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Recent Excursions / Sessions Blog:

Jan 28th - Feb 1st Left Morzine after another great day (Monday) at 16:30 and made EuroTunnel terminal by 00:40 still in ski gear. Blue sky steep chute deep powder in the morning and then weather closed in big time mid to late afternoon.....video here of some of the action.

Great guide Gulliame (aspirant guide) - who really found us some great lines, six of us in the group Monday and worth every cent, don't understand why more don't do it!  And pleased to say skiing fat skis improved big time when I changed from soft touring boots to still alpine ones............

Below one of the chutes we did



Dropping in

Route down from the dropin

As usual quite eventful, had two slides on top of me on Saturday - could have fecking killed the idiot who set one off above me (tried to catch him up to belt him) then in a gulley one of our team set one off which was enough to take my skis away - but only small scale - but still had the bowels moving (almost)........... so not too bright, guide was a tad embarrassed about it all!

Jan 10th Little video of Sunday's action.....Good fun up at Findon in the morning. Think we did about 11 or 12 descents which are only about 55ms vertical but steep enough to get some decent lines - happy days - video here.

Jan 8th Snow !! Friday went running up & around Chanctonbury though at times some of the trails were nigh on impassable with almost thigh deep drifts, on the whole it was possible to run in the tractor trails where the farmers are dropping off feed for the livestock, but where the tractors had not been it was damn hard work as very few and in some parts no one had been there.

I started the run off is quite foul conditions but every now and again the sun would come out and it was superb. Once up at Chanctonbury the cloud came & went making for some great scenarios........truly great to be up there.........only hassle now have a knackered calf .....but one of the more memorable days........
Some more pretty pictures.....

Jan 6th Snow !! Wednesday, went out on the touring skis from Hill Barn up to and around Cissbury. Lot of effort for not much reward as coming back down was very lame.....but still great to be up there! Just as I started out crossing the A27 temps had dropped & black ice was starting with the net result of lorries being stuck on the slight hill. Later on traffic was running ok........ Probably the most snow I've ever seen up on the Downs - pretty pictures here.

December Actually did not manage to get out all this month, as we only had two days of real wind. I missed a great day on Sun Dec 6th as I was up to my knees in mud doing the Duck Pond Waddle, but managed 22nd overall!

Nov 29th Mad maxed 4.0 session at the Cafe earlier. Classic S/SSW'ly fair sized to very big out the back with clean flat stretches between them. About twenty or so out all having a great time. And in the end was not as cold as Saturday........but wind chill well down so winter wetsuits etc, mind you it is nearly December!

Nov 28th Scored a good session up at the Cafe. Went 4.7, was ok for a while then wind filled in, so whilst others changed down just grunted on the out/down hauls. Managed some reasonable turns/smacks, with some decent faces further out, sort of reverse of Lancing, can't complain really have had a good week of riding - then into running gear and up on the Downs with a mate for 6 miles, ended up knackered...........

Nov 27th Lancing was frustrating, had 45 mins or so of decent cross shore wind n'waves but no where near as good as Wed/Thurs, as more people turned up the wind dropped. Couple of kiters spent quite a while in the water getting back in. Lucky for them the Coastguard were already on the scene and were able to monitor the situation.

Nov 26th Again down to Lancing.........not the best session of the week but still some sweet turns by S Coast standards over an hour or so, wind very gusty in and out of the showers. Feeling very weak from bad guts, hopefully will clear through by tomorrow............Wait and See in the morning, but as I type this (22:45) another wild squall ripping through!

Nov 25th Another good session.....Somewhat ironic in that from where I live and usually sail I travel to Lancing, and then Gareth who lives more or less on WideWater at Shoreham, he too chooses to sail Lancing again, and neither of us were disappointed as it was better than yesterday!

