First wave!!!

[Califoilia]

... "The first few were to just stop paddling in circles".

How the hell do I stop paddling in circles??? Any suggestion other than paddle outside in?

Slightly weight the side of the board you're paddling on (using the biggest dang "fin" you'll ever have or need on your board). That will lean the foil/wing slightly, and turn you in that direction...which will offset the yaw of paddle strokes on that side that are pushing you in the other direction. The result...you paddle straight for as long as you like.

You can also offset your handle/blade a little bit so they are slightly offset from one another (this one is set up for a goofy footer to paddle on the left side of the board)...

This will give you an automatic "J" pull when you reach out normally in front of you, and the offset causes the blade to pull back towards the board, and then straight down the side of it as it follows your natural stroke path.