Big changes this year with new sponsorship from Goya Windsurfing taking us to different places around the world.
Tenerife March…. Intro to Waves. We be running 5 courses over the year kicking of in March and one in the summer. A good place to start your wave sailing addiction with an amazing town and 3 different sailing spots. Le Medano has been up there for a long time as the place to windsurf with wind pretty much all year around!
Maui…. April 10th – 24th…. Its says everything in the name, wave sailing and jumping control
Sardinia….. May 15th -21st, 22nd – 28th …. With super cheap flights, flat water heaven and bump & jump. An amazing centre with lovely food. Two levels intermediate and Advanced
Lanzarote…..June 12th – 18th… Hanging out with Tonky Frans learning jumping control and a introduction to freestyle Advance
Tenerife….. July 10th – 17th… One week before the kids holidays so make sure you book soon as rooms and flights will go quickly and prices start to rise
Ireland…Sept 10th – 16th, 17th – 24th…. Demo gear from Goya and travelling the West coast of Ireland in search of the best waves for windsurfing and SUP. Based with Jamie Knox, we are excited about this trip as its such a lovely place and can offer some amazing waves. Intro to advanced waves
Croatia …..Oct 1st – 8th, 8th -15th….. Boat trip . We have manage to find a nice boat built for windsurf and surf trips along with a school to hire kit from. A good package for this amazing trip
Uk clinics… Oct 22 – 23, 29th – 30th… Will be on a forecast so please mail and we will let you know where we heading too closer to the time
Brazil Nov 26th – 4th Dec, 11th Dec 18th, Jan 7th – 15th ….. The windiest place at this time of the year and always windy always a happy vibe.
This year is booking up fast so please mail me for any more info
This video is about Gybing Tip #12 and it will help you to plane out of your carve gybes, by putting Fire in your Exit.
More #top100tips coming soon from #jemhallcoaching
Watch, enjoy and share please
Jem Hall Windsurfing Clinics | Windsurf technique – www.jemhall.com
PRESS RELEASE – CLACTON SEA AND BEACH FESTIVAL 25-26 JUNE 2016
The Clacton Sea & Beach Festival will be held on 25/26 June 2016.
In its second year, the festival aims to promote Clacton’s attractions and involve visitors and locals alike in a showcase event which offers something for everyone.
Throughout the weekend, there is an exciting program of outdoor music, children’s activities and a National Watersports Championship, with prize money to attract the top competitors in the sports of Windsurfing, Kitesurfing and SUP (Stand Up Paddleboarding.)
Along with the professional fleets, the Championship also has a strong focus on amateur competition and there will be encouragement for local riders to take part too.
Nick Turner, TDC’s (Tendering Distric Council) Cabinet Member for Coastal Protection and Seafronts, said that despite this being a new event, it is going from strength to strength.
“Spectators will be able to enjoy top class competitive events on the water just yards from the shore.”
The British Slalom Association, which is part of the UK Windsurfing Association, is to stage race four of the National Slalom Series in Clacton on June 25 and 26th.
A Stand Up Paddle (SUP) Boarding event is also being run by the British SUP Association. Again the racing will take place over both days of the festival and will attract the top competitors in the country.
One of the series of the British Kitesurfing Championships will be taking place off the coast, with more than 100 competitors expected to be challenging for the honours.
The championships are the pinnacle of the sport in the UK and focus on freestyle, in which the UK has been very successful on the world stage.
Last year’s event was dominated by Ireland’s Sean Murphy, who is lined-up to defend his title this year.
The area of beach being used for the 2016 festival will be extended to run from Clacton Pier up to and including Martello Beach.
Mick Skeels, TDC’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Tourism and Events, welcomed the announcement of an increased programme of music, children’s entertainment and a Saturday night beach party.
“We had fantastic crowds of around 50,000 on the first day of the festival last year and hopefully this will help us grow.”
A Battle of the Bands competition is being staged at Clacton’s Princes Theatre on May 15 to choose those to perform at the festival in June. For more information, contact Kai Aberdeen on 01255 686652.
Anyone interested in finding out more or wanting to take part in the festival should email seafronts@tendringdc.gov.uk
S_TYPE SL
The all new S_TYPE SL has just one goal: to be as successful as its legendary predecessors which won numerous world-wide magazine tests over the years and received first-class honors in their categories. Therefore Kai Hopf has thrown everything into the mix, resulting in even more performance without having a negative effect on the handling. The decisive factor is the NO.COMPROMISE.DESIGN that he translated directly from the WARP F2016 into the S_TYPE SL. Thanks to reinforcements around the leading edge, the known draft stability and the broad wind range could be retained. The result is a highly sporty and competitive slalom sail that thirsts for speed, yet is easy to tame.
E_Type
E is for exciting! The E_TYPE is exactly the type of sail to help windsurfing regain its real fascination. Rigs without a sweat, takes off and gets going without pumping. This sail boasts the perfect power and acceleration capabilities of our WARP combined with the handling of a NoCam sail. Windsurfing has never been so relaxed and exciting at the same time!
Last winter was fruitful in terms of chunky low pressure systems battering the south west but time and again the wind was from the west or northwest. There were no complaints from the Motley Crew who capitalized on this trend with numerous visits to the far flung corners of Cornwall but like starved addicts they were hungry for a classic southerly forecast to light up St Ives bay and feast on the joys of the thumping beach breaks from Hayle to Gwithian. Duly rewarded, the crew scored such a session, JC reports from the dunes of Mexico’s, a small sandbar with a big punch!
Words John Carter, Finn Mullen //
Photos John Carter
(This feature originally appeared in the November Descember 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)
EARLY WARNING
My first warning came from Timo who had spotted this blip on the weather map a week early. The red phone in my office had been dormant most of the winter, submerged under piles of overdue bills, hard drives and letters from the editor asking me to stop writing about my red phone, but one morning I luckily spotted that good old familiar glow flashing on and off through the debris. I scrambled to pick up the receiver wiping the layers of dust as I listened to the encrypted message (well it wasn’t encrypted but I can’t speak Northern Ireland’ese so I had to decode it) – ‘JC, this is just a warning, but next Saturday in Cornwall is looking epic, I know you had promised to take the Mrs to that fancy new restaurant at Portsmouth’s Tesco but this could be one of those days you don’t want to miss!’ A week is a long time for a forecast to change but gradually as the next days unfolded, the stars started to line up and frantic plans were made to swap round my dinner date and prepare for being locked out of the house for the next year and a bit.
