Went to Hayling again last Sunday (1 Aug), for a while in the afternoon. Wind was absolutely pants, and so was I! My general lack of board control and balance in swell, when there's no wind to use to power myself up and keep upright was painful, both to experience and no doubt for any or all of the rest of the club members sitting happily on the beach. One waterstart worked, the rest didn't and I uphauled lots, which I thoroughly detest. But this is British summer wind...
On the positive side, this was the first time I'd EVER used a sail as big as 7.5m, and it was quite a handful. Next time the wind is so light I will definitely put on my smallest sail and try some manoeuvres out, without the encumbrance of another 2m of plastic and what feels like 400kg of extra mast and stuff. And when I struggled up the sea wall with my mast so firmly stuck together that I thought I was going to have to knock a hole in the van to get it home, the guys (Nick, Juan, Richard etc.) leapt to my aid and with 6 (yes six!) of us on the job we soon had it twisting around and then freed up - a two piece mast again - hurrah! That left me with the problem of the mast foot in the extension, but that fits in the van easily. It subsequently (today) came apart easily. The club had apparently had a great time the previous evening, with a barbecue on the beach - maybe I'll be joining them soon, I thought.
So this week, yippee, good wind forecast for Sunday, club at Bracklesham Bay, a good place. More good news, the van is in for fixing at the body shop, went in first thing Monday. Man assures me that it will be ready for Friday. Call Thursday - you guessed it, "sorry sir, won't be ready until Monday, just going to the glass installer tomorrow". So here I am sat at home or out on the lawn practising moves, in order to fix them in my stupid brain before I actually get a chance to try them out!!
But it has been a relaxing weekend, and I've enjoyed the company of friends and family. I just hope there's more action next weekend, I have to look up where it is... And because no post would be any good without a photo, here's one of me on the lawn in hero mode.
