WSM Fri 11th Aug, 2004

[MartinF]

Couldn't believe it was so windy!! Hardly a breath at home, but I thought I'd go take a look.

It being a Friday, with 18:00 high tide, and the usual chaos on the M5, I headed off at 14:00, taking just over a so**!ng hour to get there.

Nigel Walker was already out when I arrived - the sea was still so far away, I'd no idea what sail size he was using. I opted for the 6.2m on the Goya 86l wave.

Rather overpowered most of the time: my 5.5 would have been ok.

Some serious swells meant some serious airtime. Brilliant session - only spoiled by hitting a submerged wooden post down the Uphill end of the beach, which has put a major ding in the underside of the board, though it's not broken the skin. Bugger!

Came off the water about 18:30 - well used & abused. Called in at the (get this) Bucket & Spade pub off the main road just before hitting the M5, with Nigel Poulton. Yes - it really IS as bad as it's name might imply!! Four handpumps, one real ale - Draught Bass, served at about 6 degrees. Yuk.

MartinF