GREEN LIGHT
Then on Thursday I heard Jamie Hancock was back in the UK fresh from three months in Cape Town and knowing he loves sailing down in Cornwall sent him a message to see if he was up for it. Now bearing in mind he had just spent all that time away from his girlfriend Becky, a trip to Cornwall on his first weekend home was going to go down like a lead balloon with extra lead and no balloon. Apparently she was riding her bike when he finally mustered up the guts to make the phone call informing her of his imminent departure to head west with the crew. Mid phone call, she hit a pot hole and went over the handle bars, to make matters worse she had just had a terrible day at work and this latest news was the last straw. But fortunately Becky has a heart of gold and despite a few cuts and bruises as she lay crying in the middle of the road, she gave the green light for Jamie to join the crew. Any normal person would of course refused and tended to their girlfriend lying in the road, fortunately Jamie is a Motley and left her there thankful that it was not his own bike that was potentially damaged and his day with the lads would not be ruined.
EARLY KICK OFF
So come Friday night (which was also Timo’s wife’s birthday!) we were gathered uncomfortably and guilt ridden at Timo’s place in Poole, all revved up for a 4am departure. According to Timo we had to be at the beach for first light because the tide was going to be flooding out and arriving any later we would miss the prime window. On top of the tides, we had heard through the grapevine that a convoy of would be warriors were also heading down from Witterings and other south coast haunts since Cornwall was the only place with a solid forecast. We were now in a race against the tide and the crowds!
So, after leaving behind three disgruntled wives and partners and enduring the miserable three and a half hour drive in the darkness, we finally pulled into Gwithian at 7.30am, eager for our first view of the conditions and to see if all this hassle had been worth it. Bitter disappointment was an understatement; for starters the sky was totally overcast, the swell looked kind of sloppy, there was barely a breath of wind and it was slightly onshore; it looked and was, utter pants. We sat in silence in the van as we contemplated this could be a wasted day, not to mention the £80 worth of diesel down the pan! We were at a low point normally reserved for watching England in a world cup penalty shootout. Timo however was still optimistic and declared we needed to move further round the bay where at least it would be more cross off. Next stop was Uptons but the caravan site was closed until 8am so we trundled further round the bay to Mexico’s, duly named after a pub that is no longer there – which was just as well as I might have called in for one or two crates of Corona!. Maybe not quite as clean as the Bluff but usually a foot or two bigger, Mexico’s is also less messy in a southwest wind than Gwithian and always worth a look if you are stuck for options in the area.
We were first in the car park and after watching from the dunes for five minutes Timo was looking far more positive that we could be on for a decent session. Over towards St Ives, the grey clouds were starting to disperse with a hint of blue occasionally peaking through. A few solid gusts were starting to blow the tops off the sets which seemed to be building as the tide started to flood out. I carefully assembled all the camera gear I would possibly need to last the day, in full knowledge that the last time I was here the walk down to the beach is an absolute killer and even worse back up.
The first thirty minutes were kind of slow going but all of a sudden the wind, waves and sunshine all just cranked in and the conditions started to fire. From fickle, big board, plod out, 5.3m weather, the wind started to howl, while the sets simultaneously hit the golden slot at mid-tide, with long peeling walls and smack-able lips wedging up on the inside. With the skyline of St Ives providing an awesome backdrop and the lush Atlantic waves rearing up as long green lines up on the sandbar, Mexico’s was providing a picture postcard back drop for every single ride. Jamie was hot on Timo’s heals to hit the water and wasted no time dialling into the conditions, smashing out enormous airs and throwing heavy hits on every section possible.
Timo was out for glory throwing down multiple forward loops off the lip, late hits and monster aerials. By mid-morning there was a solid crowd on the water, with the likes of Jamie Hawkins, Stefan Hilder, Sarah Bibby and the predicted south coast posse joining the Mexican wave fiesta (minus the dodgy hats and even dodgier tacos). Timo was forced to change down gear mid-session which meant a painstaking walk back up the sand dune back to the van to re-rig to his 4.7m and smaller board but when he came back he was charging harder than ever. By 1pm we were all toasted. The combo of a 4am wake up, on the water by 8.15am and four solid hours of hard-core conditions was enough; plus the wind had pretty much died come low tide. We stopped at M & S in Hayle to stock up on flowers, chocolate and anything else three apologetic windsurfers could offer in appeasement to our better halves for a day spent enjoying ourselves on the beach, while chucking in a few cans of spicy Pringles for the road in honour of our Mexican sojourn. It was a classic Cornwall day and even more classic Motley day as we learned the wind had filled back in on the pushing tide as soon as we left. Hasta la vista Mexico’s – we will be back! (if our wives and girlfriends don’t read this!).
JAMIE HANCOCK
“I’d only been back in the UK for a few days before the first charts started to light up. I was gagging to go on a trip with the boys and this Cornwall forecast looked perfect to try and acclimatise back to the UK winter conditions.
It turned out to be great fun once we made that dreaded trek down the hill to the beach. The higher perspective from the car park was deceptive to knowing the actual size of the swell; it turned out to be quite punchy. After the initial shock to the system of the colder water I slowly started to dial into the way the waves were hitting the sandbar. I went for bigger kit with a 4.5m Vandal prototype and my Tabou 75 litre board but that quickly proved to be way too big. The hill is a nightmare to get up and down at Mexico’s so I stuck with the 4.5m but could have easily dropped to a 4.0m and small board by the middle of the session. I was lucky enough to nail one or two decent airs and plenty of other fun waves. There were plenty of others charging and everyone was absolutely loving it on the water. Most amazing moment of the day? Well that has to go to Jamie Hawkins and how many times he dropped in on everyone, must have been a record!”