There must have been about eight of us out, a few being blown off the water as the wind steadily increased, with most of us on 4.0's. Why Lancing? The main buzz is the Down The Line (DTL) wave riding, with the WSW'ly wind being at just the right angle to the waves it's not too difficult to string a large number of turns together, sometimes into double figures (again) on some fair sized faces.

Eventually the wind went more onshore (SW'ly) and after I packed up went up to the Cafe where quite a few were out, but the riding was no where near as clean, mainly because the wind was SW'ly. So whilst we have the current conditions we're in danger of becoming "boring" wave snobs, but we'll try & make the most of it!

And Kiters, I don't think you need to worry that the PoleSurfers are going to invade Lancing, just that swell conditions at the moment mean in a WSW'ly at low to mid tide Lancing delivers the goods, anyway hardly any kiters have been out there the past couple of days!

Nov 24th Great session at Lancing. Arrived down there around 10:40 and quite a few "faces" were there. Went 4.7 & 74 Twinser, at first swell & waves seemed disappointing after the last few days but after about ten minutes either me or the waves got a whole lot better. The WSW'ly wind picked up with others changing down to 4.0's and it seemed that every run back in you'd be able to string a fair number of turns/smacks in, often well into double figures as the angle on the wind was almost perfect. Big Gareth, I'm pretty sure said to me that he had his best wave ever, and something about more than 15 bottom turns............

Came back had a cup of tea in the Cafe watching quite a few out. Although waves looked good, and bigger out the back than at Lancing they weren't delivering such good riding potential.

Monday 16:15 Some great riding.....
Just back from the Cafe and around a handful (all three Nicks) were out really making the most of the waves. Bottom turns almost in double figures. Almost cross off, making it light on the inside and then stacked once further out, and some very big faces......no need to go far when conditions are like this. I'm having to pass on today, ankle sore and ears really need  to dry out! Cam Online (though busy!)

Superb in the end!
Yesterday session started off helping a mates wife who catapaulted just as I was about to launch, twisting her ankle as her foot stayed in the straps, hopefully just a bad sprain. Wind was S'ly and at first it was really good fun, wide open stretched and some decent ramps then wind started to kick in and some huge gusts came through. Came in to apply down/out haul to the 4.0 as others were getting blown off the water. Had a few squalls where it was nigh on impossible to hang on and then one almighty squall with rain like hail, that must have been when it gusted 58mph! [see stats]

The rocks as ever provided some shelter, then for around half an hour it was interval sailing again, going out for a few runs then back in again as another crazy squall hit. Then wind started to veer SW'ly and then WSW'ly the weather cleared and we had a cracking hour or so of great sailing. Out the back waves were huge, I along with a few others all got taken out by various "rogue" waves, at times almost scarily big.  

Finally called it a day up at the Cafe, and then had a rather challenging down winder back home!

Nov 20th Reasonable session launching from here, 4.7 & 74 Twinser sailed up to the Cafe where a handful were out. Fair sized waves/swell and nice flat stretches plus smooth faces made up for the grim weather. Then sailed back home, de-rigged and in the shower within 10 minutes, sailing from here does have its advantages!

Nov 19th 5.2 & 74 Twinser, more like 5.8 & 95lts, though a fair sized swell to play in. So much for "It's great when it's like this, grab a quick couple of hours .........etc". As ever grab it whilst it's there like the morning patrol(s) did today and ended up with a good maxed session!

Nov 18th Cafe mid afternoon yesterday counted over 20 sails out, quite a few up from Hove. Turned out to be a "Classic Cafe" session, great rideable waves and constant wind. Some really good DTL was had, saw some great wipeouts from Nick the Plumber :)

Nov 16th I managed a very sweet session, started off going 5.2 as I thought wind was dropping, stupid or what, 40 mins later struggling with a 4.7. Had some very good rides in nigh on 100% sunshine, bliss!

