Dongo, day 4- The first foiling gybe!

Double water session today for CICCIPUT  in Dongo. The first one before lunch with a 6-11 knots southerly wind("Breva") and flat water:perfect conditions.I was sailing ok but still couldn't complete a foiling gybe.Anyway I've improved since the last time. The wand set up was still to improve, so during the lunchtime I did some boatwork.

In the afternoon the wind increased, and I went out with a gusty 8-20 knots, with some chop to make it more difficoult. I was in perfect control until 12-13 knots, but  in the strongest gusts I just tried to survive. Upwind,even with a very flat mainsail(max downhaul and kicker) I couldn't sail without backwind.I capsized on the beat even if the mainsail was fully eased.Maybe the wind was too strong then.

Another crash between  me and the shrouds on a reach, and after the eskimo roll I hit the gunwhale with my leg ! So much pain!!The wind was terrible, almoststormy, but on the way back it was a bit  lighter and I finally made my first foiling gybe!!I think the way is to  bear away softly until you can sit almost in the middle, then move the tiller extension to the new side and move the body under the boom on the new wind in the same  moment you do the last concrete curve with the rudder. When I sat on the new wing and the boat was still flat and high I was so happy!Then the problem was that I didn't turn the battens so few seconds after the gybe the boat slowed down and came to displacement mode.

In the pics some boatworks I have made.

-hiking straps lenght:they are always too long

-mainsheet bridle and blocks: the original bridle was incredibly short and there was just one block on the boom.

-main foil trim

-kicker blocks: I' ve added one block, now it's much better.