“ It was a classic Cornwall day and even more classic Motley day as we learned the wind had filled back in on the pushing tide as soon as we left ”
TIMO MULLEN
“Mexico’s has always been one of my favourite spots to sail in Cornwall, it is a lot cleaner in a SW wind than Gwithian and in my opinion a bit more punchy. This day was really good fun, big enough to get the adrenaline pumping yet
still pretty playful. Sessions like this remind me why I am building a house at Gwithian!!’’
Fanatic drop a video of their two watermen – Airton Cozzolino and Gollito Estredo who they note have more than a few things in common! – ”Both are multi-talented, both are skilled at a number of watersports, both are World Champions and both were escaping the poverty of their hometowns, by following their dreams of success. Gollito, the fisherman´s son from El Yaque, is the Freestyle legend, but is also ripping with his Kite and SUP gear. Kite genius Airton Cozzolino from Cabo Verde rips the waves apart on his kiteboard, windsurfboard or SUP, at the highest possible level.”
Have you ever wondered how many stages go into the manufacture of your sail before you roll it out for the first time on the beach? Andrea Cucchi gives us an exclusive behind the scenes look at the production facilities used by Point 7 in the Aquadynamics loft, Sri Lanka.
Words Andrea Cucchi // Photos Andrea Cucchi and John Carter / pwaworldtour.com (action shots)
(This feature originally appeared in the November Descember 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)
TESTING TIMES
There are a lot of steps to arrive at the point that a sail can be rigged on the beach to plug and play and enjoy all the great feelings we have when windsurfing and herein I hope to give you an insight of the production process. The production of a sail starts at the development. This is usually directed by the feedback of the clients who use our final product and of course, the top PWA pro riders who test the gear to its limits and sometimes beyond!. After hours of testing on the water, jetting around the world to discover different conditions, flying to events to be with the riders, jumping on the race course to test, simply sailing with recreational windsurfing friends on a daily basis and meeting with dealers and distributors, finally the whole feedback is put together. The sail is designed on CAD files, graphics are defined, material organized with suppliers from different parts of the world, samples to test, test, and test again, by doing all what you just read over and over again.
TALKING NUMBERS
At the point when we are all smiling and positive results are happening on the water, it’s time to confirm production. When the production facilities receive the final patterns and files of the new editions, their work starts. Generally a brand has 10 sail lines with an average of 8 sizes each. This means having to deal with around 80 different models. Any idea how many pieces a sail is assembled from? A race sail has over 200 patches without counting hardware components, battens, and rubber protections, otherwise it is closer to 250-300. Multiply 250 by 80 models, that means 20,000 different parts. Everything has to fit and it is not like you just press the button with the file of the sail, and the sail comes out ready. The production of a sail range is an extremely complex process and there is no room for error.
STEP BY STEP
Each file is checked by experts in the production process to verify any mistakes in the patterns given. They study all the parts to see if there are any which will be difficult to be produced due to prints, assembly or anything else.
GRAPHICS/PRINTING
The graphics are sent out to the print department in the production facilities as they have to plan out all the screens. Each print has to fit the size of the sail. The other thing to take into consideration is that the graphics can be really cool, but is it really possible to print everywhere? Not always due to the materials. Different solutions need to be found. The colour also has to match on different materials and therefore the shade might need to be changed. The graphical patterns printed through different panels and materials need to be in line, and this is not another quick job, as panels have shaping in them. Sail sizes are not just simple scale downs as there are fixed points, such as the boom opening and clew, therefore each graphic has to be completely re-drawn on each size. So let’s say there are 30 prints on one side of the sail, this has to be multiplied by 2, as there is a port tack and starboard tack, especially when using black monofilm which is not see-through. Times these by 80 sails! = 4800 prints! That is the staggering but true number of graphic screens that are needed each season in a sail range!
NESTING
Going back to the technical drawings, once everything is checked, the various pieces are separated according to the materials and nesting is the next part. Nesting refers to the process of laying out cutting patterns to minimize the raw material waste and is like playing tetris!. The rolls of material are generally not higher than 1.40m. So the patterns of the sails and all the pieces need to be cut to fit in that height. There are computer programs that can manage this, but it is more efficient when done by hand.
THE PLOTTER
Once the nesting is finished, the rolls of the different materials are placed on the cutting plotters which start cutting the material.
MONOFILM QUALITY CHECK
Each material cut is checked to make sure that the cutting is perfect, and that the monofilm has no production defects. After being cut, the material is checked again piece by piece to make sure that there are no scratches or dings.
PROTECTING THE MATERIAL
Each material cut, is covered with super light paper and tape, to protect it from scratches. The paper is cut manually to fit the size of each panel. The monofilm, before being assembled to become a sail passes through around 177 people. If a single person were to make a sail it would take around 597 man hours per sail in a normal production run with all the graphics, care and checks. A sail designer working alone and without the need to put on prints or other detailing would normally take a week to produce a sail.
CUTTING
Much of the dacron tape and materials which are just internal stripes or reinforcements, are cut by hand as it’s faster.
PREPARING SCREENS FOR EACH PIECE
When all parts are cut, they are sent to the printing department. On each piece are written instructions, to make sure that the printing department know exactly what they are receiving.
PRINTING
Before we were talking about how many screens there were, but let’s say that one panel has 4 colours. The same panel has to be screen printed 4 times for the 4 different colours. Each colour needs 4 hours to dry. This means that to finish one panel on one side, it takes 16 hours. When you have to print both sides, it means 32 hours in total!
PRINTING QUALITY CHECK
When each part is finished printing, they are sent to a department which checks again for quality and to make sure the panel is looking perfect, otherwise it
is discarded.
BATTEN SELECTION
The batten department never sleeps. The machines that produce the rods and tubes are working 24 hours a day. The average is 5 battens in each sail and each has different lengths, materials, constructions, stiffness and set ups. The work to assemble, cut and grind the battens is all done by hand.
