The first seven outings

Playing catch-up here. But I'll be more diligent in the future.

Day 1. Purchased gear in Albany...(somewhere between Auckland and NY...closer to the former). Took gear to Bayswater (on the mainland) where there are two windsurfing and kitesurfing shops located in a building reminiscent of that house hanging off the cliff in Leminy Snicket. I complemented the gear purchase with a new harness (these have seriously evolved to provide great support, control, and comfort), booties, and a helmet. I also bought a used shortie wet suit.

Stan of Bayswater windsurfing recommended rigging the biggest sail. Not having windsurfed for serveral years, I opted for the middle sail (6.0 m^2). It looked like new--all crispy Mylar and battons that are tensioned with a hex key instead of those outdated buckles and velcro. Stan (a 5 foot 5 man of Asian background) shook his head and re-rigged the sail for me. "More tension!" he demanded. When he was done, it looked ready for the show-room: no wrinkles anywhere; no loose lines; a well-tuned foil.

So. Down the boat ramp at Bayswater into the water. This was about 20 feet below the grass above where I rigged (and the winds were considerably stronger and steady). Thus, the windsuring rebirth began with the typical pumping of the sail in an attempt to beach start off of a mossy boat ramp. Stan kept pointing toward the "outside" where the wind was better. Yes. This was my goal. But it was an onshore wind, new gear, unfamiliar waters, and a slightly heavier sailor than back when I was ripping across the Carribean off of Puerto Rico. After 30 minutes, I was forced to uphaul the sail (the shame), and tack a few times to get into the better winds. The first tacks are what I consider "safety" or "survival" tacks. The clew of the sail gets a bit wet--maybe even immersed--but I stay on the board. The Fanatic Shark is bigger and more buoyant than my old gear, which matches my bigger and more buoyant build. Stan is right. Offshore 100m the wind is better (still a lot of holes), but topping 20 knots. The board planes well and I my feet instinctively find the footstraps. Bayswater is a good location despite some sandbars that catch the skeg due to the outgoing tide. Stan says the onshore breeze is not the norm, and sideshores are much better. Doesn't matter as it is good enough to plane and explore the harbor. A couple successful jibes. A couple not. No catapulting. Minimal cavitation and spin-out (only once leading to a minor crash). Like most of us, I overdid it and stayed out 4 hrs on the first day back. I completely traversed the bay, entering the mouth of Westhaven marina on the Auckland side of the bay. Had some challenges pointing into the wind to clear the pier at Bayswater marina on the way back. It took about 3 attempts--one included "tripping" the board over a moored boat's anchor line (I wasn't about to go downwind of that obstacle). In the end I made it back to the boat ramp--which was now at low tide. Stan and another local were heading out (on 6.4 m^2 and 7.0 m^2 sails, respectively). I was encouraged to see both of them dealing with the gusts. A character onshore decided to derig and not go out, but asked me if I saw any mermaids? I replied I had seen a pod of dolphins on the ferry ride in that morning--but this oldtimer wanted to know about mermaids. "Sorry--none sighted." Stan and the local came ashore and we rinsed off the gear and Stan brought out three cans of Coke. It was good to sit down, exhaused, and share a beverage with the locals. For a first outing in serveral years it was a success.

Links to Bayswater webcam and windreports (as well as a few other localities)
http://www.windsurf.co.nz/windsurf_weather_alk.asp