zaterdag 28 september 2013

The Downwinder. Zandvoort - IJmuiden augustus 2013

Just some day in august, the 18th 2013  we went for a downwinder, that with my surfbuddy Robin B.


Zandvoort is known as his heavy currents.  How fun it is to just go downwind every single lap!
In the early morning we both arrived with 2 cars in IJmuiden. We dropped one car at the parking and together in one car we drove back to Zandvoort.
It was quite windy in the beginning but the forecast said the wind was going to decrease fast. At the end of the morning the wind would be almost gone. So we had to hurry!! We didnt wanted to get stuck halfway.



Robin choose his quatro LS98 for this trip and his neilpryde Combat 4.7m2. As im more heavy then he is, i rigged up my 5-Oceans 5.0m2 and FLIKKA EDBOX.
 I didnt need big fins, because it was all downwind.  i placed my small 2x Xtwins 16.5 and center 14.5cm underneeth. My fave finset up so far.


The Zandvoort Locals Bart Jan and Jeroen were also rigging their brand new Hotsails,  Quad and the 3 batten sail from Kauli Seadi

 Thats looking good Mr Jeroen!
 Rigging at the Skyline @ Zandvoort
 Ready to go!


Laid back cruising down the line. Dakine waterman backpack 2Liter liquid.
#notgoingtogetthirsty




 Half way, taking a break.


 Still some kilometers to go, before the pier is in sight.

Keep on turning




 Finished the downwinder at IJmuiden. If you have the oppertunity to do a downwinder, just do it.  Its really fun. you dont have to worry much about currents, and going upwind.
 Next time we are going to do a longer  run. Probably something like Noordwijk -IJmuiden.
2.5 times as far, as the trip we did today. Who's dares to join? Let me know!


My GPS gave a distance results of 30 kilometers. A nice sunny day it was :-)

PS:  Anytime soon  Boardkings.com  will organize a downwinder.  We will go with a larger group of people and ofcourse with the BBQ at the end/finish.  Stay tuned!


donderdag 5 september 2013

Raging Ball! Island hopping @ the Razende BoL - Texel. September 1th 2013

the GPS track above!

September 1nd 2013, we did a little trip in the North of the country.
A few of my friends joined us there aswell. Im just loving those roadtrips!

 Jeroen G above rigging up his 5-Oceans 5.9m2... and his witchcraft flexxylexxy tail is ready to be abused!

 Rigged and ready to go!


 Can you see Gijs in front of the boat?   its quite a trip going to the island Texel at the other end. About 4.2kilometers a lap.
 dont go swimming in front of those big boats in the channel!
My buddy Robin on the right
 As everyone else rigged up quite big,  i chose to rig up my biggest sail aswell.
My setup for today 5-Oceans 6.2m2 and FLIKKA EDBOX 103 powered by Maui Ultra Fins 2xXtwins 17.5cm and center 14.5m2 Xtwin.

 if you look very good, maybe you  can see the island raging ball behind the black sails

 here we just arrived at the island!
 My friend Robin, enjoying the moment and all the seals.



 Robin enjoying one of hisWicky drinks ;o)  Im glad i had a dakine waterbagback with me and 2 liters of liquid :-)
 The raging ball, is empty as it can be. Only lots of seals swimming around



WARNING !!! on the outside from the pier in the middle of this picture below, some sharp iron blades or so is underneeth....be warned!

Ouch!!! 2 sharp iron objects facing up 
They went straight trough my surfboots into my feet.
quite deep i must say.  At the end of the day i ended in the hospital.
                            4 stitches, keeping me a week out of the water.