“ If a single person were to make a sail it would take around 597 man hours per sail ”
SAIL BAG
As the sail is being printed and battens are being made, there is a totally different department taking care of the sail bags. Do you think making sail bags is an easier than a sail? It still needs printing and each bag has personalized prints according to the size of the sail, and the graphics need to fit all different boom lengths of sails. It has zippers, in built protection, different materials, and therefore nesting, cutting and the whole procedure is the same as for a sail.
STITCHING THE SAIL
Once all the parts are ready for assembly they are all brought to the last department. This is where the sail is assembled. There are 8 different teams, each specialized in different sections. It starts with the assembly of the panels on one side, and with the assembly of the mast sleeve on a different side. Once the parts are assembled the stitching starts. It’s a very precise job, as a 1mm mistake in joining the panels gives a different profile and leach opening, so the staff has to be fully focussed when doing this to perfectly match each part.
STITCHING THE MAST SLEEVE
The mast sleeve requires a huge amount of work as well. On a formula sail there are many patches, actually combined they are the size of a small wave sail. There are thick reinforcements which need expensive and heavy sewing machines which cost over 30,000 euros.
STITCHING THE BATTEN POCKET
Once the batten pockets are prepared, these are the first components to be stitched on the sail.
ASSEMBLY
Then for a race sail the most important and difficult part begins. The assembly of the mast pocket to the body of the sail. It has to be done gently and to make it perfect is not simple. It’s an art. Once assembled it goes to the final table to be stitched.
FINAL STAGES
At this point the sail is made. Remember that 220 pieces have been put together until now by hand and 180 people have touched your sail. It has passed through 5 different departments and landed on 30 different tables, left to rest on many different shelves, rolled 30 times, and the monofilm has not one scratch or ding. Did you ever try to roll or lift up a sail with no battens? Or played with a piece of monofilm 1m by 1m. How long does it take you to get the first scratch on a sail? It’s a miracle how in production the sail comes out without any damage at all. There is so much care and love for the work done, it is truly amazing to see. As I said before, each piece of monofilm is covered with paper when transported from one table to the next. To work on the sail, the paper has to be taken out, and immediately after, is put back on with tape. It’s incredible when you see all the attention to detail with your own eyes.
FINAL STAGES
These are the final steps. The sail is then taken to a table where all the extra thread is burned and cut.
EYELETS
On to the next table where the sail has the outhaul eyelets put in.
POLISHING
The sail has no scratches, but a lot of finger prints. So it goes to the next table, where it gets polished with coconut oil to remove the finger prints and notes.
BATTENS
The sail is ready to have the battens and cams placed in.
FINAL CHECKS
The sail is ready to be completed, by being screened on the table of the quality manager. He goes through each single detail checking that nothing is missing, or out of place and that all is clean and smooth. The sail is rolled with extra paper and foam to protect it from being scratched during transport, stickers, gadgets, spare parts are all added and finally all put in the sail bag.
PACKING
The sails are than single boxed, each box has the serial number of the sail, and all the info that goes with it. All is ready to be shipped in the container and ready to go by air or by sea and clear customs in the various countries we distribute in.
JOURNEY
How many kms more will the sail do? How many hands will be involved before it reaches the customer and goes on the water? The answer is many! Every year, new patterns are developed therefore more nesting, the graphics change so new screens, innovations are introduced for hardware and materials and new moulds need to be built. The evolution of sails is a lengthy and ongoing process! So the next time you unroll a sail for the first time at the beach or on your lake, just think for a moment all the stages it went through before it can finally hit the water! Have Fun! Andrea Cucchi.
On 04th January, the wave forecast for the Hawaiian Islands called for big swell and our team riders Jason Polakow KA-1111, Robby Swift K-89 and Morgan Noireaux HI-101 got their mind set to challenge Peahi. The wind at “Jaws” was not strong but the riders were able to catch some big waves! Jason Polakow had one of his typical “out-of-the world” crashes and went over the falls… Enjoy the action.
Discover Noumea, New Caledonia the childhood land of Sarah Hébert, professional windsurfer. FANATIC, NORTH rider, supported by ION and Picture organic clothing. Follow her in this windsurfing session during 2016 summer, wind is blowing due to the tropical depression Winston crossing the island by the south.
(Prices include delivery anywhere globally 10 times a year.)
Winter’s tale issue – Polakow rides Nazaré, Traversa XXL Basque country, Jaws Journals – Naish, Polakow, Brawzinho and Katchadourian recount their rides, Sailing Storm Imogen on the South Coast of England, Viking test – Kevin Pritchard sails Denmark in winter, Freerace tests – 120L. Boards & 7.0 no-cam sails, Harty’s onshore tips, Jem’s moves that matter, Mediterranean travel guide, Starboard designer – Tiesda You interviewed, Harty’s history of storm riding.
BIG JUICY READS
THE JAWS JOURNALS
Jason Polakow, Marcilio ‘Brawzinho’ Browne, Kai Katchadourian and Robby Naish breakdown the action on and off the water for a compelling insight into their heroics at Jaws.
BLACK MONDAY
Storm Imogen swept in 50 foot waves from the Atlantic and battered the south coast of England with winds gusting over 100 knots! The Motley Crew tell the story of their Black Monday mission.
BOOMING BASQUE
In a performance that nearly broke the internet, Thomas Traversa tells us of his XXL mission in the Basque country.
NAZARÉ
Jason Polakow becomes the first wind powered athlete to ride the infamous wave of Nazaré, Portugal. Jason recounts the wipeouts and waves of a pioneering session.
POLAKOW’S NAZARE BOARD
We hear the story of the making of Jason’s special board for riding Nazaré.
THE VIKING TEST
The waves may have been cold but the warmth of the locals showed him real Aloha. Kevin Pritchard tells us why he made a trip in December from Maui to Klitmoller, Denmark.
GEAR SHED
120 LITRE FREERACE BOARDS
Our testers review the boards promising comfort and speed; designed for your drag racing pleasure!
7.0 NO-CAM FREERACE SAILS
The latest no-cam sail designs target performance and ease of use – do they deliver? The test team find out.
