James’ brother and friend, Andrew and Rich were not sure whether to do much windsurfing, but when the only female in the Neilson team announced she was to be teaching the Start windsurfers this week they quickly decided to give it more of a go!  After a good first morning with Kat, they told her not to be offended but beer and a sunbed would be their afternoon plan, also not to worry for they’d definitely be back for more tomorrow!!

Ollie and Emma were lucky to have Hasan to themselves and got out to work on using the harness, improving those tacks and most importantly to the whole group it seems, learn to go faster!!! Both really enjoyed their lessons and very excited for more to come.  Mark and Tom were pleased to have Ben as an instructor and had a brilliant day blasting around, finding the footstraps for the first times and arguing over who was fastest.  David and James got Kamal to themselves for the morning, and then in the afternoon James and I took the tandem out to speedy for a play!  It was really great fun with plenty of wind to get us flying around and surprisingly we managed some rather smooth turns too!!

In the evening we enjoyed a meal in town with some delicious food and a few drinks, the banter was hilarious, the group, who mostly met each other on the flight over, seemed to get on like they have been friends for years! A good night was had by all and no complaints of any sore heads after those first couple of evenings!

Wednesday was a lighter day for wind but the guys got out and made them most of what wind there was, with a windier forecast ahead.  More dinner plans in town for tonight and a trip to Tree Bar for some pool and dancing is in the plan for afters.

Contributed by: Danielle @ www.getwindsurfing.com

Seven years ago that was me, now however, it still serves as a relaxing weekend break away from my workload, and a great venue to remind myself some of the skills learned that I’ve let lapse a little in recent months for the house, or the garden, or the … blah, blah (you get the idea).

After news of friends ripping it up in Ireland the previous week, the forecast lagged slightly from what was promised to blow through, but there was still enough to play with.  Kit was packed up for a Thursday night arrival in Dale with enough time for a bite to eat and a pint in the pub on arrival and making the most of it.

Friday saw a bit of a shoreline dead zone and interesting swirl in the bay due to the wind direction, but those brave or foolhardy enough to brake the cover of the headland managed to get some good runs in on a sizeable sail.  I know I did, and I knew it.  Man did that hurt – how long had it been?  Longer than I had initially thought by the feel of it.  Come dusk though I was last off the water (as usual), but eventually made The Griffin to recharge the batteries, or so to speak.  A new landlord and new menu made for a welcome change, and plenty of banter to entertain.

We’re never short of a story or few amongst the diversity that comes with being a Bray Lake Member.  And whilst hopes were high when checking weather apps, Saturday conditions saw more of the same so no rush out onto the water was needed.  Some choose to head out with the walking boots in search of the latest arrival of seal pups, or went to check out the nearby prep for the film shoot rolling into town, whilst the rest of us headed to the café for more banter, coffee and maybe a cake before all getting together again for an afternoon on the water.  Still a bit achy whilst hanging off my 7.5m, so obviously still need to get more time out on the water when back home or maybe it’s just my age catching up with me.  Having hit 40 the previous week, and Candice doing the same the following, our 10 strong party roped in old friend and West Wales local Annie to head to Dale Yacht Club for a good meal and a spot of champers (thanks all for the champagne) in celebration or commiseration for the night.

All of a sudden Sunday was here, last chance for a few hours play before loading the car again and hitting the M4.  So long Dale, we’ll be back again in Spring.

Contributed by: Gavin Lambourne

The van was loaded and off we set.  After initial favourable forecasts,  the weekend sadly didn’t quite live up to expectations so our kit never left the van.  Not that it was hardship as we caught up with friends over lunch and a few drinks at The Inn, bumped into several Bray Lake members and other familiar faces so who had time to get on the water!

Plenty of people were not as lazy as us though, so those that took to the water provided entertainment, plenty of photo opportunities and an interesting take on demonstating tricktionary moves with the help of a jet ski…

Despite not making it onto the water this time, all was not lost as got to meet the gorgeous Marcillo and despite his temporary relegation in my attention, Craig took a great picture for me.  Also picked up a few tips from the clinics for when I’m not feeling quite so fussy about the conditions.

Having struggled a bit at last year’s event it was great to see all bars open at The Inn on the Beach for the party, certainly helped things get going quickly and we had great night with a great set from The Heathrow Jets.

We’ll be sure to be in attendance again next year.

Contributed by: Becki Chivers

More Windsurfing Videos

We are now back from Dakhla it has been an awesome trip. In 5 weeks of windsurfing we only had 3 lightwind days! Now we really can’t complain but as it turned out one of these days was our last day. I was so close to landing burners the day before (with zero blood sugar) that I felt sure I would get one on the final day. The wind gods however decreed that it was not to be. Ricky was in a similar place with his funnels. Hopefully we will get a good solid westerly blow soon so I can get up to West Kirby and try them again.

