Just returned form the Defi Wind in France, what an amazing event, the French really showed how windsurfing should be done. To be fair, I can’t imagine another location that could hold 700 competitors on one start line without the fear of loosing a few out to sea. The beach Gruissan seams endless and with the wind blowing dead off shore the eight-kilometre course is all about reaching at full speed.

James Dinsmore, Jonathan Mobbs, Paul Simmons travelled with Scott Harrison, while Denis Royet, Roger Clark and I drove my van down. It may have taken 14 hours driving, but having my van down ensured we wouldn’t have to de-rig every night.

We arrived to find the wind already howling off shore under a blue sky. We didn’t waste much time getting on the water, with Denis being French we had our own interpreter and organiser so accommodation and registration were soon sorted.

We were all powered up on sails around the 5.5 to 6.0 mark, though the buildings behind the launch spot did make it a little gusty at times, but once round the other side of the harbour wall where the racing would take place the wind was as steady as a rock and a few knots stronger.

If you like blasting, then you’ve got to sail this beach, its perfect for blasting with a bunch of mates. We may not have all been the same speed, but it’s so smooth you can cruse while and re-group before blasting off again. The boys took a rest while took a couple more runs, what a mistake that was.click to see GPS track

Coming back was slightly more upwind that going and was putting a bit more strain on my twisted ankle so I took more power with my right leg to give it some rest. So now when I walk I limp on both sides as I tore my calf muscle. Can’t tell you how pissed I was as I had to sit out the next few days on the beach.

To make it more frustrating, the wind really kicked in. The following morning brought conditions that had the organisers postponing the first possible start, and the later they left it the windier it got. It was clear they couldn’t run the full course; it really was too windy, even the top pro windsurfers were struggling to hold down 5m sails. If that’s hard to believe just look at the pix below, these guys are normally unshakeable but in these winds even the best are humbled my natures force.

The wind may have stolen the show, but the big spectacle was the start line the following day. The winds eased back to something more manageable and while nothing could make it up for not being out there, seeing 700 hundred windsurfers on one start line is a sight worth seeing.

Antoine Albeau took every race and only ever looked challenged once, our own Dan Ellis did a great job for the brits by taking home third, but it was the spirit of the race that really one. Where else could you see ten your old kids competing side by side with grandfathers, let along sharing the start line with some of the best windsurfers in the world.

The Defi Wind may not have worked out well for me this year, but I intend to be on the start line for next year.