Views of Oahu from offshore

A quiet Saturday morning to kick off a 3-day weekend. Good time to catch up with blogging.
I have been busy with a course at work. Being plugged into teaching on a very short notice (upon my return from Singapore), I went through a 3-week intensive course. Now that the course is over, it is time to catch up with windsurfing.
In fact, yesterday (Friday) afternoon was turned into "administrative leave," meaning "Go Home at Noon!" I sailed for some five hours in the afternoon off the south shore, starting from Hawaii Kai and getting about half way toward Diamond Head. It was my first time to sail far offshore on this side of the island. As I left the coast, water gradually changed its color from emerald green to deep blue, and flying fish accompanied my little solo journey.
The race board I got in January lets me go upwind. Yesterday, the wind was rare Southwesterly. From somewhere off Kahala Iki, I turned back and headed downwind toward Portlock. Riding swells back was so much fun, and I could do a much better job at that than now-popular paddle-boarders. (The sail gave me lots of boost than a paddle could.)
During past few weeks, when wind was regular (but light) tradewind (northeasterly), I also sailed off Kailua outside the reef. Circling around the "bird shit" island, heading east toward Waimanalo, the new board has really extended my reach. It has been a good light-wind sailing practice as well.
A friend and a UH engineering professor, Reza, took a few lessons from me, and has been coming along to sail for a few times. He has reached a point where he could sail on his own, follow others to watch and learn some new techniques, and break the barrier into the intermediate level--which many novice windsurfers fail to do (and quit the sports altogether). But, he needs to get his own gears, transportation, and habit to go sailing, in order to get better.
Back home yesterday evening, left-over steak served well on top of salad for dinner. A few glasses of cabernet and DVD performance of Chic Corea and his Electric Band concluded one of my better Fridays.