Our mighty editor has been out in Hawaii for the last week, recently joined by test editor Paul Griffiths, to get the inside scoop on what’s new for 2011, welcome Golden Ticket winner Francis Goodwin, research future pieces, take some pictures  – oh, and maybe grab a quick sail… Here’s his first gallery and blog, also available at www.davewhite.me

07/04/2010

It’s been five years since I was last on the island of Maui and I wondered if I was looking back though time with rose tinted glasses as I claim it’s my number one favorite spot. Well, I arrived a week ago with word that Jaws could be working for my first day, and true to my memory Maui didn’t disappoint.

It’s not the first time I’ve seen this monster breaking but it’s never been through a lens – having just picked the first spot and pressed the button I don’t think you can take a bad picture here. Sure, you can move around and find the sweet spot that will end up capturing the wow factor – but you could take a picture on a mobile and still look at it in awe.

I’d been there for an hour clicking away but what I really wanted to see was John Skye and Finn Mullen take there first taste of Jaws. These things don’t always happen so easily and the time was slipping by, it may have only been midday but I was already getting itchy feet when Nayra showed up to watch her boy’s big day.

Grasping the opportunity I lowered the tripod and placed it in front of Nayra: “Tell John I’m sorry but I’ve got to get on the water”. So long as I can windsurf I’ll never make it as a real photographer as the pull of the water is too strong.

So far we’ve had wind every day though the first three days on a 4.5 wasn’t the gentle break in I was expecting. Not complaining but after the last months off the water I’ll confess the fitness wasn’t up to the mark. Day four already felt so different and as we came off the water this evening it’s almost back to normal, a good sign for next week.