Westo

Well, I managed to miss just about everything with my whole 'parent' routine and had to settle for some light westerly and seriously reduced swell. However the clouds cleared and the sun came out, not to mention the wind notching up after Andy left !!

Cross Shore

Pretty light winds, and a touch on the mellow side, but still nice to get out in mid summer. However what did make me jump, was the sighting of either a large seal or dolphin within a meter from me, whilst 500 yds from the shore.

Mikey

At last the wind blew and reminded us all that there are other things to life, not just surfing : ). I was a little late down, and caught the tail end of most of the action, although the wind seemed to contine to build. Really just the smallest of waves offering the occassional ramp and great to catch up with Mikey(Weston) and my dear old friend Gripper.

Hardy

I don't really consider myself particularly hardy, especially when you see things like 'Deadliest catch ' and 'Ice road truckers'. In fact watching such treacherous conditions really makes me think whats wrong with windsurfing in sub zero temps and why isn't everyone else out. With that said, there was still a good core of us sailing vs. those with the excuses. Matt is charging on his New Ezzy Wave Panther and I managed to crease my new Ezzy with an enourmous catapult, and am now nursing some really sore shoulders.

Solo session.

It was a funny old session as I was the only one out - Paul reckoned he was waiting in for a boiler service, Andy somewhere in central China, and Dan complaining of a sore knee (so acting photog). Very gusty at the start but smallish clean sets pushed through, and pretty 'warm' for Jan.


Despite this and being overly finned (and board for that matter) I only just squeezed my boots into the footstraps, but didn't want to come in to correct. When Dan left shortly after, and the camera firmly put away, I reset the footstraps making it SO much easier to wave ride. The second session felt so much better and really dialled and just as I started to relax, I took a set on the head and a board straight to my nose. Not sure if its broken, but my new Ezzy 5.2 is covered in blood : )

Not quite the christening I had in mind, but a lovely sail considering it was gusting between 17-30 mph (according to XC weather).

Early bird

Snuck out for the early bird this morning, and could only make one call to spread the news of good conditions. Andy (pictured above) the newest conscript to team Excel was my only choice, due to his never failing commitment to sail. Not sure if he reciprocated by phoning the others (and I doubt it), but if not, then this is in part an apology. Swell was really comfortable head high, and the wind was just on a force five making it a really nice cross-shore session. Off to Cornwall to see if they really do have as good a wave as Devon.

2010 RRD

The new kit has arrived and a seriously big thank you to Seasprite for hooking me up for 2010. Opening the boards was pretty exciting and Andy B. and I gently opened the boxes to see what the Italians had in store for the new season. On quick glance, the Wave Cult 80 now has flat pads, with shock absorbers introduced into the deck. This seems to be how a lot of boards have gone, and I am pretty excited to see if the 'best UK conditions board' has actually changed. I hope not ! I also got the new Freestyle wave 111 as a light wind option for getting out in even lighter air, but big waves. I have opted to surf on such days during the year, but am hoping for a return to form, and being powered up with a 5m sail when its barely blowing a Force 4.