Nothing but my GoPro to show as evidence of a pretty good session . Wind WSW 21-30knts, but just can't seem to keep my feet locked in on my rotations.

Couldn't really sleep through the night as the wind chimes were on overtime, and the rain was seemingly unstoppable. So I started the day at 4am, and by 8, I felt really tired at the thought of sailing in the storm. After dropping the kids off for school, I met with a smaller than normal crew, and we headed off the front. Wind seemingly had calmed down from the 61mph gust recorded at Chivenor, but still solid enough to score a good session, and some painful back loop attempts. Most impressive of all though, had to be Luke, with his large frontside airs surfing in almost blown out conditions. Amazing !

Finally got to the beach after a rather fraught day (more to follow). Wind was a little up and down but managed to have an ok session in the much decreased swell (reading over 6 mts this morning). Almost cross shore at times so quite fun for the wave riding back in. Think the kiters had the best of it though, it was actually nice to watch them ripping around !

Wind is howling and the skies are turning from deep blue, to fast squally rain showers, and then clearing again. Bit gutted to not be hitting the water on the high tide, but hopefully catch a late afternoon session when the wind has stabilised and the blue skies will be holding.
Photo updated from sail this pm.

Forgot to mention we had a great early morning surf with our Californian guest last week. Both wind and swell conspired to make Westward Ho get the compliment that it so clearly deserved - 'heh, this seems just like home' - to which I couldn't help but chuckle.

Worth a thought

As the age of environmentalism continues to drive home the harsh reality; that we consume too many of the earth's resources, the proposed Atlantic Array (one of the worlds largest wind farms to be sited off Lundy) - throws up some interesting dilemmas.

Firstly most popular debate will classically fall into the Not In My Back Yard - NIMBY category, and unfortunately such argument really does little to abate the steam roller effect of such a national sponsored plan (approved by the Crown Commission).

The economist Tobin's view of Intergenerational equity (according to Wikipedia) is the closest thing to being a real thought provoker.
Basically it refers to a relationship that a particular family has on resources. 'An example is the forest-dwelling civilians in Papua New Guinea, who for generations have lived in a certain part of the forest and thus becomes their land. The adult population sell the trees for palm oil to make money. If they do so at an unsustainable level there will be no resources for their children or grandchildren in the future. The unsustainable use of resources would then lead to Intergenerational inequity'.

My concern is that by building such a large offshore power station (akin to the size of the isle of Wight) in both an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty), Unesco Biosphere reserve and Marine conservation area, one might question whether Torridge district council should be agreeing a 1.5 gigawatt cabling through some of the countries finest coast line, and back through the villages of Abbotsham, Littleham and ultimately Alverdiscott.
(see article here from Local Press)

To date, the National Trust oppose this, yet the Local council who run AONB and the Biosphere reserve office, (according to article) have made no opposition.

Could this be that Torridge will be getting a considerable payout from the energy company, as NDDC did for the Fullabrook power plant (£120m into Council coffers). If this is the case, do you want your local council getting a payout/buy off, as it might slightly bias their view on whether to agree or not.

Hence my real concern on this, is I would rather a council that is lean and works hard to balance its books, without necessitating the selling of planning permissions. If this was a single developer, I believe this activity would be illegal ?

A completed wind farm of 418 wind turbines, could provide enough to power more than a million homes, but in terms of Carbon emissions for the build, how long will the £4.5bn spend take to recoup from its enormous environmental impact. Hopefully the UK government (who will be heavily subsidising this through our taxes) has done their sums correctly, and taken on some basic environmental economic premises such as Tobin's (Intergenerational equity).

Certainly - one thing is clear, in terms of view, future generations will never get to share the same uninterrupted landscape and horizon (pictured above) that ours and past generations have.

If you have any view or further interest; perhaps drop by when the consultation is on -
10th September
10am - 5pm
Abbotsham Village Hall, Abbotsham, Bideford, EX39 5AP

Really nice to dust off the kit and just get out for a good hack around. Smallish swell, but super fun at the river mouth on a 5.2; great to be so windy (despite onshore) on such a sunny day.

