With all the investment in weather forecasting you’d think they’d get it right. I was set for a calm week but ended up with the opposite. Ok, we were out at five in the morning to get the best of it in the week, but how could they have missed the low that hit Aberdovey in Wales on Sunday, it really can get too windy for a demo.

Combining long evenings and early starts we managed to get out on the water most days this week. Wednesday was our earliest start, Shaun declined my first two alarm calls but new they would keep coming until he got up. The tide was super low but being out on five meters more than made up for the water state, but if I thought that was hanging on, more was to come at the weekend.

Boardwise came good with the demo at Aberdovey, though I’m generally not so keen on mixing racing with demo days, it turned out to be one amazing weekend. It kicked off with big sails and a sky full of drizzle, there was enough for a sail but not constant enough for the racers to complete any rounds.

Sunday was very different. I woke to the sound of a howling wind only magnified by my hangover. Sacrifices were made to the wind gods the night before, and of those in the chair, only Jamie Hawkins and I made the water, the rest cowered in the pits for the rest of the day. Personally I blame Ben Severne, apparently us English boys drink like girls.

We were all a bit short of equipment on the demo, we never expected to be needing a quiver of 3.5’s, but those that did shared them around so everyone who wanted to get out on the water could.

I joined in with the slalom for a couple of rounds, last time I entered slalom the UKWA was still called the BFA. I was already out on my Pocket wave and a 4.2, but what the hell just got to give it a go. Jamie took off like a rabbit from the beach of every round and was hanging on to a 5.5 all day.

I got away last from the start, I’m really not built for running in soft sand, but once on the water it got a little easier. I couldn’t make up the gap on Jamie, but guess a second and third wasn’t so bad for a wave board.

Demo’s and Racing should work, the racing is as much fun to watch as it is it to take part, but some how we never see as many customers on the water when they’re mixed. I’d like to do a few more in the future, but better would be to see a few more free ride sailors giving it a go.