The next day we binged on Cornish Pasties in an attempt to feel up to going windsurfing and headed for Daymer bay. It was really windy. Most people going out of 4.5m sails, I went out on a 3.7m and planed almost all the time. The new board was amazing and surprisingly on starboard tack so was I. I landed a couple of shakkas and loads of flakkas in the flat water the far side. The Twin fin makes it very easy to carve up into the wind quickly for shakkas. On port I was not quite so hot but is was very choppy and there were loads of people launching. When I did get a chance to try anything that side the board felt really nice, punchy when popping and slidey when going backwards. It really doesn’t feel like and 88litre when you’re riding it, it feels much bigger and has great early planning for such a small freestyle board. It however does feel really light on your feet so you feel like you can throw it over your head easily, if that what your into. I think that everyone else had a good sail even James.

After a quick pub meal in Polzeath we had to go fancy dress shopping because Ricky and Aimee (Ricky’s girlfriend) hadn’t got sorted yet. SWA fancy dress parties are infamous. The theme was “999”. I went as Jack Bauer (tradition). The man with the best fancy dress (possibly in the whole party) was Ricky’s brother Adda, who had a WW2 style gas mask and full hazmat suit, he was pretty scary. The party was awesome, can’t really remember much more than that. Nobody could find me the next day much to everyone’s annoyance but we all met up eventually, compared notes on the night before and very hungover went our separate ways.

My new sails arrived yesterday, some North Ices.  I can’t wait to try them out sometime soon up in West Kirby.

Contributed by: Jack

The box and outer loop courses were demanding in 16 knots and choppy conditions but the young windsurfers survived well and demonstrated tremendous skill. Racing rules were strictly applied (what does that yellow flag with the black dot mean again??). Alexei found himself penalised 5 points for being more interested in lunch than tallying on time (I blame the parents!). The racing took place quite a distance from shore so not much fun for the spectators struggling to see what was happening through binoculars in that cold northerly breeze!

Alexei had a mixed series in the 4.5m class finishing in 6th place overall. He struggled a bit getting it right on the upwind legs but did manage a first place in race 2, good going to get a bullet in his first time in such an event. It was a great experience and, with 6 races being completed over the two days, well worth the long trip to WPNSA. Hopefully we will see more Manic Monkeys at next year’s Championships!

Contributed by: Noel Murphy

We arrived in Ceuta, where Tom managed to get confused between coke and beer buying two cans of the latter for the driver and map reader. At the border we enlisted the help of a local Morroccan to get us through which was fortunate as Jack was feeling particularly special that day being unable to fill out a simple form.

We made light work of the drive to Essouira, camping in Moulay on the way through, hoping to catch some wind but ended up disappointed. We did however manage to get hold of some fiberglass from bouj windsurfing.  Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Carl Pilkington made excellent company on the drive down with banter flowing especially when Jack decided to have a mini lash session by himself in the backseat. The drive through the Atlas mountains was spectacular but the road surface made it slightly stressful for all.  A tagine in Agadir to refuel and then a unanimous vote to drive straight through the night meant we arrived in Dakhla early Sunday morning – surely a record breaking drive!

We’ve Arrived – Dakhla Part 1

With only a few hours of sleep between us we pitched the tent and got straight out on the water. Jack managed to cut his feet within the first few minutes. After a quick lunch it was a trip into town to watch England’s lame attempt to stay in the World cup. Jack and Ricky were so disgusted with England’s performance (especially Lampard’s) we ended up leaving before full time.

The morning greeted us with perfect 3.7 weather. We set off for the speed spot. Tom and Ricky made it halfway and stopped for a little freestyle. Jack shot off upwind to have the speed spot to himself, deciding he was too good to sail with mere mortals. He thinks he’s all that, but he still can’t tack or gybe.

We set off on 3.7s again the next day. All of us were sailing really well. Ricky landed his first few spocks and Jack landed his first Flakka Diablo. Tom was also having a good session until he set off from the bank saying “I’m gonna try a flakka”. It looked nothing like a flakka more like a ponch. It now looks as though he may have broken his foot.

Jack and Ricky had a slightly underpowered session this morning and that brings us pretty much up to date. We are in town stocking up on supplies and having been to the hospital we have decided that Tom does not need an X-ray because his winging has let up a little.

Contributed by:  Tom, Jack & Ricky

And welcome to our blog! We are blogging about our summer windsurf trip to Dakhla, Western Sahara. We’ve been planning this trip for months, now we are ready to explode. We’ve spent the last few weeks rattling through our bank accounts on silly things like wedding marquees and stupid, rubbish things like Starboard Flares. Bray Lake have kitted us up to the max with shiny new gear, thanks to James and Simon. Jack has packed four items of clothing and forgot 25% of them, meaning a Uturn 2mins into the journey, thanks to a phone call from Jack’s Mummy.

We are currently on the ferry from Portsmouth to Santander and despite Frank Lampard’s best efforts to ruin our crossing, its been amusing. Tom’s stuff including this computer is covered in hippie vomit and he has not stopped winging since we left Berkshire.

We are looking forward to getting on the road. We are planning to make it to Tarifa by tonight and get across to Morocco tomorrow.

Thanks for reading, Keep it real!

Contributed by: Tom

The aim is complete the challenge in a week. Exercise ‘Hello Sailor’ from Runcorn to the National Memorial Arboretum is scheduled to start 17th June 2010.

Follow their adventure on their blog at http://oohhellosailor.blogspot.com. Please support this worthwhile cause, make your donation on the Just Giving website at www.justgiving.com/oohhellosailor . Thank you for your support.