CBBC Pier Jump
This has to be the best "edit" yet ! And if you've not seen them, pictures here by Eddie Mitchell & BBC Video here

Nov 14th A Day to Remember Morning started off with Lewis & Jake out on the water first beating the windsurfers and putting in huge air. Then young Sam Darkin was first out from the Cafe on a 3.7. I went 4.0 with others opting for 3.7's to 4.2's. There was only a handful of us out. Was quite mangeable at first, though I had a major scare out to sea as I gybed on a big face, lost it and my kit was carried off by the wave. Swam like feck to catch it, just about got it and another wave took it. I must have been at max heart rate and really did think it was all going pear shaped.

Little shockwave movie of Jake & Lewis here. and windsurfers later (pics snapped by local Press photographer Eddie Mitchell) here

Few more runs on the 4.0 and the wind really picked up, so most of us changed down, that was a 3.3 for me, others on 3.5's. So all on small sails (apart from Phil who stuck, somehow with his 4.0), and still was too much at times. All we were able to do was a couple of runs, then come in for a rest and then back out again and for a few more then back in again. Don't think I need to "big" the conditions up, let's just say the Worthing Ankle Biters were a challenge :)

I don't think I can recall it being so windy for so long, ususally 3.3 weather lasts all of 45 minutes but today was just insane. Tremendous rush!

Just heard from a "Client" who repairs beach huts that nine huts went for a walk today, five decided to go across the grass with debris everywhere!

Nov 13th Bit of a non event yesterday, went to S'ham & initially had a good 40mins or so 4.7 & 74 Twinser playing waves. Then wind dropped, waited around, packed up just as the wind came through again!

Nov 12th Quick splash n'dash session, well powered 4.7 & Twinser 74, bit of a laugh blasting along with Dangerous Dave Kiter. No "rip" up this way unlike that reported from Shoreham!

Nov 6th Mid / late afternoon yesterday rather over powered session. Not quite windsurfing, more like interval training, rigged too big (5.8 & 105FSW) so beat out to sea, then beat up to the Cafe then manic off the wind reach(s) [ sorry kiters :) ] back to WeatherCam HQ then repeat 5 times, & wind gusting high 30's - was a good work out, now don't have to go for a run!

 
After our trip to Kimmeridge on Wednesday (see below) thought yesterday could produce even better conditions than we had - and yes.....see here!

Great "Road Trip" to Kimmeridge. Was on a par with a good "Powder Day" in the Mountains. Some very big waves to play on outside of the bay and decent sized lines inside the bay. Solid 5.0 weather with sunshine in the morning, though the big guys (Dave White etc) were on 5.6's, and then in the afternoon stronger winds in the squalls & heavy rain with resulting "holes" as the rain tracked through.

Nov 3rd Thought I'd timed it well again, going 4.7 around 13:30 was good for around 30mins then started getting hard work chasing what wind was left, was also a fair old rip on the inside up here....should have gone earlier but it was so foul.

Nov 1st Today actually timed things to nigh on perfection, rigged in anticipation of a partial drop in wind speed as the earlier incessant rain was easing and clearing sky out to the West - as I more or less launched (4.7 & Twinser74) rain stopped, wind went more W'ly and had a damn fine couple of hours, letting the down/out haul off a couple of times maximising the dropping wind. Few others out, all of us enjoying some very nices lines breaking a fair way out, really good session!

Oct 24th Well considering up to Friday the forecasts were all suggesting that Sunday was not going to better day I don't think anyones complaining! After a bit of an indifferent start, wind did fill in and 7m kites and 5.0 - 4.0 sails with a reasonable wave provided a good session. Only complaint was that it was at times a wee bit too busy up at the Cafe, (few near misses) suppose we'll just have to wait for gnarly old mid week 35mph day with just the "local" crew out safe in that we all hopefully know what we're doing on waves etc & even Dave on his kite :)

Oct 24th Today very much a game of two halves, miserable and soggy in the morning and then verging on a summer's day mid afternoon. I passed on a second session and ended up kicking myself walking up to the Cafe to see everyone making the most of the conditions with a reasonable swell rolling in. Then back home sacking out doing some "armchair/sofa" sailing in the conservatory watching people still out right up to 18:00 as a couple of kites flew past the Cam off on a downwinder.

