Posts Tagged ‘abroad’

Dream list!

Wednesday, August 31st, 2011

Hello Again.

It has been super windy here. 3.7 full power every day!

We now have dream list of what we want to achieve, a bit ambitious? – maybe, but we will try our best.Ricky speed sailing

My list is:

  • Shaka Flaka (done)
  • Triple Flakka (done)
  • Ponch
  • Burner
  • Switch chachoo
  • Air funnel

Ricky’s list is:

  • Clew First Punetta  (done)
  • Flaka Diablo
  • E Sider
  • Switch Chachoo
  • Funnel
  • Shove it

The forecast is looking great although we both quite want a rest day!

Also the world has turned upside down and Richard managed to beat me upwind. It happened a few days back but it brought to an end my unbeaten run stretching back to the first year. So well done to Richard. I would just like to add that I have regained my crown of upwind overlord since. For those of you who don’t know how to get to the speed spot (where we freestyle) you have to sail around a spit so we usually race downwind and then back upwind around the spit. It is not normally close though.

Other than that I have learnt triple flakkas from my list and nearly done a switch chachoo. I think i will get them net time out. It is full moon at the moment so there is no wind today. It is a badly needed rest day because we have not had one yet. Hugh has some savage blisters on his hands so he is especially grateful.  Tomorrow my or may not be windy but after that its looking great again.

Jack SawbridgeAs we head towards the end of our visit, it continues to be really windy here.  Hugh has arrived and it has been a bit of a baptism of fire for him with full on 3.7 winds.  Ricky and I, as is Dakhla tradition from the first year, gave ourselves 6 moves to learn.  We have both learnt only one of them so far!

Contributed by: Jack

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On a mission? More from Dakhla

Monday, August 22nd, 2011

Hi from Dakhla.

Richard according to his most coherant sleep talking efforts is `on a mission and if you let him he will succeed`.

Not really sure to what mission he is referring. We assume it is the punetta mission or mybe he has been spending too much time in a small tent with me and my standard dream topic {Jack Bauer} has infiltrated his subconscoius.

Other than the odd sleep talked threat we are doing well here. Arthur has left us though which is a bit of a bummer.  He left on great form. In his last session {which was at the speed spot as opposed to Boudle Haa} he made his first carve gybe. Ricky also landed his first two punettas so everyone except me is learning which is a little concerting.

Our other big news is that we have moved our camp up to 25. We forgot quite how good the speed spot was and fell head over heels for it yesterday. Boudle Haa was great but the speed spot is quite simply the best spot for freestyle anywhere. We are not camping at the same place as last year. We are the other side of PRock [the upwind side]. This time in a small kite centre. Its very luxurious as we have showers and decking and everything you could want. It doesn’t really seem like Dakhla, it seems like a real holiday rather than a military survival exercise.

We have been very well fed recently. We had been eating Thon [tinned tuna] for almost every meal but the night before last we ate out in town and last night Colin and Freya treated us to a feast of Pasties and Apple crumble which was brilliant because it appeased our cravings for home cooking.

In other news its looking mental windy which will be great for me and my assault on ponches and burners. My other brother Hugh arrives in a few days so we are looking forward to that.

Until the next instalment and photos will follow…..

Contributed by: Jack Sawbridge

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Doing it in Dakhla Again!

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

We have made it !!

Largely due to the fact that we have no plans and we did not want to panic loved ones, very little regarding this episode of ‘Bray boys do Dakhla (Part 2)’ has been divulged to the public…… until now!

Last time we packed everything including the kitchen sink; we were well prepared and ready for every eventuality! This time not so much. In fact until about 15 minutes ago we had absolutely no idea where we were going to sleep this evening. We have not bought a tent (read wedding marquee), neither Jack nor I have any money and to make matters worse, have absolutely no access to transport, as we have just learnt that taxis are not authorised to cross the road block separating us from the windsurfing spot.

The shananagans started early on Friday morning with a last minute trip to Bray to pick up some final bits and pieces that I forgot. Fortunately I had the dependable Sawbridge boys to pack the trailer up before ‘Mr Sawbs’ drove us to Gatwick- simples! This time not so much. Once the trailer was fully loaded and connected to the car we discovered that the left indicator on the trailer was not working. Screwdriver in hand, dependable Jack attended to the problem whilst the rest of us said our final goodbyes. Unfortunately, ‘less-dependable’ Jack was not very careful, and by the time he had rewired the trailer, the right indicator worked when we applied the brakes, and the brakelights came on when we indicated left. By this stage we were running a little late and unreliable Jack was flustered and, in his haste, ripped trailer cable out of the car leaving the connector in the back of the car and a handful of exposed wires! Quick change of cars and we were off.

Somehow we managed to check in with 103kg of windsurfing kit without out paying extra money. Sadly that was the end of our luck, our flight to Casablanca was delayed by 3 hours. Even after being repeatedly reassured that we would not miss our connecting flight- we did! So we spent the night on the streets in Casablanca sharing cover with all sorts of unsavoury characters. Not really we were put up in a lovely hotel where I had my first ever Moroccan shower.

Now we are just about to have dinner with Colin and Freya (a lovely ex-pat couple who have bent over backwards to sort us out). This evening we are checked into a hotel and tomorrow we plan on setting up a Moroccan tent that we have just finished sewing together. This time we are trying out a new spot a little closer to Dakhla town.

Forecast looks decent and tides are good so we should have some good sessions to come.

PS flights were cheapish and easyish so if you fancy joining us for a week or two get in touch with Bray for more details.

Photos to follow.

Contributed by: Ricky

 

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