simonzz
Hot shot 
Member #: 12 Posts 35
Registered: 27-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 16-8-2003 at 12:28 |
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Poole Windfest
I was thinking off tootling over to Poole for that Windfest "do" - perhaps a more urbane windsurfing location would make for a nice
contrast to darkest West Wales.
Anyone been before ? Worth a 4 hour drive? More importantly , how do I get tickets for the evening bash?
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SeanBo
A Force-of-Nature ** 
Member #: 135 Posts 337
Registered: 9-2-2003 Location: Poole Member Is Offline Mood: Optimistic!
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| posted on 16-8-2003 at 19:13 |
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Phone Gary or Dave at FCWatersports (01202) 708555 or e-mail info@poolewindfest.
As to "is it worth it" well that depends on what you are after. Gary came infor a lot of critisism for last years event on the boards
web page, but I have been for the last two years (I am local) and I think its a good event.
Generally there are manufacturers and distributors there in force. The action and exhibitors are split into two areas, inside the
harbour and outside on the beach. Different things at each place.
Free equipment trials and freestyle competition inside, lots of kit on display and racing on the beach.
Last year there must have been 10-15 manufactures in total, some of them in both locations. They ranged from mast, board and sail
people to wetsuit cleaning gunk people.
If you want to see lots of kit and talk to people about your next purchase then you should go, however, I have not seen any bargins on
display if you are thinking you will get a bargin you may well be disappointed
If you want to try some kit in similar conditions for free, then go. However it is not a guaranteed wind event, so if you are looking
for a small wave sail/board the conditions will probably not be there for a good test.
If you fancy seeing some competition freestyle or race then go. Freestyle on the inside is very easy to watch as some of the
competitors will sail only a about 10M from the breakwater. Ther is the rumour that there will be some off the beach 'fun' races this
year to get the beach competition closer to the people. I heard about this before I heard about Super-X but it would not suprise me if
Gary pushes the 'fun' race in this direction.
The big races will be a bit farther out to see, but can be watched by eye or through some binoculars.
Finally Animal (sponsors) put some good effort in. Last year there was a good BMX/mountain bike display by some champion (sorry mate I
can't remember your name) but he was very good and impressive to watch. They also had some good music pumping out and lots of
giveaways.
Overall a good event if..........the wind blows!
Have you been to Poole before? If not there is a lot to see and do that are not windsurf related. A quick summary is:-
7M long sandy beach
18 pubs within easy walking distance of Poole harbour
Climbing and walking in the Purbeck hills
plus all the normal holiday pursuits
Let me know if you need/want more info
SeanBo
Oh sorry nearly forgot. Never been to the party, but have heard it is good. Music, beer and atmospere. Rumour had it they drank the bar
dry last year....I bet that does not happen again!
Is there wind on the way??
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SeanBo
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 135 Posts 337
Registered: 9-2-2003 Location: Poole Member Is Offline Mood: Optimistic!
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| posted on 16-8-2003 at 22:59 |
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Just grabbed this link, hope it helps
http://www.poolewindfest.co.uk
Is there wind on the way??
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simonzz
Hot shot
Member #: 12 Posts 35
Registered: 27-7-2002 Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 17-8-2003 at 05:10 |
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Wow , I'm up for some of that. And not a mention of jetskis anywhere (its been particularly bad here this summer)
I see that your particular locale is not yet featured in the FON beach guide - A nice little project for you.
I'm sure there would be quite a few interested - myself, to name but err .. one.
Cheers,
Chris
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SeanBo
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 135 Posts 337
Registered: 9-2-2003 Location: Poole Member Is Offline Mood: Optimistic!
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| posted on 17-8-2003 at 07:48 |
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I volunteered to write the beach guide for Poole, Branksome, Christchurch, Kimmeridge and some spots on the IOW for Al, but he's a bit
busy with other stuff at the mo and has not got round to writing the database.
Happy to post on the forum if it would help.
PS - now I have easy access to a digital camera I can include some snaps
PPS - No mention of jet-ski's because they are not allowed in the windsurfing area inside the harbour and outside they tend to zap
along the beach away from where most of the competition is
[Edited on 17-8-2003 by SeanBo]
Is there wind on the way??
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nicp
Hot shot
Member #: 30 Posts 37
Registered: 6-8-2002 Location: London Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 18-8-2003 at 15:28 |
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re: jetskis - they've pissed me off at Branksome before now. They buzz back and forwards from Bournemouth out to Sandbanks - muppets
the lot of em.
SeanBo - whats the lowdown on Kimmeridge - been up there once but not sailed as wind was in the wrong direction and not strong enough -
care to give us a quick run down?
cheers
Nic
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SeanBo
A Force-of-Nature **
Member #: 135 Posts 337
Registered: 9-2-2003 Location: Poole Member Is Offline Mood: Optimistic!
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| posted on 18-8-2003 at 17:38 |
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I know what you mean about the jetskis at Branksome, this is the clasic place for a Pose and they regularly come far too close to the
beach, fortunately the Windfest is much closer to the Haven part of the beach.
If you have been to Kimmeridge once and sail at Branksome you probably know more than I do as I am a flat water intermediate, but I
have watched the locals 'giving it large' at Kimmeridge.
Sailing conditions are very different from branksome as the bay itself is a lot more enclosed.
My best (semi-educated) guess is that wind direction is very critical as there are cliffs and hills on three sides. Anything with south
in it would work, but a pure southerly would be onshore so not the best. At a guess anything with East and South would be best.
Sailing is probably only realistic on or around high tide (1 hout before to one hour after?) as there are some rocky shelves that
stretch out into the bay.
Launching is from the East side of the bay and there is parking right down on the 'front' with a small grass rigging area (NB during
holiday season and at other irregular time the approach road is used as a toll road and I think they charge extra for windsurfers)
Launching looked horific. Timing was critical and once you commit there is no chance to change your mind! It seemed to involve running
down a greasy slip-way throwing the board in, jumping on and pumping hard to get past the rocks on either side before the next wave
hit.
landing was little better, hard in, time it right jump off as the wave goes out or you will be neck deep plus, grab the board and run
up the slipway!
But that is the bad news. The day we were there the waves were rolling in steadily with a fair gap between them making very nice
looking conditions in the bay. Once outside it got a bit messier, but some people spent all their time out the back so it could not
have been that bad!
The local sailing standard looked very good, lots of long floaty jumps, some loops/attempts and plenty of carving on wave faces.
One final though is that most of the kit on the water looked like it was very experienced! May be best to take your more 'comfortable'
kit the first time you sail.
Personally Branksome in the next 12 months is my goal. I think it will be sometime before I sail at Kimmeridge, but my wife will
probably make both before I do!
I hope this helps
SeanBo
Is there wind on the way??
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nicp
Hot shot
Member #: 30 Posts 37
Registered: 6-8-2002 Location: London Member Is Offline Mood:
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| posted on 19-8-2003 at 08:25 |
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oh right thanks for that. I thought it might be somewhere you sailed regularly 
when we were down there we checked that launch out - not the easiest in the world is it! Will perhaps give it shot next time I'm down
that way and the wind is in the right direction.
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