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”

Some times I just love Harty, what’s the chance of finding some flat water with sun and wind on it in November, plus I can’t take my own pix and John Carter is still in Maui at the Aloha Classic. The wind looked like it would play ball, but couldn’t make its mind up where or when it was coming in, every time I looked at the net there was another out look, but the one constant was rain.

The South Cost looked like it could get some good wind on Friday; I hooked up win Nik Green and shot off early to avoid the M25 backlog. For us Essex boy’s Worthing is an easiest spot to get too, apart from the M25 we can avoid most traffic, plus there’s always someone else out to sail with. We arrived to find the strong onshore wind pushing some nice small waves in on the beach, but the sky looked dark enough for thunder, not the ideal light we were looking for.

Last time I was in Worthing, I missed the best sailing taking pix for Mike Stone from Worthing Water Sports, time the favor was repaid I thought. After a quick review of the cameras workings and a cup of tee in the shop we headed to the beach. Many of the locals have moved west from the sailing club launch spot. The hole of the South Coats is notorious for it shore dump at high tide, apart form small wooden groins at Ferring, this has to be as easy as it gets.

Timing is everything and by the time Nik and I had rigged the clouds had cleared and the wind increased to making sure I was well over powered on my 4.5 Manic. I can’t wait till Harty wants some pix for his next sequence; I’ll be choosing the conditions to get my own back.

I’ve got to apologies to Mike for not taking my turn behind the lens but after a couple of runs I changed to the 3S and was having too much of a good time to come in again. While I’m apologizing, guess I could give one to Nik, we’ve sailed together since he started windsurfing, and throughout that time has always given me some stick for being bigger (fatter) than him, but this time the tables were turned and I enjoyed the moment at his expense. Well it was the first time I’ve had to change boards with someone because they can’t get planning, at least I know I like the pocket wave now