RRD Fire MKIII 6.8m, North E-Type 7.3m, Severne NCX 7.0m, Neil Pryde Hellcat 7.2m, GA Sails Savage 7.2m, Goya Mark 7.2m, Vandal Stitch 7.0m, Point 7 AC-X 7.0m, Simmer V-Max 7.2m,
TEKKERS
PETER HART TECHNIQUE – BREAKING ONSHORE RUTS.
The reality of sailing waves in onshore winds is that it’s easy to do – but hard to do well. In the first of a two-parter, Harty offers advice about how to rip the mush.
MOVE ON UP WITH JEM HALL – THE MOVES THAT MATTER.
For many people April is when we dust off the kit and aim for new targets, Jem clarifies the ‘Moves that matter’ and how to improve in these at all levels.
BOARDSHORTS
LATEST & GREATEST
CNN, SKY NEWS and the BBC have rolling news to cover world affairs. We have Latest and Greatest to cover windsurfing’s newest news updates, it’s kinda the same thing as they do on the telly..ish!.
LOWDOWN
RRD AIRWINDSURF SAIL – RRD designer and all round ripper, John Skye, discusses his innovative new rig, designed for portability and able to fit in a small bag!
TIESDA YOU
Starboard’s head of design talks theory, innovation and why he still loves windsurfing.
SIX WEEKS
The UK winter is normally Western Australia’s prime time windsurfing season, but not this year. Paul McGill ponders on a strange and strained summer down under.
MEDITERRANEAN TRAVEL GUIDE
If your passport is tempted by the lure of crystal blue seas and reliable thermal winds, read on for our look at some of the Med’s best spots to get your windsurfing fix in
SITTIN’ ON THE DUNNY
EDITORIAL
It has been an exceptional winter for windsurfing in the UK and abroad – the editor celebrates the bounty and benefits of such a season and the importance of recording this winter’s sessions.
AFFAIRS OF THE HART
After an eventful winter of heavy wind and high seas, Harty looks back at the history of storm riding.
STARBOARD, AIRSUH AND SEVERNE WORLD DEALER MEETING 2016
STARBOARD, AIRSUH AND SEVERNE WORLD DEALER MEETING 2016
Starboard, Airush and Severne Sails team up to provide dealers around the world with the experience to test, demo and learn about the latest products, technologies and fun.
(This feature originally appeared in the November December 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)
Autumns in Ireland and Scotland are like Forest Gump’s box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get – but they’re always ‘chocolatey.’
“ It’s really kicking off over there in Coll tonight. It’s completely lighting up the night sky. I didn’t know it had such a big town.” Said Steve, having just joined us from making a phone call on the pier outside the Hynish centre on Tiree (the only spot where you get a signal).
“It doesn’t” said Bill. Coll is the neighbouring island of Tiree, population 220 humans and a handful of corncrakes.
“Oh – in which in case in must be the last glimmers of the sunset.”
“What? At midnight, in October … to the east of us?!”
The penny dropped. As one, our group leapt to their collective feet, sprinted outside, screaming “NORTHERN LIGHTS!!”
It’s something I’ve always wanted to witness ever since I saw Bill Forsythe’s magical film ‘Local Hero.’ Don’t say you haven’t seen it. It was the favourite film of everyone who was conscious in 1983. It tells the story of a US oil company trying to buy off a small Scottish fishing village so they can install a refinery. They send over MacIntyre, the young exec., to offer the locals untold riches for their land so they can exploit it. But he falls in love with the place and the lifestyle (and the hotelier’s wife) and doesn’t want to leave.
It was both hilarious and poignant. The oil company boss, played by a very mature Burt Lancaster, was actually more interested in whether MacIntyre had seen the aurora borealis than whether he’d clinched the deal.
The crowning scene was a very drunk ‘Mac’ with a fistful of 10 pence pieces, calling Burt in the middle of the night from a red phone box and trying to describe the scene above his head.. “I’m watching the sky sir … it’s doing some amazing things … it’s white and green and red, oh no sorry, that’s the phone box … oh – and now it’s blue!”
So there we were, dropped into our own ‘Local Hero’ moment, in a totally unblemished corner of Scotland with no light pollution, on the clearest night imaginable, watching the best light show in the cosmos. And Tiree still has red phone boxes.
A week before that on the 1st of October in Donegal, an incredibly high pressure over most of the UK had left us in a vacuum over a mirror Atlantic and topless in 25°C. temperatures. We launched the SUPs into Sheephaven Bay, one of the most stunning stretches of coastline in the world, punctuated by endless crescent bays, forests and caves. Would the dolphins leave us alone? At least 20 of them slalomed around us as they herded shoals of Pollock into rocky corners before filling their metaphorical boots.
They dove in unison, surfaced in unison and emptied their blowholes in unison. I swear it was better rehearsed than any Florida dolphinarium … and absolutely free.
The northern lights and dolphin show occurred during my annual four week wave tour of Donegal and Tiree. It’s a trip I’ve been making for a number of decades. If I have a problem with it, it’s in explaining the concept to the uninitiated and offering a clear idea of what might happen.
Imagine a conversation with a washing machine salesman who in answer to your questions about whether a particular model gets clothes clean, answers: “Good point sir. Sometimes it can be amazing … but you never know. The Washamatic 32000 is bit of surprise package. But all I can say sir, is that whatever happens, you’ll have a lovely experience.”
It’s not a great pitch is it? But that is the exact same story with windsurfing trips to the north Atlantic.
Will there be waves and wind? Which is the jumping tack? Will I finally be able to nail the loop and sort out my bottom turns. Will I perish from hypothermia?
Ummm … there’s a very good chance you will do a lot of windsurfing – but then it might also be perfect for a SUP tour and a surf. As for jumping tacks … well that depends on the wind. Last year it was mostly westerly but the year before that was NE and a bit of south. And the waves? Well they could be anywhere between 3 inches and 30 feet. And what about warm clothing and a very thick wetsuit you ask? Yes, yes … as a precaution. But as my old Gran would say: “it‘s a difficult place to pack for.” So you also better bring some factor 50 suncream because last year a couple got horribly burned feet and noses. But what I can guarantee is that every day will be good for something and during the week, something extraordinary will happen. Like what? I don’t know – but it always does.
