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| Have a Merry Xmas and Windy New Year |
28/12/06 |
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Trust everyone had a great Christmas, I had a great family time, but with all my family living within walking distance the girls made last more than just a few days. I’ve started to think the wife got a new insurance policy for Christmas, not only did she over feed me, there was a pair of pro jumps under the tree. |
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After such a long time of constant low's crossing the uk, it was almost a shock to see the forecast for dropping off to nothing. Ireland still had a couple of good days up it sleeve for Monday and Tuesday. It didn't take Finn Mullen long to persuade me to catch the Sunday flight to Belfast, apart form the wind, his mum's a wizard in the kitchen and not to be missed. |
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| Wind, but not as we want it |
27/11/06 |
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An ever-changing forecast made the trip to Southend difficult to call for those living the other side of the country, but those committed to the jury were rewarded with what must be one of the longest and flattest speed courses in the world. We may have had a good weekend, but it does leave you wondering what would happen if the trading standards could take the met office to court. |
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Finally we get enough wind to start chasing the nautical mile record. I thought the 500m courses was long, but the leg burn that 500m gives you is nothing compared to what a 1852m nautical mile can do for you. National records start to fall from the moment the course opens, and by the end of play Bjorn Dunkerbeck had smashed Finian Maynard’s old record. |
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While I was away Harty was putting the final touches to a couple of technique articles we’ve done together, the first of which was in this months Windsurf mag. The second in the series features the Essex Duck and with Pete heading out to Mauritius for another holiday (sorry clinic) he reckoned it was my turn to finish this one off. His last words before getting on the plane were “don’t worry Whitey, you’ve got at least five days to get it done”
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| Going to Namibia |
16/10/06 |
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No one wants to be first at the party, and certainly not tem hours early. Everyone going to the speed strip in Walvis Bay in Namibia was flying out of Munich airport at 9pm, unfortunately our connecting flight out of England left at 8am. The only advantage was getting booked in before everyone else arrived with a mountain of Equipment. If you’ve ever worried there wasn’t enough room for you kit, don’t, we had two containers full of it. |
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It didn’t matter if I was on the water or trackside; the weather was the same, unpredictable. From the final of the British SuperBikes to the start of Weymouth speed week the forecast was for sunshine and showers, you just don’t expect to get such extremes every hour, and certainly not at the same time. But finding it on the inside of your camera is just pushing it too far. |
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With such a phenomenal forecast sweeping the county this week, it felt like a let down to rig an eight metre but it seems the wind prediction only fell short in the southeast. I had one run on a 6.4, then another with a 6.9, the wind was dropping quicker than I could get sails out of the van, but by the end of play it proved to be the best summer sailing of the year. |
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| Back to the future |
04/09/06 |
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Nine months ago Alan Cross told me he was thinking of running a windsurfing event for everyone, no complicated rules and use whatever kit you have, sounded good and figured if the was a hundred or so boards on the water it would be a success. Guess I like many other underestimated Alan’s motivation, and when you consider illness took him out of action for a few months the amount of sailors enjoying the weekend was staggering. |
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| We're not alone |
21/08/2006 |
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What a great week for wind, it seamed to be blowing everyday, but that could just be a twisted view as I sit here with my leg still on ice. But then, I’m not alone, Robby Swift still recuperating and waiting for the doc’s ok to head back on the water, until then he’s also turned to the computer.
