavecult. Some really fun breaking waves. I think I am going to be spending more time at the beach

The wife and kids had a great day too. Little shopping in Platz for the first three hours and then they came to play with me in the water My kids are becoming serious waterman. Noam was insane on my board surfing and Mila was loving the waves. Thanks to my beautiful wife for taking pictures.

http://artzy.photostockplus.com/slideshowall_311408

Amazing day!!! This place is so beautiful and delivers world class sailing. We were all over powered in the morning and then it became a little more on off.  After 3 hours on 5.0, 4.7 and 4.2 for Pierre that was fine for me. The waves and place are so beutiful its real easy to have fun. The morning waves where the best. Giant clean rollers towards the east side of Atoll bay. Insane jumping and super wave riding. JF Lemay and Tom took a quick drive up to the West point to check if it was working for down the line sailing but it was too offshore. Fish and a few others were out there and it apperantly did not look too inviting. Mid day, the wind shifted and cranked again for perfect side shore conditions in the bay . I think it takes the water a while to clean up on the shift so it was a little messier but come on, real side shore down the line sailing… nuts!!! Trust me when I tell you its bigger than it looks and its WELL worth the drive!

Check out Pierre in the high jump!!!

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Actually quite a surprise. I didnt even bring my small gear. Rode it out on a 5.4 90 liter lol. Still… was able to surf and have a good time. We were all stupid over power but I stayed out for almost 6 hours strait with only one quick stop to guzzle some water.

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