Recently the UK has been battered by high winds and flooding. I headed to Cornwall last week not quite realising how windy it was actually going to be, usually the strong wind forecasts back off a bit the closer it gets, but not last thursday.

I had gone down for a few days but the two previous days never quite came together and the forecast died away a bit but the thursday seemed to keep forecasting for windier.

 

The calm before the storm

 

3.3m Manic

 

Gwithian beach at first light was the call then to leave and try sail the south coast in the afternoon. It was soo windy, the local buoys were reading a constant 60-70mph with a decent amount of wind swell filling the bay.

Was really nice to see soo many local guys there, I arrived at 7.45am and there were already 8-9 guys rigging up. The windsurfing scene down there is great and also at a really high level. You had to know what you are doing to go out there and was great to see soo many going for it. Saw some wipeouts of the highest standard, Andy King takes first prize as usual.

 

 

Basically it was too windy. Was practically impossible to ride a wave and had to try time a wave with a drop in the wind, I think I managed to have 2 the whole morning. My little 3.3m was maxed out the entire time and all I could think is how the guys will ever manage on the red bull storm chase. I also can’t believe England wasn’t a considered location. Anyway, looking back it was outrageously windy but still a lot of fun. Sometimes you can’t ride waves how you’d like and it be just too windy to jump, but really its just nice to be out there amongst it.

 

The evening before

 

The morning after

 

On our way home we passed two trailers blown over and a lorry on its side, pretty crazy. Managed to find a photo of the lorry..