I declared yesterday a mental health day and took the day off work to go kite flying. The conditions were almost perfect at Rabbit Island with a gentle sea breeze which freshened throughout the afternoon and the low tide providing a big wide beach in the middle of the day. I took the opportunity to fly the 12m2 F-Arc I bought second hand at the end of last summer. The F-Arc is classed as an advanced kite-surfing kite (not specifically designed for bugging) and everyone I've talked to who has flown one says pretty much the same thing. Usually something like "oh... thats a scary kite". So I've been working up the courage to fly it for months. Dave, who I bought it off, was selling it because he was heading home to the UK for our winter. Coincidentally, Dave, having just arrived back from the UK, turned up at the beach yesterday just as I was gearing up to fly it. He gave me a hand to launch it. He was flying a very nice looking 10m2 Venom in a purple black and grey colour scheme. Anyway, I don't know what I was worried about. The F-Arc is an awesome kite. It seems to have endless speed. The faster you go, the faster it wants to go. The hard part is slowing it down! And the jumps....well. I've jumped with C-Quads and they simply pick you up and as soon as you reach the zenith of the jump they put you back down just as quick. I've jumped with a Venom which picks you up and puts you back down as soon as you tell it to by pushing the control bar away from you, thus depowering the kite. The F-Arc however, picks you up and floats you there, as if to say "I'll put you back down when I'm good and ready to put you down." You just seem to hover. I can see why the kite surfers love them.... and I do to ;)
Dave's new 10m2 Venom. I love that colour scheme!
As the wind picked up I also got out my old 6.3m2 bent-spine C-Quad for a spin.
The weather was pretty warm. Dave cools off in the surf.
I'm heading back out there today and picking Dave up one the way. I'm so glad it summer and the sea breezes have returned at last.
9:19:24 AM 
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