Earlier on was one of the first out, and was not exactly inspirational so sailed in a tight pinch all the way to LA and then a decent blast back off the wind on 105FSW & 5.8. Feeling quite weak after a "bug" got to me this week, positive is that lost 1/2 stone!

Oct 22nd Not a bad session, started out on 5.2 & 74 Twinser then changed to 5.8 & 105 FSW, sailing upwind to get out the back resulted in riding some quite big faces then off down wind riding what ever was on offer, back on the inside was quite light, and steadily worse as the tide came up.

Oct 20th Today looking through various reports most had disappointing sessions. For me with the wind dropping (09:30) just as I was out there, what with the "Evil Tack" and a bit of a down wind current with the tide on the push was hard to get going, not helped by being on the Twinser & 5.2 - bit bigger kit (85lt & 5.5), probably would have been alright.


Moon Beach Oct 9 - 16th
5 days out of 7, 5.8 / 5.2 weather for me, Jai and Mrs WC 4.7's - few blog reports below.

Moon Beach last week scored 5 out of 7 days - Trip Report & Photos here

Very chilled out
No dolphins today (just can’t get the staff), couple of hours well powered up. Wind is at its strongest at 11:00 so does sort the hangover out and there have been some big ones!
Yesterday, sailed up wind with Moon Beach / Shoreham Phil for around 45 mins then good down winder back. Three dolphins made a brief appearance but didn’t stay for long, though Mrs WC again was sailing with them!

Sailing with Dolphins! Fantastic day maxed on 5.2 / Jai & Mrs WC on 4.7's. Slightly less wind today, went 5.8 but others still on 4.7's. Noticed a few jelly fish out to sea and commented on that to Phil who said "that's good as they're Dolphin's food" and sure enough about half an hour later about 3/4's of mile out about twenty to thirty of them.

I went off on a down winder with them as they were surfing the rolling swell. They seemed a wee bit timid of me, but Mrs WC has them sailing with her almost playing with her board. Life doesn't get much better!

Oct 3rd Saturday was not too bad up this way around high tide, started out on 5.2 then down to 4.7 and could have been on a 4.0 - but it was very gusty [see stats]. Waves not too bad in the end and some DTL to be had though some of the sailors out at the Cafe should read up on rights of way / wave etiquette etc!!

Sept 16th Road trip on Wednesday to Kingsdown (North of Dover), that really was a bad call....sorry guys. Faith was restored in sailing (and enjoying) port tack when we came back via St Marys and had a really good, all be it brief session there, great waves & DTL.Read [more]

Sept 5th - Team(s) Ezzy & RRD 1st & 2nd
Great result in the Team Tag Race at the National Windsurfing Festival at Hayling against much stronger teams of well known Pro Sailors for North, Fanatic, Pryde, Starboard etc etc. Seasprite Team riders took 1st & 2nd. Teams were made up of three team riders and one member of the Freeride fleet chosen randomly, all done without state of the art race sails, or riders :) ....[read more]

Great event using XFire112 & 8.5 Freeride, and a good party I think......left early Sunday morning as no wind, but it must have filled in later.......somehow managed to get 8th in the National Fleet after 4 races on Saturday, shurley shum mistake.

On the Friday gusty 4.7 chop city at its worse at Hayling.

September 3rd Today goes down as one of the better sessions! (4.7 & Twinser) Some good DTL to be had, only a handful out and no one getting in the way making riding all the better, though surfers on the inside were a wee bit problematical because quite often you couldn't see them until you were almost on top of them! Launched from the Cafe, then as the tide went out sailed downwind in a series of DTL reaches all the way back home leaving the van for Mrs WC to pick up for me, bless her!

September 2nd Good little session down here then up to the Cafe where there were a few out, then back down here for some more. 5.2 & 74 Twinser.

