South Westerly Window
South westerly sessions only have a short window - hour either side of high tide before our fins hit the channel sand bar.
Fickle winter winds
I have had a few 'Goldilocks' sessions lately - the first my Ezzy Freeride 8.5m2 was too small and Gav and I were slogging most of the day. Planning not to repeat that mistake, the next day I rigged my Severne CodeRED 11m2 sail, but the wind picked up and I was overpowered. Finally yesterday, I started on my 8.5m2 but quickly changed down to my Gaastra Pilot 6.5m2 - and everything was just right. Well almost...
The Seabreeze wind report
South westerlies are always a handful, gusty and in this case surging from 10 to 24 knots. One minute you are right off the plane and the next getting a power surge and instant acceleration. They also shift due west in the surges, so you can easily get into trouble out the front. Still it was a perfect day for winter, sunny and the water was crystal clear, even if the wind and water were icy cold.
Here are a few pictures form the previous sessions.
This would have been an awesome flat water SE session - if only I rigged the right sail :(
Andrew catches a session
Trying to get out the front at low tide
Nev caught off guard
Nev didn't fair much better. He arrived when the wind was up - so rigged small - and was hopelessly under powered out the front getting smacked in the impact zone.
3 comments:
Mat Watkins said...
Nice to be kept up to date thanks, nice touch on the ending camera work. Would have been a blast I just don't like the back to front runs LOL
Mat Watkins said...
Hi Henry, Mate i am keen on getting a cam like what you are using can you help with some info. 'thefoo4 at bigpond dotcom' if it is not to much trouble and best place to purchase etc.
Henry Thomas said...
No Problem Mat,
I use go pro cameras with the helmet mount kit. Here is a bit of info on how I keep them fog free etc [ Go Pro Tips ]. I purchased them on eBay. Just do a search for gopro. They are pretty indestructible.