I should have been in the Ray at Southend with my speed board this week, but despite the huge winds it didn’t seem right to be there without the rest of the drivenbywind crew. Instead had a visit from a few boys from Southend, or more to the point, Wet ‘n’ Dry. Clacton didn’t disappoint, but then nowhere in the UK could have with this weeks wind.

There hasn’t been a day this week you couldn’t have been on the water, Monday was ok, Tuesday was fantastic while Wednesday just went mental, and it still hasn’t stopped, not that I could make the last few days.

All this wind has brought a few more sailors out of the woodwork, even those who only sail a few times a year couldn’t resist. Though a couple of guys at the beach said they hadn’t been windsurfing for ten years, looking at the bottom of the board I think it could have been longer, but what the heck, it doesn’t matter how you get out so long as you do get out.

 

By Tuesday the there was already enough for me to be fully stacked on a 5.4, though we were surprised the waves hadn’t come up to much for the wind strength. It was good for a few hours but once the tide dropped away I tried out the kite, maybe I shouldn’t have.

Everyone tells me its easier the smaller the kite, but there nothing like finding out yourself. Shaun was on the camera all day and was pushing for me to give it a go, think he was bored with the lack of crashing while we windsurfed. At least I kept him happy.

For a while it felt like I couldn’t get anything wrong, got way higher than before, even transitions started to make sense, but I think that’s what they call “over confidant”. It was going so well I thought it time to try out a smaller board, Shaun’s was sitting in the van so why not, it hurts seems like a good enough answer.

The tide started to come back in, so did the waves. I hit one and got it all wrong in the air and came down hard and then get dragged. My foot popped out and gave my knee a good working and all but finished off my day.

Wet ‘n’ Dry came over the next morning, the last thing I felt like doing was going on the water, but how could I let them have our beach to themselves. Super powered on a 5m I headed up to the top corner where they were rigging kites, I couldn’t gybe but ok for a few forwards, it was so windy you almost couldn’t stop yourself doing them.

I ended up giving in and taking to the camera, Rich was pulling some supper high jumps on a 5m kite it was so strong. But to be honest it wasn’t nice on the water, more about survival than about the good conditions. That said they’ve seen the potential and are already planning another visit.

The rest of the week was more about frustration, I’m off to Egypt on Tuesday for a week with Harry Nass, the last thing I want is not to be able to sail, so I’ve kept off the water for a few days. Still, it was a good excuse to visit a few places I haven’t been to for awhile.

I used to race at Alton Water but haven’t been there for a while, what a pleasant surprise. It’s easy to think the majority of windsurfing happens on the sea, but seeing how many there were at Alton on Saturday, I might have to rethink that.

Team 15 had just come off the water when I got there; they’re one race away from being in the national finals and seem pretty confidant. But what surprised me the most was the amount of windsurfers there. Apparently they often get fifty plus on the water, and I thought Clacton was busy.