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| Frustrating week |
07/08/2006 |
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Missing out on Sotovento speed week was hard enough, but the wind from last week was just too much. Its always perfect when you can’t go out, and I’m sure the next few weeks will be the same while I wait for my knee to recover. Finally had the operation on Friday, were they took a few bits of cartilage out of the knee and after a weekend sitting in front of the box, its starting to feel good. |
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Still being locked to the land and away from windsurfing is starting to drive me loopy, so it seamed an ideal time to join Peter Hart on his home beach, West Wittering Windsurfing Club were he was about to make a few more people loopy. To be fair, he really was trying to help as he encouraged them into trying their first ever forward loop. |
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| Vassiliki Misfits |
17/07/2006 |
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I’ve had to put Sotovento on the back burner after mucking my knee up in Vass, figured its better to be sorted for the big winter winds, gutted doesn’t really cover it. But as my kids said “there’s no point just sitting there pissed off” So I’ve been trying to work out how to put video together. It all takes so much longer than I thought; I almost started to think Harty works hard… I did say almost |
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| British Super Bikes |
18/06/2006 |
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After two weeks without wind, I had to point the lens in another direction. Snetterton in Norfolk was the host for round seven of the British Super Bikes, and having raced around the track with Nik Baker I wanted to see how quick the pro’s get round the track. MSS discovery Racing had two bikes on the grid and a couple a spare VIP tickets to get me through the gates. |
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| 47.03 on the clock |
05/2006 |
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It’s been a long time coming, but the wind has finally arrived, The last two days have been great for me, and from the forecast I’ve seen it looks to continue. Graham Dodds called me on Wednesday to say it was looking good at Southend and how about getting a few runs in on Friday. Last time I was there it was to hake the final decision on the production board, so no better place to test it out for real. |
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You may have spotted in the mags a new shop has opened up on the south Coast in Worthing, this weekend kicked off their opening for real with a demo weekend. But for me it started out months before when they invited me to create a new logo for the new shop, Worthing Water Sports. This wasn’t their first shop, so they new there direction, all we had to was bring it to life |
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With little wind at the start of the week, we set to making a water housing for a video camera. I got hold of a small video by JVC, it was the smallest we could find, added a clip on wide-angle lens so it should get all the action from the end of the boom. All I needed was to get it waterproofed, think Steve from F-Hot Mouldings would like to go into hiding when I get an idea. |
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Where's you favourite place in the world to sail has to be the No1 question I get asked, and its easy to answer. Maui or Brightlingsea, and you couldn't get two places further apart. Maui is easy, it has it all, well almost, it wasn't where I learnt, and like me my mates only visit. On the other hand Brightlingsea is colder, flatter, and doesn't get the wind, butfor my mates and I, its my home water. |
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The Windsurf Academy couldn’t have kicked off any better, as our group came together from across the globe. Hong Kong, New Zealand and Woodbridge, OK, so not everyone had to travel so far, but the hunger for knowledge was just as strong. The forecast looked good for the week, plus there was talk of an eclipse of the sun, but how dark it should get seamed to be uncertain. |
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With the temperature dropping below the zero mark, I've spent most of the week indoors making a website for a friend of mine. No, he doesn't windsurf, but sure does have a load of talent. At first site you'd be forgiven in thinking everything you see is created in Photoshop, but you couldn't be more wrong. It's all for real, even the impossible Escher models are physical and only work viewed from one spot. |
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I'm sure you would have already read in the mags that Arrows has ridden its last wave. Time may have passed since leaving Arrows, but I had some good times and made great friends, Karin Jaggi, John Skye, Timo Mullen, Peter Volwater, Willy Blaauw, ant Baker to name a few. But when they all recently parted company with Arrows it signalled the end of an era, and I for one am sad to see Arrows go. |
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| Dahab's Ray of light |
02/2006 |
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With the Uk still in the grip of winter Peter Hart and myself joined Ray Page from Quayside Windsurfers in Dahab. The timing was perfect as Egypt’s windy season kicked in just days before we arrived giving us five perfect full powered days, and a little time for some to reacquaint them selves with the water |
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| Sotavento Speed Slalom |
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This summer saw Sotovento return to its roots, when the fastest sailors from around the world joined the fastest sailors round corners on the wind swept beaches of Sotovento. Right from the start gun the slalom was a tight fought competition, but speed suffered from the wind angle. |
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| SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT |
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Hardly a day does by where windsurfing isn’t involved, but today was different, a new challenge. Adrian Frearson said he was doing a promo video for a young singer and they needed a couple of shots, could I do it. Sure, not problem as long as its out side, I’ve got no indoor lighting. That way yesterday, and today the weather is looking poor, and now I met the manager they want something way more. |
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Back in the 90’s ClubVass ran hosted the Vass Class, the UK’s speed slalom highlight, and one that changed the course of my windsurfing for the better. So when Tony asked me to come out for a speed freaks week I could hardly turn him down. It turned out to be one of my best weeks of the year, not only did I meat great people both on and off the water, but I was planning along side my son Reece for the first time. |
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The Atlantic continues to supply great conditions across the UK, normally I’d have a whole host of pix from the action, but it was too good to be stuck on the shore. I say too good, it didn’t start out that way. After flying out behind the spit at Point Clear the wind disappeared leaving me with a mile long swim, fortunately that turned out to be the exception rather than the rule. |