September 1st Two sessions, one mid morning with a mate who is getting back into it, so mid tide with the squalls tracking through. Left the 5.2 rigged for later, but changed to a 4.7, should have gone 4.0 (or smaller) as it really picked up, know that when people who usually sail 0.5m bigger than me were on 4.0's! Good fun though with a few of us out making the most of the conditions.

August 29th Good session sailing down this way in front of the Yacht Club - quite a few out making the most of the Baker Windsurfing Academy/Demo with Nik & Ant. Some "old" faces on & off the water not seen for a while. Well powered on 5.2 & 74 Twinser went up to Cafe but only a few out.

August 28th Maxed out 4.0 session, good swell for August, though none too clean out the back. >For the Geeks yesterday was wearing my GPS/HRM, curious to see at what level you're working out in maxed 4.0 weather - track log here

August 27thGood early evening session at the Cafe well maxed on 5.2 with some good little waves. Much better than the very bland earlier afternoon sess with wind full of holes again.

August 25th Couple of sessions, lots of holes in the wind along with the swell, there one minute gone the next. 4.7 & 80FSW earlier on, then Mrs went 4.7 and 5.2 for me in the late afternoon light & blue sea, very sweet.

August 24th Out on 5.8 & 105FSW & Mrs on 5.2, sailed up to Ferring (still a lot of string weed around) & was surprised at who I saw learning to kite, both getting on annoying well by the looks of things!

August 21st Friday, well powered up 4.7 / 4.2 blasting , mate down from inland, he sailed tiil he had to do the walk of pain all the way with the tide out, but he had a good session.

August 17th More of the same, 5.2 & 80FSW, Mrs WC on 4.7 not much in the way of swell, sailing no hands a lot of the time on the way in.

August 16th After a dodgy start in the morning sky cleared and wind filled in, 5.2 & 77FSW not much even in the way of swell even out the back but good time was had sailing up & down to / from the Cafe along with some kiter mates, happy days.

August 15th Many kites out making the most of the conditions, though were a few "holes" in the wind. In the end I was on the other half's kit of 5.2 & 77FSW well powered up.

August 14th Nearly "skunked", did venture out on the 7.5 & XFire112 but string weed was so bad, came back changed to 105FSW with weed fin then wind dropped. Sunday morning should be really windy, it's the , last year the swim was cancelled due to the wind!

August 12th Windiest period was roughly 15:00 - 16:00 with wind gusting 26mph. First session earlier on Mrs WC well powered up on 5.2 & 77FSW, I was on 5.8 & 105 - some faces on the rolling swell about half mile out to propel yourself round, but lame on the inside. Then second session much better just playing around.

August 10th Today OK, not complaining 4.7 & 74 Twinser in light rain, but seemed to be lacking.

August 2nd More than well powered up, having left the 7.5 rigged overnight, whilst others were out on 4.7's. Mrs came back from work & could have gone 4.0. Though I just can't hang on to big sails, was Capatin Slow with everyone else passing me on smaller kit........I blame that old weed fin I was using :)

August 1st Wet & miserable, not enough wind with the 7.5

30th July Trip over to Hayling not brilliant, and didn't make it over to East Witt.....very choppy. Unlike 75% of people out on the water I reacted to the ominous looking cloud and just made it back in before the wind went, quite a few others were caught out. Went from 5.2 74 Twinser to 105FSW 5.8 over the course of the afternoon.

29th July Tempted out by the conditions and the fact I'd sanded down a very old 36 weed fin to go in the 105FSW - armed with the 7.5 straight down to Shoreham harbour arm and then back with no stops, seemed wind was more SSW down there as I had to make three tacks to get back. I was going to go on to LA but phone kept ringing in my backpack & thought it could be urgent.........track log here

July 27th - Slalom at the CafeWell at first was very encouraging, well powered up on 5.2's some people on 4.5's - and not just full on slalom race kit. JonL out on his Bic Veloce, I think. First race Steve Waller did very well on his Wave One L holding on to third place, then decided a quick loop was in order. Then second race wind died, but still went with it. Usual suspects, Nic & Ant Baker, Jamie H & others. String weed was a pain, but we all had that to deal with. Roll on the next one..........and a couple of well earned pints in the Bull later!

