You couldn’t escape the wind, even if you stayed indoors there was little else on the tv but the weather, for once the forecast got more airtime than the adverts. It looked good for everyone coming over for drivenbywind, though some were caught out by the early start. We had to be rigged before sunrise to catch the best wind as it was forecast to swing and drop soon after low tide.

I was heading to the beach at 5am to set-up the timing system with the rest of the crew. The guys from Mike’s Boatyard have really got behind the chase for records despite being stood on the Ray bank in the worst weather England could throw at them.

The predominant winds at Southend are from the southwest, particularly when it’s strong, but this year they’re just not coming through. Monday was one of those rare times when we get it from the southeast, had never imagined running on the lower course in the wrong direction but despite this unusual direction the water was relatively smooth.

We struggled to receive a decent video picture back in the van, atmospheric conditions and the spray in the air were conspiring against us. I tested out the course first to ensure the camera’s were all working but I guess I should have waited a few moments longer… having my run recorded would have been a good idea.

If we’re going to miss anyone’s run, guess its better to be mine, better I moan at myself than having someone else complaining. Once we down loaded my gps track it was clear that first run was my best run of the day by far, would have given me my uk time back. But then, that’s happened to many others over the years, luck doesn’t always work with you.

The best results of the day went to Dirk and Timo, Dirk set a new Dutch record while Timo matched the Irish record. Everyone pushed as hard as they could down the course, but the real battle was getting back up to the start.

Its hard enough to stand in 60 knots of wind let alone sail up wind through foot high chop, its hard to imagine just how much harder it is sailing an open water course, there’s no resting in the back of a van as you head back to the start.

Unfortunately the forecast got it right, the wind soon swung and dropped bringing our day quickly to an end, though it looked like the week still had more in store.

There was no doubt about the amount of wind for Wednesday, but the direction looked really close to call. It looked like it could swing round to the North before the tide had dropped low enough for us to run, and once into the North there’s no way we can run as its dead down wind.

We were set-up and ready to go way before the tide had dropped low enough, while we waited for the waters to settle I got a little too impatient and took an early run. What a mistake, fifty meters from the end I crashed out at 46.67 knots leaving me with nothing more than broken equipment.

By the time I was back at the start and ready to go again, the water just came good, Philip took off first and set a new Greek record, but Dirk who followed soon after felt wind change midway through his run. The direction kept moving around for the next twenty minutes, and we did see one more personal best set, but the day was basically up… for speed that is.

Timo headed back down to Pool to catch the swell, while I shot home to go out with the boys at point clear. Not saying it was windy, but I was handing onto a 4.7, though the northwest wind left us with nothing more than chop.

Sorry for the lack of pix, no one wanted to sit out on the Ray on Monday, it really was that horrible, but though we’d get a few pix from point clear just to prove its not always wet when its windy in England.