The joy of not knowing
The best wedding I went to was my brothers – because it was memorable – not for the vows, flowers and food, which I’m sure were tear-jerky, beautiful and delicious; but because towards the end of a very long reception I was mistaken for a tramp and locked up by the hotel under manager until someone less the worse for wear could identify me. It’s the unexpected and the unlikely that thrill us and imprint events deep into the memory.
My best windsurfing trips have also been made memorable by events other than the focused act of trying to complete a new or better move.
We can’t guarantee Northern Lights or the appearance of a private dolphin pod – but when you place yourself in a stunningly remote area facing a wild, untainted ocean and head to a different spot every day – then the doors are open for wild and wonderful events.
And wasn’t chocolate mentioned in the intro? Well the third most memorable event of the tour was the appearance of Gerry, a professional chocolatier, who arrived with a van full of designer sweet-meats. Now that really was special.
Jem Hall, CEO of www.jemhall.com , gives us his latest tips for tacking
”This video is about Tacking Tip #6 This video gives you the top entrance tips for the tack. Highlighting the importance of getting your hips forward and rig back on your entrance, as you look forward, good beginnings make great endings
Own tacking and you will own windsurfing!
#top100tips #jemhallcoaching #ezzysails #rrd #ezzyuk
The action clip was filmed in Punta San Carlos, Baja, Mexico on a Ezzy Taka and RRD Firewave 92”
”Insane action of Surfing, Kitesurfing, Windsurfing, Wakeboarding, Suping, Mountainbiking. ION extreme sports action video 2016.
Experience how adrenaline works. The IONcrew is a combination of extreme sport athletes from all over the world, pushing boundaries every day. See in thrilling GoPro pov-shots how they redefine the world of action sports.
The highly technical ION products excel in durability, performance and fit. So that you’re able to push your personal limits to the max.
No matter who you are and no matter which board or bike you ride: Surfing Elements connects everyone shredding waves, busting trails or bombing any kind of obstacles.
The IONcrew doesn’t differentiate between international top athlete and weekend warrior, we’re one team with the same passion.
This 2016 Brandclip features the following IONcrew members –
Andy Criere 1:08 (france), Aaron Hadlow 1:01 (united kingdom), Airton Cozzolino 02:22 (italy), Patri McLaughlin 01:51 (US), Matchu Lopes01:13 (italy), Tom Court 01:24 (united kingdom), Craig Cunningham 02:55 (Canada), Stefan Spiessberger 01:42 (austria), Dominik Gührs02:27 (germany), Clement Nadal 0:5502:35 (france), Matt Montoro 02:07 (france), Victor Fernandez 0:42 (Spain), Gollito Estredo 01:15(Venezuela), Nacho Rocha 02:53 (spain), Craig Cunningham (canada) ,Kelly McGarry 1:30 (new zealand), Antoine Bizet 02:50 (france), Nick Pescetto 01:33 (italy), Julia Hofmann 0:50 (germany), Rob J. Heran 0:50 (Germany), Kellys Dog 02:02 (new zealand)
Locations:
Fuerteventura/Spain, Geisenfeld/Germany, Mount Batur / Bali, Maui, New Zealand, iwakepark lacanau / France, Mauritius, Basque Country, Utah / Red Bull Rampage, Montpellier/FISE, Hood River/USA, Caribbean, Sumbawa
Music:
Build a weapon / Chad Petree and Jeremy Darson
KAS-007 – Shiny Toy Guns UPPM France
After Windsurf’s Famous Five coast run from Weymouth to Lulworth, I mentioned to Ross Williams perhaps we should try a downwinder back home on the Isle of Wight. My idea was to cruise from Yarmouth on the far north west of the island round to Sandown Bay on the south east; quite an ambitious run of around 25-30 miles. But upon hearing the plan Ross casually brushed it aside and announced he wanted to go all the way – round the island! Armed with a decent safety boat and an experienced driver, here’s how our circumnavigation went down!
Words & Photos JOHN CARTER
(This feature originally appeared in the November Descember 2015 issue of Windsurf Magazine. To read more features like this first, Print and Digital subscriptions are available. Prices include delivery globally for 10 x issues a year!)
Round the Isle of Wight is approximately 60 miles as the crow flies and a gruelling challenge to navigate upwind, downwind and the island’s notorious tides. In many ways ‘going all the way’ made sense; since one way or another we would have to return to where we started; so why not just do the full lap on the water. Plus neither of us had ever circumnavigated the island before, so it was a box we both felt needed to be ticked. It just so happened the perfect forecast loomed up on the longest day of the year, June 21st to be precise, the summer solstice; obviously we were hoping not to need the full 16 hours of daylight to round the island but having the extra time was useful while we waited for the sea breeze to kick in. Using the data from my camera files I was able to record the exact times of each photograph, thus giving us the correct timing at every stage in the journey; here is our ship’s log!
12:00 – Ross rocks up at my house slightly hungover. It’s not often he gets to catch up with his friends in Ventnor so a few beers had gone down on Saturday night. As for me, I am all packed, camera gear wrapped in plastic bags and some Scooby snacks and drinks loaded into our waterproof cooler. The tide charts were showing high water at 4pm, so as long as we made it round the far west tip of the island within a couple of hours of departure, we should theoretically hit the outgoing tide as we head back up the Solent into wind for the top half of the island; easy!
13:52 – Ross steps into the water at Colwell Bay armed with his largest slalom quiver, a 9.6m GA Vapour and 130 litre Tabou Manta and 46 F-Hot fin ready for an 80 odd mile marathon. He probably would have switched last minute for his 8.4m had I not insisted we take a spare sail just in case in the boat; oops sorry! The weather forecast was calling for 15 to 18 knots but it was already gusting well over twenty in the Solent and looking pretty choppy upwind. Overhead the sky was overcast with patchy clouds but a few glimpses of blue showing on the horizon seemed to promise that the sun would shine at some point on our journey. I am all loaded in the 5.5m RIB with driver James Meaning and assistant Caroline, all nice and dry and ready for this epic adventure.
