2009

According to the met office it wasn’t officially a white Christmas, though it certainly feels like it with twenty-five of us round the table there was a white feel to festive season. We’re a big family and often catch myself saying “and were all within walking distance”, if only that was true, our cousins live across America and Canada so forgive me the first pictures but easier than email.

Didn’t matter what I wanted to do, time wasn’t working with me. When it blew 40knots it was dark, when I needed a train it was cancelled and as for the snowy city pictures, it rained. When the snow finally fell I was back in London where it threatened but never settled, though I’m not complaining, turns out Factory Media don’t just produce great mags, they throw a mean party.

Going on a Jem Hall clinic comes with a warning, or at least that’s been my impression. I expected to see everyone being frogmarched to the beach or dropping to the floor as he booms out “give me ten” for each wrongly placed hand on the boom. Thankfully his bark is worse than his bite, truth is Jem is a baby in Shrek’s clothing rather than an ogre.

According to the wife my timing is impeccable, no that’s not a complement, more of a complaint as it hasn’t stopped raining since she dropped me at the airport. When Jem Hall asked me to join him in Jericoacoara I couldn’t find a good enough excuse to say no, so here I am getting burnt and battered by the endless conditions, sometimes life can be hard.

I can’t remember when I spent so much time in the UK as this year and what a year to do it. I know the wind Patten this month is off the hook but this year has to go down as one of the all time greats. I haven’t kept count, but I don’t recall many weeks where couldn’t get out on the water, and this week was no exception.

If this is winter then I just want more of it, and looking at the forecast that wish looks to becoming true.  I haven’t sailed the same beach twice and spent most of the week on sails around the five meter mark, even my new 4.2 got an outing, though today was a bit of mixture joy and frustration as conditions and beaches didn’t all line up.

Had I written this on Friday it would have been all about the forecast that never was. My search for wind soon turned into a search for shelter as the heavens opened, and when the wind did win through the light was fading and making pictures all but impossible.  Saturday was something different, it was howling. Normally I’d say you couldn’t want more than a day on a 4.7.

Think just about every part of the country had it windy but rainy, though that didn’t spoil the fun. Being bolt on shore at Clacton we headed for Point Clear for an early start, well I guess that’s the bonus of winter, early isn’t so early. While the wind built the kites were a good warm up for the real thing, an hour later and I was hanging on to a 5.3.

Think just about every part of the country had it windy but rainy, though that didn’t spoil the fun. Being bolt on shore at Clacton we headed for Point Clear for an early start, well I guess that’s the bonus of winter, early isn’t so early. While the wind built the kites were a good warm up for the real thing, an hour later and I was hanging on to a 5.3.

The thought of a seven-hour drive doesn’t really excite, add an eight knot rip into the mix and it’s enough to bring out a few excuses for staying at home. Having the gearbox fall out of the van would have been fair and honest reason to give this one a miss, but knowing the spot delivers it didn’t take long to persuade the wife it would be a romantic weekend.

The second part of Weymouth Speed week turned out to be a very light wind affair with little more than enough to drift around the bay, frustratingly though white caps were starting to show as we packed and headed for home. That might leave you thinking it was a non-event, to be honest I don’t think I’ve been in more need of sleep by the weeks end.

Been a funny old week, with the weather forecast promising all sorts but delivering very little. Even at weeks it didn’t really come together for the start of Weymouth Speed week, though sometimes that’s not a bad thing for this annual gathering. This is like a pilgrimage and while we all have a need for speed, the beach banter and mad scientists really make this a true event.

There’s nothing better than sailing on you home ground with your mates, apart from seeing a few new faces that is. Point Clear will never feel the power of a real wave break against it shores, but the combination of endless jumping out side the bay and flat water inside make a perfect playground to share regardless of you abilities, and with this windless spell breaking on a weekend how could I ask for more.

After the wedding I wasn’t expecting to hear from Timo for a week or two, how wrong could I be. Only two day’s had passed before I got the call, “where you sailing” with the forecast predicting little more than five knots I said “nowhere”. Now before I forget, wasn’t I the photographer for Nik’s wedding last month, hell I was in trouble for not putting up a picture or two.

I’d like to feel sorry for Nigel Howell the man behind WhiteAir, but no matter how much I try, I can’t. He and the rest of the windsurfers have my sympathy, the weather couldn’t have been worse, offshore and calm, but while it may not have gone our way it was still a huge success. So I can’t say I’m sorry, instead I’ll say good on ya and same again next year please.

Seeing a poor forecast for Poole Windfest I couldn’t turn down a trip to Fuerteventura, though rocking up at the beach to the hear “you should have been here yesterday” almost broke me. All the 2010 gear on offer from Starboard, Severne and Airrush spread across the beach and all I had to do was put on my harness and go, or at least I would have if the wind turned up.

