Forces-of-Nature Forums
Last Active : Never
Not logged in [Login - Register]

April so far in the Forces-of-Nature Diaries
Total Entries: 19454
This Months Entries: 35
My Total Entries: 0
My Entries this Month: 0
Most Active Members:
squiz (18 entries)
maker (17 entries)
Most Stoked Members:
squiz (Stoke Factor: 61 )
maker (Stoke Factor: 56 )


Member Details Session Description
Toys Used
Owner: justal
Administrator



Member#: 1
Location:
Registered: 21-07-2002
Diary Entries: 2989

Mood: Just Chillin Dude
22nd February 2003
Windsurfing: Ynyslas Estuary
Wind Direction: ENE
Wind Stength: 25-30 knots
Surf / Sea State: Choppy
Air Temperature: 8C
Sea Temperature: 6C
Weather: Sunny
Max Speed:
Distance Covered:

An excellent day with a solid 4 hours of sailing for me.

I got to the beach at Ynyslas just after 8am and found a decent 25 knots NE wind...Once again the estuary was doing its thing. Despite the SE winds forecast, the cold air was funneling down the Dovey Valley and sandblasting Ynyslas with a ENE.

There wasn't enough water in the estuary though, so after phoning Olly, Steve and Darren I slowly rigged my wave board and 4.5m sail. I got on the water just after 9am and had a good hour or so in completely mad conditions, short sharp chop and ridiculous winds. The wind picked up for a while and I thought about changing down to my 3.4m as I was comlpetely overpowered. I stuck with my 4.5m though and just let off a bit of outhaul and started enjoying things a little more as the chop subsided.

Everyone else (Steve, Darren, Ben, Derek and Olly) turned up around 10.30am, so I came off the water and had a little rest whilst they rigged. I then got back on the water before they finsihed rigging and the wind had picked up again. Ben had started rigged a 5.3m but once he saw how well I was going changed down to a 4.5m before getting on the water. Steve came out with a 5.3m sail and Darren was on something similar with a Goya wave board. Derek went out kite-surfing and Olly joined us all after a while.

We then had a perfect session blasting back and forth across the choppy waters of the estuary, with a few little chop hops and some good gybes. At one point I went of towards Aberdovey with Steve and Ben following me, but just as we got to the main channel beyond the point, we got into the shadow of the hill and there wasn't enough wind to make it to Aberdovey. Derek was doing well with his kite and going for some BIG jumps. And Olly coped well with his first attempts at sailing in strong winds and less than flat water. He was thinking of getting some Formula kit, but has now been persuaded to get smaller kit instead!!

Ben didn't stay on the water long, but the rest of us stayed out until about 2.00pm and were joined by someone on a Techno too. Just as I was about to come in, I could see Olly on the shore waving to me. When I got to him I found Darren lying on the floor almost crying after having badly twisted his ankle running aground mid-gybe. Olly and I helped him back up the beach and then packed up his kit for him. We had to cut his boot off too, but as far as I know he was able to drive home on his own. Looks as though Darren will be hobbling for a few days.

Olly, Steve and I then packed up and after negotiating the sand dune blocking the exit from the beach which people had been getting stuck in all day, we went around to the sea front where there was enough wind for another sail and a tiny little clean wave breaking on the beach. It was tempting, but not quite tempting enough to re-rig, climb back into a wet wetsuit and give my muscles another hammering.

All in all an excellent day.
Toys Used:
Mistral Eruption 257cm 76 litres
Gun Wave MC 4.5m
North Sting 50 400
Gun Wave (2002) 150-200
Josh Angulo Ballistic Wave 24cm
Sola Concept 6/5/4/3

 

Statsbar:

About MY Statsbar

  

Rating:  

No. of Views: 1303
Facebook Stumbleupon Digg Del.icio.us
     

 

 


 

back to top

Web Design in Wales, UK by Pixelwave DesignPixelwave Design.

© Alan R Cole 2000...

Privacy