26th July Went to Brighton.....but..... launched at low tide 09:30 (that alone was 0.4 miles) had a reasonable blast over, though not powered up all the way as the wind veered SW'ly. And once over there wind went light and I just could not make it back upwind, even with going out a fair way, I was just making no head way not helped by having too smaller fin. Had a chat with the RNLI crew who were moored off the piers, and then I had a problem water starting, tad embarassing.........so back in between the piers and called Mrs WC, she was not happy.........then it seemed to fill in again! 18.5 miles.

25th July Couple of sessions today (5.2 & 5.8) along with the Mrs, either side of the Tour de France. Very flat, buzzing yachts a couple of miles offshore was mildy amusing. Later on Jamie H came down in full on slalom / race mode, luckily for him much of the weed had gone downwind. Then he sailed back up wind to LA, and I thought I sailed a long way out to sea, he was a dot on the horizon!

24th July Second session of the day (4.7 & 74 Twinser), sailed up to the Cafe. Quite a few people out, good to see some "old" faces making the most of the ankle biters, swell had dropped off from the earlier morning session and out the back it was almost running West to East, still good fun this time with Rob (kiter) who enjoyed the faces on his wave board!

Earlier on today well powered up on the 5.2 & 80FSW (should have taken the Twinser). Went out the back couple of times with Dangerous (kiter) good rides were had :)

23rd July Session with the Mrs in the afternoon sunshine, always lucky in that I have an other half who gets out there (on the odd occasion), we eventually made it to the Cafe for a cup of tea with her (six tacks), hard work on bare feet with the rocks as the tide was going out, ouch. Wind was good for afterwork, should imagine Lancing & S'ham were busy!

22nd July Went out for a second session with the tide on the drop with the 4.7 left rigged from the morning but really not quite enough. The morning was much better, some wind blown swell producing decent enough ramps up at the Cafe and some meaty faces out the back. Weed situation not too bad here now, think it's all on its way to Lancing & S'ham :)

20th July In the end was tempted by the breeze and went down to S'ham, don't know why, maybe just to tick the box with another session (how sad) just about going on 5.2 & 105FSW.

19th July Two sessions toda. Morning was stacked on a 4.7, Jai was on 3.5! As I was still pretty leant over felt as if I was on Port tack, not the best of sessions after a great night camping up on Chanctonbury, the Weather Gods were kind to us, no rain and we were sheltered from the wind, though don't think I would have heard it anyway. Slept like a log and woke up in the fire place!

Then late afternoon tide on the push, left 4.7 rigged and sort of exaggerated to Mrs WC about how I thought wind was dropping, as if I had said you better take the 3.3 she would not go out. So 4.0 it was for her with stacks of out / down haul with Jai back out on his 55 & 3.5. Ten mins into the session I was hoping she'd pack it in so I could have the 4.0, I had to wait for another 20 mins hanging on to the 4.7.......once on the 4.0 not so manic. Sailed up to the Cafe with a couple of others out and made the most of the building swell. All in much better than the morning, helped by being sober!

18th July Two sessions, morning 5.2 & 74 Twinser, and then 4.7 in the afternoon, with Jai out on his 55 & 4.0 , little in the way of swell up here even way out the back. Stopped off at Shoreham mid afternoon and it was very busy, and don't think I've seen so many kites out at Lancing.