Doesn’t matter where you go, Bank holidays are always rainy. While I’ll keep the details and most of the pictures for my “Home Ground” in Boards, though I can tell you we sailed several wave beaches with everything from side shore to survival. Driving home through that night I could hardly keep my eyes open, but then that turned out to be constant thread throughout the week.

Not sure if this a flashback to Cornwall or it just because I haven’t been to Wales for years, but hell it’s raining again. Up until the last couple of weeks I thought the country was in the midst of a heat wave. My garden’s burnt to death and is in desperate need of rain, but travelling around has given me a different view with lush green grass everywhere.

Having had so much success exploring the UK for my Boards beach guide it seemed only natural to stay in the country for a holiday. With three families it seemed impossible to find one spot to suit us all, until someone mentioned a camping holiday. The realities of pitching a tent every night soon sparked our final idea, a motor home holiday, no packing up and a new spot we’d all be happy.

Supposedly we came down from the trees six million years ago, but that didn’t stop us getting back up them for my birthday. Turned out to be a funny old day... Ended up on the phone for most of it as news was breaking at Boards Magazine - though I shouldn’t have worried as the weekend brought back a touch of normality with a trip in to Kent.

After the last few weeks the idea of a day off felt good, not that there was much chance of that, Nik not only got married, he got the key to the house two hours before saying I do. Wedding pictures are great if it’s your wedding, or you were there so don’t worry I wont invite you round for a virtual slide show, I’ll save them for the bride and groom.

Maybe I got married too long ago, but when did the stag night turn into a four-day binge feast in foreign lands, not that I’m complaining, as this wasn’t so much about the lands but the water we got to play in. Nikyboy AKA “Hollywood” picked me as his best man, though to be fair that honor should have gone to Paul or my brother Mark.

Back on the plane and heading home after another fantastic Vass week. With good winds, speed week not only flew past but it’s the best-attended week we’ve ever had. While we had a great mix on the week, my lasting moments will be windsurfing with my boy’s as both became windsurfers rather than just doing it for Dad. Though from the way Reece was handling the conditions I’d better watch out.

It’s been eight months since I stepped onto a plane and while I’m typing this at thirty thousand feet, this week was almost enough to have me cancel my ticket. Sorry if I can’t give the location away, not only is it another location report for an upcoming Boards beach report, but having just had the best sail for over two years I have to confess to being a little embarrassed.

What a week! It felt like I was everywhere and all at the same time - eight different beaches, a friend’s prom night and my brother Mark’s 40th birthday party. My beach guide in Boards has been the perfect excuse to go chasing the wind, and meeting new people is half the joy, but as we move from beach to beach it’s really rewarding to see a few guys joining in as we go outside their normal comfort zone.

It’s all to easy to sit and wait for the wind to come knocking, but sometimes you’ve got to meet it half way, unless you’re in the van with Timo that is. Having left at stupid o’clock we were stood on Gwithian beach by eight and in time to greet the wind on its arrival, though to be fair it didn’t really come knocking.

Don’t worry - the constant running around the country hasn’t got to me yet, though the amount of time I’ve been on the water this week you’d probably forgive me. This isn’t a feeling but a happening. Harty ran right over me! Obviously he’s not used to us Essex boys’  “it’s never over till it’s over” style, but maybe I left my forward a little late.

IStrange combination but that just about sums up my week, a couple of days on the water with a few more chasing around the country looking for more while somewhere in the middle my mate had be barrowing concrete through his house. And then there’s the wife, when I decided not to travel abroad as much, I think she thought that meant I’d be at home every weekend.

I guess it was a little to much to expect our run of luck to continue without a break. I’ve managed to be in the windy part of the country for six weeks so when I saw the forecast for the Aberdovey weekend I shut the laptop and went anyway.  It may have been a six hundred and fifty mile round trip without wind, but do you know what, it was worth it.

Who forgot to tell the weatherman it wasn’t a bank holiday weekend, boy did it rain, but then I’ve always said I’m lucky, had so many phone call telling me how bad it was just hours after I’d left. Went back to Rutland to see what was going on the inland racing scene and still made it back for an evening sail before heading of to Worthing for Sunday.

Last year I flew half way round the world for our White’s day out, so I guess there was no getting away with it this year. While we headed of to Thetford Forrest the boys took the water, doesn’t matter how many times I get out it still breaks me to leave a windy beach, but then I guess that’s I’ve inherited from my farther.

For some strange reason I’ve had a few emails asking if going to the office will keep me off the water. Sure Boards have an office full of desks, but I’d rather meet with the team in my office, it may not have a desk but then the boardroom is where the real work is done, especially if this weeks weather continues all summer.

Speed may have given me a great life, but who doesn’t dream of being a wave sailor. Believe it or not I was daft enough to enter the odd wave event years ago. My first was at Rhosneigr, conditions didn’t really play ball and we ended up moving round to another beach for light wind wave. I’m no better today, but being back in Rhosneigr couldn’t have felt better.

