Surfladle

And what a weekend we have lined up… but more of that in a mo.
 

I hate to say it but don’t put your winter wetsuits away just yet, as it is absolutely frrr’eezing at the beach today, 12°C less the wind chill, which makes it feel more like 7°C.  What is going on.. it’s MAY for a god’s sake! James Connor, the UK Brand Manager for Severne / Starboard UK who has been with us this afternoon to tell us about the new 2024 kit and to show us the latest WIP kit, mentioned that he really does not know exactly what type of weather we should 'expect' in May nowadays, as over the years it has fluctuated so much. And can anyone tell me why was March-April-May during the Covid year of 2020 was so wonderful, when everybody was ‘kept in’! I think the difference this year is that our weather has flat lined all the way from January, we've had the same cold / wet periods for so many months that perhaps May might just seem to be worse this year. It’s not just in the UK though, as I have consistently asked the girls we order kit with at Boards and More (the company that own the Duotone, Fanatic and ION brands) how the weather is in Austria at this time of year, as if ours is depressing theirs always sounds wonderfully summery in comparisson. This year they are way down on their average temperatures of 18°C plus and they are suffering the ongoing rainfall as well. Not that changes anything here but it’s good to know that WE are not being singled out for a LONG winter. Am I moaning, yes, it's out of our control but it is now really affecting the whole industry, more so than the economic climate, which has been doing a pretty good job on its own. Tomorrow the forecasters say the temperaturest will improve again, for a day or two, but I think we need a BIG event to take our minds off it and this weekend we do have just the one..
 

Yes, the UKWA are in town! Well, just down the road at LA, for two days of fast and furious competition (UKWA is UK Windsurfing Assoc. and  LA is the local abbreviation for Littlehampton).  Don’t worry about the wind blowing from totally the wrong direction, as it may mess up the ‘normal’ Slalom racing and your own windsurfing (in our area)  but the Foils should be able to compete quite happily in the offshore conditions. As with most organised ‘wind necessary’ events, the wind rarely plays ball and so the strong winds are forecast to drop off early Saturday morning and then range between 12 -16kts Nor’West for the rest of the day, which again will be OK for the foils. Their only worry will be that the tide is low at approx. midday, so it may get to be ‘interesting’ on how much water depth is available (not sure if the infamous LA feet shredding mussel beds are still what they used to be). The event has of course attracted a plethora of UK Importers to go along and promote their brands (hence why James Connor was in to say hello) so if you do go along you will get to see a lot of the latest kit and talk to the people who know it best.
They may even have demo kit but don't hold me to that!
Sunday is sadly not looking so good wind wise with a very light offshore wind on the cards,  so I would advise heading down tomorrow as I think it will be the best day by far and a lot of the competitors and Importers may pack up and scuttle off home early on Sunday (but do read my weather outlook) .

The racing is being sponsored by Jamie Hawkins (a local legend and an excellent windsurfer, kitesurfer and coffee maker..) as owner of The Beach Café and there is also a fun Vintage Kit event planned to show the ‘evolution’ of windsurfing from the very early days through to the current (I think you can take your ‘vintage’ gear along and just showcase it on the beach). The Beach Café is the one on the sea front East of the main beach car park, near the Swimming pool at the Rustington end (not the ‘Rust-ic’ one in the main beach green car park). You will need to park at the Mewsbrook Car Park, postcode BN16 2NA, as I doubt if there will be any spaces available on the sea front. You can also get fed and watered at Jamie’s Café, which is very good so I have been informed (Chris from Sore Kite Repairs has often called me from there). Links are .. UKWA   The Beach Cafe

It should be a great day out and after all of the excitement and chit chat, you can then head home or go to a Pub to watch the big one, the EUROVISION SONG CONTEST! Come on.. this years surely has to be watched, as we are hosting on behalf of Ukraine and if we get one thing right this year, it would be good if it was EUROVISON ' Liverpool style' , for Ukraine!  I will leave that one up to you but what a Saturday to look forward to.     Eurovision Link 
And now, the weekend weather and tides, as I am sure you’ve read enough! 

 

Saturday, Northerly 17-25kt until around 9am, at which point it drops back to 14-20kt and by midday we get to the 12 -16kt period, which should hold in all afternoon.. please! Tide is High at 05.57hrs on a 4.9m Neap, so low is at 12.20hrs. That screws up using the estuary for wing foil unless you are up really early for the High! It might be OK later in the afternoon for the evening High but it does look like the wind will be even lighter by then. Temp is said to be a warmer 17°C and a possibility of a shower around 5pm.

 

Sunday, well, they say Northerly 8-10kt prior to 10am and then it swings to the Sou’West-West 7-10kt before midday. Now, that could be of interest as we are entering the legendary Sea Breeze season and if the temperature inland of the Downs rises to the 17°C as they say it will, it might just ‘work’ and accelerate the wind speed. Nor’West is the best direction to get the ‘breeze’ going but it works on Sou’West - West as well but the only problem nowadays is that we can’t call it anymore, as on days you think it will, it won’t and others it does (years ago you could pretty much set your watch by it .. really! :)   So, do keep an eye on the wind websites,  as the tide is perfect for the afternoon at Shoreham and at LA.

 

And that is it for another week. No mention of kit as I can add that in over the weekend. If you are in need of kit fettling materials, beach ponchos to stay warm or anything water related, except for water, you know where to find us! Have a superb weekend everyone.

 

(The pics of the WIP Disco Helmet (coming soon..) are in honour of EUROVISION.)