14:17 – It only takes twenty five minutes to reach the Needles, the far tip of our diamond shaped island, by which time Ross has realized he is totally stacked on his 9.6m and everyone in the boat is utterly drenched from head to toe. Short spaced standing waves over a metre tall make for a hellish rounding in the boat. Ross is clinging on to the 9.6m and scouring at me in the boat for stealing the 8.4m. We have been to the Needles a couple of times before but never ventured round the giant white cliffs down towards the western side of the island. Personally, I felt once round the daunting cliffs at this extremity of the island, the real excitement would begin.
No matter how many times I have ventured out to the Needles, it is impossible not to be dazzled by the stunning scenery of this iconic landmark. The jagged white rocks that rise up to the 120 metre tall cliffs are mother-nature’s offering, but throw in a 31 metre tall man made red and white lighthouse complete with helicopter landing pad on the roof, and the view from the water was jaw dropping.
Ross – “The equipment was already a bit of a handful, I wasn’t getting slammed but it was kind of close! Even from Colwell to the Needles was a fair old distance so I suddenly started realizing what I had let myself in for. Around the Needles the sea was brutal and I was way overpowered on the 9.6m. I could tell Carter wanted me to keep passing the lighthouse for more photos but I did it twice and that was enough, if he missed it; hard cheese!”
“ The Solent has some of the most complex tides in the world, the current can be up to five knots working against you ” JC
14:37 – We make our way down past the first stretch of towering white cliffs to Freshwater Bay one of the top surfing spots on the Island. Today the water is relatively flat but when there is a large ground swell in the channel combined with low tide and north winds, this wave is world class!
Ross – “I was hoping it would flatten off after the Needles but it didn’t. Rounding the stunning cliffs at Scratchell’s Bay down to Freshwater was already a long stretch, the angle of the wind, the chop and the cliffs, it was horrific to sail. Nobody ever windsurfs up there! Those cliffs are remote and only accessible by boat. All I could see was the headland at Blackgang thirteen miles down the coast and that became my next target.”
14:47 – Making our way slowly but surely down the coast I can see Ross is having a hellish time running downwind. He was riding the board with his back foot out of the straps which looked very awkward and uncomfortable.
Ross – “It was too out of control otherwise. I wasn’t trying to go full power down that section; I was just trying to set a comfortable trim. As soon as you stick your back foot in the strap on a slalom board you are going to speed up and it becomes much harder work.
The back foot in the middle of the board over the fin, is a technique we use in formula. On those boards we have inside straps as well for this. You are able to keep the sail sheeted out and take the pressure off of your back and your arms. This way I could cruise down at a deeper angle than if my feet were out on the side of the board.”
As we passed Brook Chine I spotted former British wave sailing champion Nigel Howell out kite surfing, which was kind of a surreal moment. I heard he rarely kites these days so to catch him while he was out there was a total coincidence. Meanwhile in the boat with the wind and the swell slamming us from the side, all crew were now looking like drowned rats. Spray was flying over the boat every time we hit the chop and my main concern was keeping the cameras dry and working. Despite being soaked through to the skin I was enjoying the ride; just to be able to savour the island from this unique vantage point was totally amazing regardless of any discomfort involved.
15:10 – The next landmark was the huge cliffs at Blackgang after a long stretch of low brown sandy coastline. Back in the nineties, Tushingham’s sail designer, Ken Black, owned a cottage on the edge at the top but he woke up one morning to find his sail loft precariously hanging half over the edge following a landslide. The house was not insured and ended up going over the edge a few years later; fortunately the family had evacuated at this point!
Along with the remains of Ken’s house, these cliffs also contain the bones of many dinosaurs and other ancient reptiles from millions of year ago and are notorious stomping grounds for fossil hunters and would be geologists. Blackgang Chine, also on top of the cliffs, is one of the island’s most popular theme parks and is also the oldest amusement park in the UK.
15:19 – We make it down to the southern tip of the island and pass the infamous St Catherine’s Lighthouse, where at last we are no longer being pounded by the wind and waves in the RIB. Niton is normally a place I shoot wave sailing and surfing in the winter but today it’s a rare treat to take in these breath-taking surroundings from the water.
Ross – “The wind was accelerating around the points so I just took my time and tried to relax. My legs were already quite tired, even rotating the cams was tricky sometimes. The current was strong along that stretch so I hugged close to the land. I could see rocks under me when I came on the inside at the lighthouse and the water was ripping away with the current.”
15:44 – This whole stretch of coast round to Sandown Bay, where I live, is one of my favourite stretches of coast on the island. These wild wooded ravines, chines and secluded bays, to me are the island’s very own version of Jurassic Park, with many areas untouched and uninhabited due to landslides, slippery clay and inaccessibility. We finally blast into Ventnor and once Ross sniffs out a crowd of beachgoers are watching, suddenly he is flying full speed towards the shore line and throwing gybes close to shore; bloody show off! Personally, I think Ventnor is the most beautiful populated coastal town on the island, with its Victorian hotels and houses standing proudly and looking out to sea on the green hillsides.
Ross – “I was still relatively ok at this stage but the thought did cross my mind to sail straight in and go have a pint at one of the beachfront pubs. I was looking forwards to getting round to Sandown Bay where hopefully the conditions would be a bit smoother. Just after Ventnor, the coast at Luccombe was spectacular, the cliffs were all black and the water was turquoise. I was just so powered up that I could not enjoy the scenery the way I wanted to.”
15:19 – Once we were round Horseshoe Ledge at Luccombe, Ross made his one and only pit stop of the journey. Ten minutes to neck down a bottle of water and devour a mars bar and a bag of cheese and onion crisps and he was refuelled and ready to go again! I could tell from his body language that the 9.6m was a handful but he knew that for his personal sense of achievement and dignity, he was not going to change down. Whatever equipment he started on, he was determined to finish on, no matter what!