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| Attention all Areas |
04/12/06 |
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The wind prediction this weekend was for nuclear wind to touch every part of the country, so where to go, Southend-on-sea, Weymouth, or West Kirby. Weymouth would have to be very special to boast any great times, so for me it came down to the drive, right or wrong I went for the shore journey to Southend, but not before a quick stop off at Point Clear. |
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While I was away Harty was putting the final touches to a couple of technique articles we’ve done together, the first of which was in this months Windsurf mag. The second in the series features the Essex Duck and with Pete heading out to Mauritius for another holiday (sorry clinic) he reckoned it was my turn to finish this one off. His last words before getting on the plane were “don’t worry Whitey, you’ve got at least five days to get it done |
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Driving in the desert isn’t just for four-wheel drives; we ended up in just as much sand driving the greens at the local golf course as we did in the truck. Two sets of clubs between seven doesn’t make for quality golf, the entertainment and chipping over the odd Springbock more than made up for technique. The kite surfers cleaned up on the desert greens but lost the momentum on the greens at the pool hall. |
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| Racing to Records |
30/10/06 |
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The focus changed from racing to records as we move site to the saltpans at the far end of Walvis Bay. With the record attempt limited on numbers the remaining sailors prepare to fly home, but not before we all head off into the desert for a mad dash around the dunes on quad bikes. |
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| Weymouth Speed Week |
08/10/06 |
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The signs for Speed Week were clear months ago, the entry was full months ago, and enquires kept coming. Over a hundred and thirty sailors took to the water during the week, the majority were windsurfers, but we saw a few boats sailing the deeper waters while the kites skimmed the shallows by the bank. While the kite took the honors, it was speed that won the week. |
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Waiting, waiting waiting. There’s not much going on in Walvis Bay, unless you just like relaxing. Even the world wide web is out paced by the royal mail, one 56k connection struggles to keep sixty speed sailors in touch with the outside world, but just as it all starts to become to monotonous, the wind finally shows its face. |
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| Windsurf Academy The Full Story |
25/09/06 |
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A last minute lack of space leaves the Windsurf Academy short of words in the mag, but not wanting to leave everyone’s efforts and kind words left unsaid we have put the full article online. I’ve added some pictures from the two weeks, sorry if I’ve left any of your favourites out |
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| Clash of interests |
19/09/06 |
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Pool Windfest and the penultimate round of British SuperBikes clashed this weekend, but the weather made my decision for me. With all but no wind forecast I headed up north to Silverstone and a sea of bikes, but it turned out to be just the start of my journey. After Ducati’s hospitality at Caldwell I printed out a poster as way of thanks, but when I got trackside and saw Airwaves Ducati’s new black livery I had to return home and print out a shot from the day |
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| Leader of the Pack |
29/08/06 |
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As any motorbike fan could tell you, this back holiday was a real corker for British Super Bikes, and thanks to an invite from Airwaves Ducati I had the prime spot to see the action. I watch Haslam’s nail biting win at Croft in the previous BSB round in an ice pack, so when the invite dropped through the letterbox earlier this week there could only be one place to spend my bank holiday weekend, Cadwell Park. |
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The wind continues to frustrate, but rather than sit doing nothing I helped Dan Ellis to get his own site up and running. Having got a few ideas going back and forth over the net, Dan came up to my place, but didn’t expect to spend the propping up the bar with the original windsurfing instructor and a previous owner of his title as British Slalom Champion. |
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| Faster in the shop |
04/08/2006 |
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Getting frustrated with your mates passing you on the water, then its time to grab a beer and relax in front's of the TV. Faster gives you the inside line to the fastest sailors in the world, and to translate that into reality Peter Hart and myself leave hi-tech slalom equipment on the beach and head out on what we all use everyday for fun, freeride kit. But before you head for the shops, here’s a video intro. |
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| An Alternative View |
27/07/2006 |
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Received a great email this week from one of the Vass speedsters. Its a good feeling to know they crew weren't just being polite as they left for the airport, but had genuine had a good time, and most importantly, gone that bit faster. I’ve captured a couple of shots from the video so you know who’s Phil is |
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| Faster Vassiliki |
10/07/2006 |
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Having called last years speed week “my best trip of the year” this year had a lot to live up to. I wasn’t the only one to talk it up, my son Reece and nephew Luke had also spread the word, this time it was to be a family affair as my sister and her family joined mine and headed out to Vassiliki. While I was out to help the converted, I also hopped Club Vass’s passion for windsurfing could convert my kids. |
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| 66 knots, if only we knew then |
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The week started at Acrobat Television in Manchester, where I joined Peter Hart in putting the final touches to our latest DVD Faster. It started at last year’s speed slalom in Sotovento, where we enlisted every windsurfing record holder to create the definitive guide to speed. The filming was hilarious, which continued this week in the voice over booth, in true Harty fashion he’s already planed his stitch-up. |
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| Southend speed strip and more |
05/2006 |
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I had a lot of email wanting to know more about Southend, where, what direction etc, so I had to go back. Although it’s been windy everyday since, I didn’t make it over to Southend during the weekend, wanted to go sailing with my mates, plus I wanted to be a dutiful dad and take my youngest to Roller World Saturday morning. Sunday was also out as I was up in Norfolk doing a demo day for Ray Page and Quayside Windsurfers on Sunday. |
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