First Week of Feb 2011 - Wind Waves and mild too - Demo new stuff

Since the beginning of the new year I have had some kit burning a hole in my van with no real opportunity to use it in anger. 
Friday afternoon saw South westerly 20ish knots, a rising tide down and at a packed Bluff car park.  More than a few sailors and kiters had crossed the boarder in search of a good swell to make use of the stiff breeze.  On the windsurfing front the Ezzy Wave Panther 3 5.2m had its first outing.  Usually the Ezzy wave sail have developed with a steady refinement of materials over the last few years with never any real change in luff or boom measurements.  A reduced luff length on the 5.2 made me pay more attention when I rigged it for the first time and although there is something very appealing about using a new sail for the first time - This years model seemed much lighter in the hands with the same exceptional performance of previous years.
Current Board of choice is still the RRD Wave Twin Ltd V2 90 - Great volume distribution has created a board that makes you feel like you can wave ride with the best of them.
First Sail of the year  - with less wind than expected on the water managed a handful of quite exciting waves that seemed to close out really quickly most of the time - generally just bogged around in the line up & some fairly tame swims. All in all a good way to get back into the water.  Many of the usual suspects - With Chris Jackson staying dry due to still nursing a bruised foot but getting wet:
Alan Mitchell, Tim Kellam, Marcus Way, Danny Pollit,  Daniel Macaulay, Lee 'Pasty' Harvey, Will Bennets, Steve King, Blackie, Harvey....  And many more...