Over the course of the trip I learnt loads of new moves and very nearly completed my list, with only the burner really left on there. I kind of swapped airfunnells out because I wanted to concentrate on the burners. Now that my ducking is much better I think that I can pick them up pretty quickly.

Ricky also learnt loads. He learnt Flakkas, Punettas and clew first punnettas. Please watch this space for our video. I have started on the editing so it shouldn’t be too long.

Hugh’s windsurfing improved loads he is now starting to experiment with carve gybes and chop hops. He is also going to write a piece about Dakhla from an intermediates perspective and to talk about the off the water stuff from a new perspective.

The second half of the trip we were staying in the Rio Aguila Kitesurf Camp. It seemed like luxury to what we were used so a big thanks to the guys there. I would also like to mention Colin, Freya, Ken and Carmen who were amazingly kind and helpful to us throughout our trip. For any expert advice on Dakhla do contact Freya though www.ambienceofdakhla.com. For any windsurf  or general advice on Dakhla please do get in contact with us through Bray Lake!

We are all ready plotting a trip for next year. For flat water and unbelievable winds, in the summer, nowhere really compares.

Thanks for reading!

Contributed by: Jack

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.

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.

As 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

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

Phil and I arrived in Fuerteventura on the 4th July, following our time in Lanzarote for the Freestyle competition hosted there, Phil’s debut on the PWA world tour. With 18 days spare to train for the next event we were both really excited to get on the water and check out the conditions. Our first day on the water was a bit of a shock, arriving at Rene Egli centre 2 to find our friends from the UK and Austria, welcomed by a sand storm in the car park and enough wind for even the bigger guys to be easily overpowered on my 3.3! Little did I realise this was the only sail I would be needing for the next 2.5 weeks as Fuerteventura delivered its relentless conditions exhausting all windsurfers who had come to play.

An important part of our training became days off, as we struggled with sore muscles, shoulders, tennis elbow and bruises from all sorts of wipeouts. Early nights became mandatory, as did a large supply of food in the car to keep us energised and help us maximise our sessions. We aimed to train at the competition location as much as possible to get good practise in the sailing area ready for the event.

This area, at Rene Egli Windsurf Centre 1, has mostly cross off wind, small swell coming in with waves breaking close to the shore and on the way out swell and the most amount of chop I have ever known to test us on port tack. For my spocks on the outside it became a learning game as I began to feel like a complete beginner at freestyle in the difficult conditions.

Phil, as all of the other guys who had come to train for the competition, found it hard to make moves which normally were very easy to them also and sessions were kept short and intense to try to get used to the area. Some days we would move location to a beach upwind, where the water was very flat in comparison and so we could have ‘easier’ sessions to enjoy ourselves and also allow our bodies some rest from the chop! Still this location would be incredibly windy, gusty and 3.3 was generally always full power for me!

With the event approaching, the forecast began to drop off, which was quite a relief although worrying it would drop off too much also, as we both really wanted the event to go ahead. When the days arrived, the wind and swell was low, but fortunately each day Fuerte delivered us wind enabling heats to go ahead in the afternoons, usually putting me on my 4.5 or 4.0 which was perfect!

Continued….. full story

Contributed by: Danielle Lucas

As you can see our camp at Boudle Haa is very rustic. We have not stretched to renting a car. Vehicles are extorsionate to rent here so we have been hitch hiking to get into town. Today arthur and I hitched in with two very friendly fishermen with black teeth and last time Ricky and I hitched hiked back in a monster 16wheeler. It was the first time in a lorry for both of us. Very cheap thrills!

The forecast is for loads of wind we think, so we are rushing to get back to Boudle Haa for low tide.

Keep it real

Contributed by: Jack

We are all very well, we’ve had two good days on the water – 4.5m kind of weather. We’ve been sailing a different spot so far, called Boudle Haa (no idea how its spelt) and so far, I’ve been sailing pretty well. Nearly landed all the moves I could last year which is sick. Ricky appears to have learnt to funnel duck in one day. Arthur is improving loads with his waterstarts and tacking. We are really looking forward to some good old fashioned Dakhla 3.7 weather soon. the forecast is saying Thursday. As for Tom Gold, he couldn’t join us, although whether we miss him or not…!

We may move up to 25 (where we camped last year) in a couple of days because it is a bit more social up there and the fact that we are camped on a pretty serious slope at the moment. Boudle haa is a really nice place the flat water is right off the beach. There are however, loads of oyster farms which are like enourmous, with rusty metal grates included that would totally scupper a board or leg. And knowing us it won’t be long so maybe it is wise to move up to 25.

The main reason for avoiding 25 is the kite surfers kind of rule up there now but as we have discovered if you windsurf really unpredictably around them, like going switch and charging at them, then they tend to stay clear.

More news to follow very soon.
Keep it real!

Contributed by: Jack