Last 24 hours saw a range of conditions, from clean to down right blown out, and bright sun to foreboding darkness. The shot above is the brief interlude where Dan and Andy sneaked out to score literally a few waves. I like this photo, because it was the one exception to what looked like a fairly poor session. After I shot this, we went up to the corner and the wind seemed to back off long enough to deliver some perfect overhead sets. Definitely an improvement from my session moments earlier in the wind blown slop, and my walk of shame past the life guard hut.

Nothing better than a shared wave with a friend or two. Great to see the full crew this morning, and Dan was heavy on the style today pulling off the longest ride complete with 360 pirouettes. Meanwhile the new board flew pretty good, tough to be too objective as it was such a nice morning. Wind goes fully offshore tomorrow with an improving swell.

In between grouting the new floors, sealing, sanding countertops, painting and generally sorting out a long list of chores, I snuck out to sand and finish this. Cherry resin tint 6'0 mini simmons all ready for its inaugural surf probably for tomorrow am. Results to follow, although I am hoping its possibly going to be bigger than predicted so I can score another session on the 6'1 Seedhouse.

Update - added the wonky chevrons for a bit of variance.

I love this little vid, for the beard action from Chris Del Moro and the offbeat look at design. Find your next board here - courtesy of Tom

I set the alarm a little too early for a 5.30 am session, hoping that I would see a little sunshine this morning. But by the time I got down, there was just one other, and no sign of Team Xcel. For half an hour the waves were clean and fun, and the sunrise was stunning, making the solitary surf all the more worth while. Shortly after it all clouded over and I think it was the gloom that helped produce this picture (its raw from the camera), with the camera overcompensating with a slower shutter speed to allow for poor light. Clouds are good, but whatever happened to August sun ?

Scored a great little session this morning on the latest Seedhouse, it is a hark back to the 80's but has some clear similarities to some of the JS-Blak Box and Al Merrick Motor boat shapes. It just flew and I couldn't believe the speed, on what was clearly a fairly limp swell. Going back in later for another session.

It was clearly time to return, when Hector exclaimed - "not another castle !"

Ten days of rural France, escaping the masses and whiling away the days thinking how much wind and swell there is going on in on our angry part of the North Atlantic. As becoming more of the norm for August, wind and swell and lots of rain forecast for the next 24hours, and it feels like a welcome return.

Just getting the itch to climb again. No signs of any real swell and its hot, albeit a little cloudy. Perfect conditions for a little dabble on Blackchurch (I wondered if they ever appreciated its satanic connotation).

Sharing the mini simmons stoke today in the small stuff. Just good fun, and great to watch your friends ride and hear the feedback.

Josh Kerr in J'Bay ep.3 from rustyintl on Vimeo.

Single fin fun, stolen, err borrowed from Stab.

Sometimes I haul myself off the sofa and make it out for last light. It's not usually quite so bright, this was a special one.

WNW

Where the sea meets the river,
and the sand turns to grey,
When the wind backs to Westerly
and the blue sky brightens day.
Theres a small group of friends
who travel for the wind.
They journey for the storms,
and seek adventure from within.

Rain squalls, and cross on for a little while, forecast looks set to howl tomorrow from the North West.

What an amazing day ! No idea of the temperature but it was hot, and great to be in a shorty in a clean and fun little swell. Thanks guys for helping with the digging today, looks like its the last of the blue skies as the wind is set to blow for the weekend.

Its always worth doing your own homework, as if you copy others you just don't get the real reward (at least thats what I tell Hector). Of course not following my own advise I lazily asked at the beach, how the forecast was looking. I rarely bother with the forecasts, and just usually wing it, based on the general synopsis from around the LG hut. Also, I have been so preoccupied with running, that swell forecasting has also really slipped from my list of priorities. So, after a chorus of 'its flat', I wrote off the week as a good chance to catch up on all my outstanding work. Early this morning, as I just started to build my list for the week, I clicked on Eyeball and HEH - there is a small swell around, early morning off shores and a very good chance of wind for the end of the week. Not sure if its just mid summer complacency on their part, but come on guys ! Blue skies, off shore and albeit small swell, is ok in my book. If that makes me a kook, so be it. But a happy kook at that : )

Upate - Its flat(nothing till Thursday)