Posts Tagged ‘windsurfing’

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Hamworthy Journey

Tuesday, August 24th, 2010

I never seem to get round to any UK coastal sailing, Bray is conveniently close and easy – the sun and wind in Egypt or Greece always seems more tempting… However, following our recent (very enjoyable) club trip to El Tur I got myself a nice new board from the Bray shop and at 100 litres no further excuses to put off that trip to the coast.

Candice’s round robin emails to get coastal (contact her if you want to get on the distribution list) provided the right opportunity. Hamworthy F5 forecast on windguru, grassy rigging area and cafe close by seemed to be perfect.

A terrible three hour holiday traffic drive later I arrived in Hamworthy Park (Poole) where it was chucking down rain and looking very gloomy indeed. I was wondering if this really had been such a good idea, but there was no denying it was very windy.

From beach to waterAs the first to arrive I rigged up my 6.1 and got some tips from a friendly local, a windsurfer gone over to the dark side (kite surfer) and after a few tentative runs realised that even in the rain UK coastal sailing is definitely worth the effort. The sailing is straight off the beach, the first bit fairly flat, more chop further out. The day bought a consistent strong wind and great blasting.

As the rain disappeared the rest of the Bray contingent (Candice, Claire, Gavin and Lynn) turned into the car park and rigged up. Everybody got some pretty good runs in throughout the day, all having a good sail. Lynn not having done a beach start for a while, also got some practice in with a helping hand from Candice. Claire sought to perfect that jibe and Gavin went for a blast between messing about with his harness lines. My new board felt faster than I’ve ever been, thanks for the advice Simon and James, the new toy is great!

I left a little before the rest. Gavin I hear was last off the water as usual at dusk. Despite the slightly longer journey, I think all had a good sail. I certainly did and hope for more wind soon, in the mean time I’m off to Turkey for some sunny windsurfing.

September diary busy with the National Windsurfing Festival and the Club Trip to Dale, West Wales, so I understand Candice is planning the next trip for 16/17 October, hopefully I’ll see you there.

Contributed by: Jeremy

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In the face!

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Apologies for the lack of news, trips into town have been few and far between normally involving some sort of wild goose chase like fixing the generator – again! I have spent the last 6 days of the water after wiping out during a punetta attempt – smashing my face on the boom and earning myself a two hour visit to the hospital for stitches. The large posse of doctors were great if a little overly banterful and a little stingy on the anesthetic. Promises of “No more pain Mister Tom” were an outright lie. I am personally blaming Jack for this as it was his idea to try switch on one of the windiest days we’ve had so far. Opinions vary on when I’m allowed back on the water but I’m currently going stir crazy and may try windsurfing tomorrow. Jack and Ricky have plans for some kind of Hanibal Lecter mask, made from old wetsuit accessories and Ding. I think they are more concerned with making me look like a prat than protecting my stitches.

Last weekend we had a little disagreement with the Dakhla attitude kite center over the position of our tent. They were running a beach safety day for the local kids, our tent stood proud in the middle of the beach with Bray Lake stickers in full view so expect some orders to Western Sahara. Jack was not such a pushover this time and managed to argue our way out of moving the tent which was a massive relief.

The wind conditions have been 50/50 over the last week with it either blowing not at all or nuking everyone on the water. There seems to be a direct correlation between our dental hygiene and the quantity of time out on the water. Jack – who is fastidious about brushing his teeth spends as much time out as possible, Ricky on the other hand has brushed his teeth, once, twice, YES, three times, your talking bollocks! My teeth brushing isn’t the best but I do have an excuse for not being on the water although I have earned the nick name of “rest-day Gold”.

The wind wasn’t about this morning but it should be back this afternoon. The low tide is in the morning so Jack has been sailing in the chop in the afternoons and been doing some huge flakkas. When it is blowing full 3.7 it can be pretty gnarly out there. Ricky hurt his elbow yesterday but fingers crossed it is not too serious.