Ross – “In Sandown Bay the conditions were more manageable and I was able to blast across the bay in no time. That part of the sailing was actually awesome, there were some guys out blasting on wave sails at Yaverland but I was still holding down my 9.6m. Apparently, it was gusting over 30 knots when I crossed the bay, the sea breeze must have kicked in as the weather cleared. I knew there would be people watching in so I could not really go slow or take it easy; so I put my foot on the gas. My dad spotted us from the beach; he had just gone for a walk after locking the shop up which was cool. I also had several messages on Facebook of people that had seen my blue and orange sail passing their local hangouts, it is amazing how word spreads on the island. I was more comfortable hammering my board in this flatter water than on the west side which was super rough. I probably put more pressure on my board that day than I would in a whole season so I wanted to be a bit more light footed on it.”
“ Round the Isle of Wight is approximately 60 miles as the crow flies and a gruelling challenge to navigate ” JC
16:38 – Our circumnavigation was providing a perfect viewing platform to study all the changes in the rock formations around the coast. From the white limestone based chalk that runs through the island, to the red sandy cliffs along the west side, the grey sandstone around Blackgang to the gault black clay around Luccombe, around every corner a new fascinating formation would reveal itself.
Ross – “Around Culver Cliff was a spectacular area to sail and I was in a more comfortable stance at last to enjoy the sailing. I don’t normally sail around that part of the island so it was cool to see this stretch of coast from the water. The island is such a beautiful place and finally I had a chance to appreciate it.”
17:00 – Turning the corner at Bembridge we entered a totally different style of coast. We had left the dramatic unspoilt cliffs along the southern shores behind in favour of the quaint yachty seaside resorts on the eastern tip of the island. Coming up the Solent was far more comfortable in the boat and we were able to hammer full speed in the offshore wind, barely able to keep up with Ross who was on a massive reach headed all the way towards Portsmouth. The Solent was a whole new world, filled with ferries, boats, hovercrafts and ancient forts. The sun was shining, the water was flat and we were all cranking along full power, making great headway as we started the home leg back west towards Colwell Bay.
Ross – “After rounding Culver it felt like the wind bent around the island, so Whitecliff Bay, Forelands and all the way round to Fishbourne I did in one huge reach. At Fishbourne I put a tack in just to put me back closer to the shore. That part was pretty quick and I thought that I’d be home in another thirty minutes. I was on a tight reach sailing close to the wind; which is more like I am used to sailing on a slalom board. My equipment felt really comfortable on this stretch. I was just sitting there without too much effort and still flying pretty fast”
17:41 – Just as we hit Cowes, it just so happened, the 300 metre long Arcadia Cruise ship was heading out from Southampton water. Not one to miss a photo opportunity I asked James to position our boat close to the turning point so we could snap Ross as he headed out of Cowes. By this point I don’t think Ross was particularly interested in hanging about to score the perfect shot, especially as the wind was nuking down the Solent combined with an almighty chop from the tide racing out back up towards the Needles. We just happened to be lucky the tides had worked in our favour, as the currents, eddy’s and hazards in the Solent are so notorious they could have thwarted the mission completely.
Ross – “Cowes was really windy, super choppy and horribly rough. It was wind against tide at this stage and though the tide was with me, this was the worst stretch. I did not want to stop because I thought I might give up once I lost the momentum. I just had to get it done. It was much flatter around this side but there were still some cool little areas, I sailed past Osborne House the former home of Queen Victoria, passed all the Wightlink and Red Funnel car ferries and blasted right by the infamous Royal yacht squadron on Cowes seafront”
18:32 – For the final stretch of the Solent from Cowes back up to Colwell, the clouds started to thicken and while we could straight line it in the boat, close to the shore and out of the chop, poor Ross was beating upwind, blasting far out into the Solent as he slowly clawed his way to the finish line. Far in the distance we could just see a headland, which was Hurst Castle, and that stretch seemed to drag on forever. In the boat I had four cans of beer in the cooler but was determined not to crack one open until we had completed the circumnavigation; torture!
Ross – “The last stretch was all beating into wind. I was on a slalom board which was not the perfect tool for going upwind. By that time my ankles were feeling the strain. I would sail on one tack for as long as I could stand it and then tack and just keep zigzagging up the Solent. As it became narrower I was pretty much doing runs right across to the mainland which was kind of cool. I shortened my harness lines to bring me closer to the boom so I could get more lift off the fin. I used my body and my legs and kind of twisted myself to get that board flying upwind. The more power you can generate then generally you can point higher upwind. From Cowes to Colwell Bay that last leg seemed to go on forever. I don’t think I would have been able to make it if I had been going against the tide. The Solent has some of the most complex tides in the world, complicated by the fact it has two entrances and Southampton water running up the middle, the current can be up to five knots working against you, so making headway against it would have been tough and added hours to the passage. It was hard work even with the tide, I could see the headland at Hurst castle and it was miles away but I knew Colwell was even further than that.”
19:03 – Finally after five hours eleven minutes, Ross blasted into Colwell and stepped off his board with a huge smile on his face, mission accomplished! In fact that was pretty much the first time I had seen him smile since he set off from Colwell at two in the afternoon. The record for round the island is held by a multihull yacht called Foncia which managed to go round in an astonishing two hours, twenty one minutes, averaging 21.3 knots; now that is pretty impressive, less than half the time we had taken. Given the wind direction and the fact he was overpowered all the way round, there is no doubt Ross could easily knock an hour or more off his time if he ever fancies another bash at the record. A northerly or southerly with favourable tides should be the ideal direction, but I don’t think I’ll be asking him in the very near future especially on a 9.6m.
Ross – “It was awesome to finally be back on shore. I immediately thought to myself thank god for that, I’ll never do it again! At that moment, I was spent; I had just sailed 100 miles! Even so, it would be kind of weird to go through my career without being able to say I have sailed around the island. It would have been nicer on smaller gear and with another person but the day just came up, we went for it and I knuckled down and made sure I completed the mission!.”
Are you sure that racing sails are much faster than a good no cam slalom sail? Well, we like facts! We took the AC-X on the race course with Matteo Iachino and Andrea Cucchi during the winter training. You will see in the video the AC-X, as it’s the only Black Sail on the course. Matteo that day won 3 races out of 3 with the AC-X in front of all other PWA riders present, on cambered race sails.