Over the years I’ve been called all sorts, most of which I won’t repeat, but a new title has been rumoured on the boards forum. While for those who need a box for everything could say it’s true, but for me “team mate” describes it better. While it appears to have raised a few questions, it probably answers the question, what brands will I ride!

Big thanks to everyone who donated for windsurfing 4 cancer research, I was amazed by the generosity, not only on my page but for all those who took part. This all started with David Tuttlebee and his fight with cancer, and while he wasn’t able to make it on the water on Sunday, you only had see his smile to know the day has already helped its first cancer sufferer.

I wouldn’t get away without mentioning the reason we had a party this weekend, I must have married young to make our silver anniversary already. That may have brought the week to an end Shaun opened it with a new addition, little Lewis, obviously the parents were happy but it was good to finally see Steve take his mind off his recent cancer treatment.

Didn’t think I’d ever say it, but thankfully windfinder got the forecast wrong and we ended up with three days on the water. Not all fully planning but those like moments were fine the kite while the real stuff was left for windsurfing. I’m up to try most sports but sometimes there comes a time when you really need to step away to save a few in injuries.

Writing here every week can get hard sometime, apart from having nothing of note to write about getting the pictures to fill in the blanks can be even harder. Not wanting to drown my cameras can make some of our sailing spots a little hard to capture, thankfully some clever brainiacs have not only made our pocket cameras worth using and also added a bit of water resistance to boot.

After the early starts last week I’ve been working on the van to make it more overnight friendly, but with everything in bits I jumped in Nik’s van and headed for the water at te first sign of wind. Being super light it was only going to be an evening kite session. I rigged up quickly and went to slip on the wetsuit when I realised it was still sitting in the back of my van.

Six hours on the water kicked off the fantastic week, but never expected it to end on such a high. Hanging on to a five meter as the sun goes down was the perfect finish to a week, but as the last few pictures will show, I’ve got a confession or two. While that Penguin was real we didn’t find it at the beach, we took it there.

Summer looked like it had set in this week, I’m all for blue skies’ but would always forgo them for a bit of wind, though I do wish I wouldn’t get so tied up in knots every time a tree moves. I always check windfinder before committing my self and as frustrating as it is when it doesn’t come through, there’s nothing worse when it does when it shouldn’t.

Just when you think life is sorted it can give you a kick in the pants. I’d only just finished posting last week report and I got a phone call from a mate at home, he’d just been diagnosed with cancer. While there isn’t much I can really do, I just wanted to get back to be a listening ear.

It seems to have been an eternity coming, but it was worth the wait, it felt like I’d been given the keys to a sweetshop. Sunday was the best day of the year, no wonder the beaches packed. With the series of beach locations I’m writing for Boards, I left the boys at home and went off to sail a couple of different beaches.

This winter the cold really has got a grip on the country, and while most would love to get away. I got a picture or two of a bird that’s feeling right at home, not that you’d normally expect to see a penguin walking around on Jaywick beach. Now easier to get my little studio out of its box I needed something to shoot. A harness, that’ll do.

This winter the cold really has got a grip on the country, and while most would love to get away. I got a picture or two of a bird that’s feeling right at home, not that you’d normally expect to see a penguin walking around on Jaywick beach. Now easier to get my little studio out of its box I needed something to shoot. A harness, that’ll do.

This winter the cold really has got a grip on the country, and while most would love to get away. I got a picture or two of a bird that’s feeling right at home, not that you’d normally expect to see a penguin walking around on Jaywick beach. Now easier to get my little studio out of its box I needed something to shoot. A harness, that’ll do.

Apparently the grass is always greener, think they should change that to “whiter” as the snow struggled to cover our grass, by Monday evening it had completely disappeared. I’m sure not everyone one was so keen to be snow bound, but the kids and I watched the news with envy. My week ended with a little new you wouldn’t normally take as a positive, it’s official, I have no taste.

East winds give us Essex boys the best conditions we can expect, but adding a little Siberian weather and it looks a whole lot different. I tend to just watch the wind strength and directions on forecasts, so you can imagine how much I was looking forward to the weekend. It started with a whimper late Friday, and by the time it was perfect on Sunday no one would go out.

Can’t deny I’m enjoying the kitesurfing, but there’s something special about windsurfing that I just can’t put my finger on. The light wind and cold weather has put us out on the kites more this winter, but just one decent breeze and you realise what you’re missing. A few of the ClubVass boys joined me for a sail on home waters this week, they should have stayed for Sunday.

It’s that time of year when you just let your mind wander and think, what if. Yep, it’s the London Boat Show. With my family so engrossed in boats it feel wrong not to visit even though windsurfing stopped attending a couple of years ago. If that’s not frustrating enough, the weathers been dividing the country, for get the North getting more snow, everywhere got more wind than us.

Got a confession to make, it was just too cold. We’ll I would have gone out for half an hour, but I couldn’t get anyone to join me. With all the snow around it just looked to cold, but in reality it was worse at the weekend. The local lads spent there winter holidays building new ramps in the woods, another good excuse for more photography experimentation.