17th July Eventually wind did fill in down at East Witt. Interesting in the WNW'ly Chimet was logging F5-6 but inshore was only circa 10mph, once out a fair way then it was F5. Started off on 5.8 & 105 FSW ended up on 5.2 & 74 Twinser and could have been on 4.7 by the end. Waves did drop back back still an awful lot of surfers / body boarders out which made it a wee bit awkward on the inside. Inhaul broke way out to sea and in the wipe out the mast sleeve for the skinny popped off, so had to lash the front end together to get back, but a good session was had!

15th July Good session in the afternoon well powered up 4.7 & Twinser 74 went with Lewis out the back where we both enjoyed the rolling swell for a couple of turns together. Then up to the Cafe and more "Out the back" with Johnny Hutch laying some nice swoops down the faces. Almost began to get to busy up at the Cafe with surfers, body boarders, kites & windsurfers all looking for space on the inside. In the end left and had a nice peaceful time back down in front of the Cam not paranoid about mowing some surfer over!

14th July Not the best of sessions with Mrs WC, started off 5.2 left rigged from Sunday but let the Mrs have that & I went 5.8 on the 105 FSW ok at times, but below par. Still string weed about so don't use straight fins. Second session was a 8.5 mile run at 7:50 pace.

12th July Great day on Sunday, three sessions. Low mid tide blasting on 105FSW & 5.8, then later on maxed out on 5.2 & 74 Twinser. Launching through high tide was awkward, not helped by the weed in the shallows. Out the back large rolling swell to play on providing some steep faces to swoop off DTL on. Have been working on sailing sailing sans hands, bit like a bike, gradually your body learns to adjust to it, though now just waiting for the Mother of all catapaults!


11th July Average session early afternoon in clear weather before the rain set in, came back in to catch the last ten minutes of F1 qualifying. Quite well powered up 5.8 & 105FSW, sailing out the back to play on the rolling swell. Slub weed not as bad as yesterday, most of it now washed up ashore.

10th July No waves yesterday, but if you go out beyond the yellow buoys there were some decent sized faces on the rolling swell way out the back, good adrenalin rush at times. Well powered up on 5.2 & Twinser 74 with the Mrs stacked on a 4.7.

7th July Over the years been out on the water in a few vicious squalls, and had just launched around 14:15 when a huge one came through. Even had the Police helicopter above me holding his nose into the advancing squall, presume too worried to turn and be side on. Went to go back out by a couple of lightening strikes further out put me off, wind then dropped.

6th July Two sessions yesterday, powered up at the Cafe, opting for a 4.7 over the 4.0 but with max down & out haul sail was quite stable on the 74 Twinser. Some decent ramps and good faces (if you could catch them before they disapeared) out the back for some nice swoops down. Then Shoreham circa 17:30 on the 4.0 and still plenty of wind. Better waves than earlier at the Cafe with more to play on etc fair number of people out again, only hassle now have rubbed a nice hole on the top of my foot
5th July Sunday delivered mid afternoon onwards as the sky cleared. I launched when it was still marginal at around 12mph gusting 17mph and had to work to get the board going and not helped by the damn string weed. Eventually wind filled in and was more than powered up. Sailed up to Ferring and had some more one on one with Vinnie, though he was on his monster kit 9.2 & 140 Exocet. Sailed back and Jai was out on my 105 & 5.2 going well. Water was so clear, and in boardies & vest who needs to go away when it's like this?

3rd July Friday at Shoreham you could have been fooled into thinking it was the weekend with the amount of people out on the water in the afternoon. Good summer session just in boardies and vest, and "NO" I was not cold......ventured out on the XFire and 7.5 for a workout prior to changing down to the 74 Twinser & 5.2, could have been on a 4.7 but didn't take it with me!

Fri 26th Yesterday took advantaged of the 15mph wind avec XFire112 & 7.5 sailed up to LA bumping into various people going out & coming back, on and off the water. Bit of one on one blasting on the way back with Vinnie at Ferring but I was carrying some seaweed, either that or I need to get a race sail :)

Very pleasant just wearing boardies and a vest, almost Mediterranean like and as the wind dropped for the last mile, the water cleared and you could see the bottom.

