At this time of year I’m normally using the still air as an excuse to trawl through last years pictures for a reminder of the year gone by. I’d seen some good winds had been predicted but nothing compared to what turned up, 50knots plus winds hit country wide and for the first time I was left wishing it a lull would come soon, my 6.2m was way too big.
Max Row, Reece and I headed to Southend’s speed strip for a bit of sailing but right from the moment we arrived I know the day would be a struggle, rigging the smallest sail I had confirmed it. This definitely wasn’t 6.2m weather but what else was I supposed to do but try.
Max and Reece took to the water with 4.2’s while I headed up wind with the sail sheeted out as far as it would go, unfortunately the rig angle wasn’t much different going down wind. I gave it a few goes and never managed to pull the rig in or get any faster than 43knots. I ended up sharing Reece’s 4.2m for a while until a hailstorm made sailing that impossible.
A mental not in my mind read “biggest day or 2012 has already been set” blow me if that had to be rewritten two days later. Now coming out of the north we popped round to Point Clear and ended up sharing a 4.2 again with Reece. Point Clear was about as choppy as it can get and while there wind strength changed it was easier to continue sharing kit, though this time it was with Max.
Never expected to ride a 72 litre wave board but in the gusts I was planning right off the beach. To be honest this week was goes down as just an experience, though nowhere near as an impressive one as Steve Thorpe’s.
He was up at West Kirby when the wind kicked in, I’m not sure of the winds top speed but his 50knot 100m run was the highlight of my week and just wanted to give Steve my congratulations.
