windsurf

Surprisingly good after work sail. Was going to head out on my bike, but just popped down to the beach first to have a look.. James was already out. I rigged big with a 5.8 and 110L fsw and planed off the beach. Over the next couple of hours, the wind filled in and a fun wave developed. Great fun! Still chilly though...

There's a waterfall a Kimmeridge. Normally it's just a trickle, but today it was a raging torrent. Just getting there was an experience, at least three or four times I had to slow down to crawling speed to traverse a flooded road. There's no doubt about it, I arrived at KBay too early. Although the wind had swung from North Easterly to South Easterly in Bournemouth it was still straight offshore in Kimmeridge. There was nothing to do but sit in the van avoiding the torrential rain and wait it out.

Eventually, the wind turned and the rain relented. It was kind of windy so I headed out. Of course, there hadn't been any time for a wind swell to form so it more just about mirror flat. And gusty. Very gusty. In the end, I gave up pretty quickly as it was too frustrating after the recent incredible conditions. Of course, I got back to Bournemouth with the wind building and building all evening. Am sure KBay will be great on Monday morning, but I've got work to do.

The first decent low pressure system of Spring is pushing through this week. The wind has been crazy. 50+ knots earlier today! Sandbanks was the call, and Jem Hall, Jamie Hancock, James Cox and Timo were all present. I rigged a 4.2 to give me enough to get out the back and after a slight adjustment to the downhaul and outhaul it turned out to be perfect. Better still, the wind turned slightly from onshore to cross-shore leaving half-mast faces lining up for jumping.
It was incredibly good! Hanging in the air being blown sideways through the air, landing softly and then hitting the next ramp for the same again. One run stands out as the highlight for me - three huge jumps on the way out, a clean planing gybe out back, backside wave riding on the way back in, through a clean tack on my 75L WaveCult by the beach and straight through the shore break to repeat. I can finally do this sport! sometimes...

...and ye shall find. One of the main reasons I took up windsurfing was to have a sport where you walk away remembering the highlights. I used to play a lot of golf, but it became more about the one that got away than the ones you made. Windsurfing is the polar opposite and today summed this up.

I took a chance. The forecast was iffy. I rigged up and stood around in my mysuit for twenty minutes on the Ledges. I waded out to waist deep water stumbling over the submerged lumps of rock. There was a wave but not enough wind to get out. Then all of a sudden it came good. The wind picked up, I planed out the back and had a handful of waves all to myself.... A few were shoulder high, the best I gave me three top turns. The rest doesn't matter, that one wave alone made it all worthwhile.

After yesterday's warm up, two sessions at Branksome Dene in fully powered conditions. Couple of hours in the morning bump and jump, started on a 5.2 / quad combination and then changed down to a 4.2 / 75 WaveCult as the wind picked up. Good jumping and made a few tacks on the 75L which had me smiling ear to ear.

Popped home for lunch and then back for the main event. As the tide dropped and the wind turned slightly more SW'ly, a rolling swell came through turning into a head high wave. The wind was crazy and I'd soon pulled maximum downhaul onto the 4.7 partnered with the quad. Three bottom / top turn combinations is not the norm at BDC but it was today. A few swims followed but nothing too dramatic. Amazing feeling to be throwing top-turn spray on your home break!

Great to see so many people out after the winter and reassuring that the sport is still very much alive.

More please.