Fri 19th More of the same, quad bike touring in the morning around the North Shore, went to the "kite surfing" bay which is along the North Shore, nice waves as the wind is onshore there, (will post pics later when I get back), but no kiting going on. Then on to Bubble Beach, youtube bubble beach to see what goes on there :) . Then back to windsurf, more slalom racing / blasting all good fun.

Thurs 18th - Hired 150 Quad bike and went off on an arduous / tough ride care of sussing out route on Google Earth first in the am , fantastic if demanding track / path over cliffs and deserted inaccessible coves to a "pretty" chapel - then on to a superb cove which was a very chilled out beach - really hard to find, but full of "Willy's"! Then back to some slalom racing iwth Jens the owner of the windsurf center and some top Greeks - then back over the other side of the island to a taverna to watch the sunset - more of the same today!


Wed June 17th - Flight from hell full of screaming todlers and no room to even use a laptop! Quick transfer to Kos, basic accomodation, but can see why people come back here. Very chilled and cheap compared to most of Europe. Nicked a quick session whilst Loulou had a kip, 5.9 & 115 - will have to get use to these offshore winds, but flat water, sun etc etc I'm not complaining!

June 15th Another session on the 5.8 XFire112 combo, had one full wipe out at speed as harness line broke. And then talking of speed, just as I thought I was "Mr Quick" along comes Jamie Hawkins (Current UK Slalom Champ) who just played with me, sailed back downwind from the Cafe with him leaving me for "spray". Mind you he was on a 7.0 race sail, but don't think I would have been able to even hold on to that, and suppose I must mention Vinnie in dispatches, he was having a bit of a mare in the chop though.

June 14th Good practice today just in boardies and neoprene vest on the XFire 112 & 7.5 - really well powered up, bit of weed still around. Sailed up to see who was up at Ferring but only a few out. Actually felt only 18 degrees and was too cold for comfort (after falling in) so was only out for just over an hour. Remember around this time last year where a guy was stuck out at sea with hyperthermia!

June 11thThose that made it down for an afer work session today were not disapointed, wind held till around 21:00. I made it out for a couple of hours having a "blasting" session on the RRD XFire112 & 5.8 Ezzy Wave. Think most up at Ferring would probably have to agree it's a quick board :)

June 6th Ironic in that Saturday ended up being the better day of the weekend. I made the most of the ESE'ly breeze and sailed upwind sail to Shoreham where the Baker Bros were doing a demo. Made it in two very big tacks (see motion based track) on the XFire112 & 7.5. Had a good session down there, and I even sailed a Fanatic Hawk with a North 8.4 was rude not to as Nik B had a sail on the XFire! And as you can see on the Motion Based track had one very broad reach to get back.

June 1st Monday took advantage of 27 degrees, boardies and light neoprene vest and had a great session here in NNE/NE'lys winds on the XFire 112 & 7.5, some blisteringly fast runs and no problem on that board staying up wind. Out by the yellow buoys must have been gusting 30mph.

May 30th Put the 7.5 on ye olde Windsurfer and then came in to change to the XFire 112, had quite a few decent runs out to sea having to pump to get going, though remants of string weed made it all the more difficult, eventually the wind fizzled out and went more NE'ly then picked up. I was almost tempted to go back out as quite a few were making the most of the wind by then.

May 29th Interesting session on the XFire112 & 7.5 Freeride: decided to sail upwind to Shoreham to see what the board was like. Only problem was that Wed's wind ripped up a load of string weed which made the session frustrating for 500ms on the inside, so had to go way out the back to make any headway. Board is so fast and so smooth, though need to work on the technique, not helped by being on port tack.

Made it as far as Lancing sailing club and then wind seemed to drop totally, and I was a fair way out. I was able to uphaul and slog, then luckily wind kicked in again and I headed back off downwind on one very broad reach past the pier, most exhilerating - people would pay to go abroad to enjoy a session like that today!

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