Looking forward to good tides and wind this week.

Thanks for reading

Contributed by: Tom

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My first sail at ….. Christchurch Harbour

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

Until recently, my UK sailing experiences have been Bray Lake, Club trips to Dale and a session in Langstone. After royally treating myself at Christmas to a trio of Storm Force 10′s and other rig component’s from the Bray shop, my endeavours with Gary M to get coastal will have been noted by some I’m sure. With a date in the diary for 17th, musing possible locations in the clubhouse Saturday presented a bit of an impromptu opportunity to head off to Christchurch Harbour on Sunday with Becki and Craig.

An early arrival just after nine ensured we had space. At £4.80 for 4 hours, or £9.00 for the day it’s not one of your better value locations, but it’s pretty and offers a nice grassy bank for rigging. No reason to get your mast stuck with sand (yes – you know who you are). Becki being fairly new to windsurfing found the harbour area shallows offered confidence building security, and a degree of energy conservation on mount and dismount she informs me.

With Craig standing in the water with hint’s and tips and quick changes for demo’s it was easy for him too between paddle boarding. Having hired a RRD155 with its standard fit 46 fin, the shallows presented a different experience for me! A bit of a walk out, a little sailing backwards on the nose whilst testing my navigation of the moorings later and I was then happily pottering up and down the front of Avon beach playing amongst the many Pico’s!

The conditions were almost on the verge of planing at times, but sadly, didn’t quite come up so between gusts it was a light wind skills day for me. Dave and Sue dropped by (recently relocated) for a social, and hopefully once they’ve settled in they’ll have James kit them out to play on our next visit too. A good morning was had – Becki got some good practice in for the next part of her improvers course this week. I’d like to head back again on a slightly windier day, but as the gatecrasher it was good to check out a location I’d not been to before. On arrival at Bray to drop off the board, I hear they were planing all morning – typical, but I guess that’s windsurfing for you…

Contributed by : Candice

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Doing it in STYLE!

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Hello again from Dakhla!

We have had awesome conditions since we last blogged. 3.7 or 4.2m sails have been getting some good use. Tom has been having an eventful time. Today he landed his first Vulcan which he was happy about however his inability to sail upwind meant he walked home and cut his feet so he is back his standard winging. Two days ago he managed to bag us a 400 Dihram speeding fine aswell so he may be sent home early.

Ricky has been clocking up loads of spocks and Jack has been getting along with his switch stance freestyle.

WindsurfingThe forecast is looking great for the next few days so hopefully we will all have learnt new moves by the time we next blog!

Keep it REAL!

Contributed by: Tom (4th June 2010)

And again!

Weve been having some more great winds and with low tide in the middle of the afternoon its been super flat. The sand bars work best for freetsyle at low tide so we try to windsurf then. Ive been getting on well with switch and can occasionally get the board out of the water when trying shakas. Tom and Ricky are racing to learn flakkas. Tom is also hoping for his fist spock soon.

Our tent is holding its own in the 40 knot winds although we are slightly concearned what the brutal flapping is doing to our mental state. We now have use of a toilet which is very luxorious. This will spell the end of being chased around the rocky sand dune (our previous toilet) by hoards of Moroccan school kids (Me).

In other news Rickys elbow is holding up well and everyone is reasonably healthy apart from the odd ear plug getting stuck in ears (Ricky)

Keep it REAL!

Contributed by: Jack (8th July 2010)

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Journey Continues (instalment 2!)

Monday, July 5th, 2010

We arrived at Santander and drove straight on to Tarifa, arriving at 3am. After a few hours sleep under the car cover we bought some ferry tickets from the back streets and stocked up on chorizo. Our search for fiberglass (which Jack had left back in England) was unsuccessful and after burying all the pork products in the bottom of our car we got on the ferry to Morocco.

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.

Jump for joyThe 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

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