Ooooohhhh we do love to be beside the seaside

I was dozing comfortably in dream world in bed at seven in the morning when Tuc text to alert me that it was time to go fishing. There is nothing like being up with the sun for some early morning fishing. Maybe it is because the fish are just waking up themselves or maybe it is because it is so peaceful in the wee hours of the morning. Whatever it is, I’ve always been an early riser, so getting up before the sunrise simply comes naturally to me.

 Up early and along to The Fishing Tackle shop for some bits and bobs, via Tucs house to meet up with Gaz for a bacon sarni and coffee. Following some bacon rolls and the odd early morning gallon of pick me-up caffeine, the big kick-off to the fishing spot was on. Cartlines / L'Ancresse

 BRING GARFISH ON THE FEED
You'll often see garfish working away from the boat or shore as they break surface water chasing small fry. This is obviously the time to try with the spinners.

When you can't see gars on the surface you'll need the CHERVY.
We got down to the task of make our cocktail of pokey nose aphrodisiac after hitting the tackle shop and local shopper for the ingredients. This is chunks of old meat, fish oils, bread and bran mixed into a watery paste with a little sea water that is ladled from a bucket directly into the fishing area. You can add much more bran and very little water if the mixture needs to be thrown some distance, or even catapulted.




Well its that time of day again........ fishing  with my fishing partners in crime Tuc And Gary..


Saturday morning meant a full day out on the rocks in search of long nose which we knew lurked below the surface!  The swell was pounding in due to southerlys blowing up the Atlantic luckily they didn't cause to much trouble!  We headed to a mark which had white water sweeping round the point and gorgeous blue water surrounding it.  I cast my float out past the point and Smash!!  I'm into a decent fish!!  I knew straight away it was a long nose by the the way it teased my float.  After a good few hours or so casting around the numerous reefs, we managed 17 gars from this mark. Gaz managed to tickle out 7 or 8 of those fish from under the rod tip which was explosive fishing on his lite mulleting rod and tackle!

Summertime weather

Portinfer
Best at mid on the drop then closes-out towards low
occasionally gets good and hollow.

Ah summertime weather....in November                                 




This morning there's some for you and me. West swell arrived producing some rather large sets; head high and then some.  In between its waist to chest high, clean conditions, calm wind and about 12 guys out.
 Well, if you were working all week like myself and heard all the propaganda of so and so going to this and that spot, and a playful south swell in the water, maybe you feel cursed by Neptune or Poseidon on which ever sea god you prescribe to at this point in your life.
But I disagree...

Today, by the good graces of our beloved oceanic storm systems, some swell still remains and there are waves breaking away in somewhat glassy conditions


While I'm on the subject of surfing

Check out  Martin Brouards website for Blade
t-shirt's  www. Brouinc.spreadshirt.co.uk there are also Guernsey surf club t-shirts and some other cool ones on there.

Guernsey Surf Club T-shirts and Hoodies available on the attached website..

Brou Inc. Designs
http://brouinc.spreadshirt.co.uk/

Down but not out

Leg Surgery - No surfing/windsurfing for the last 6 weeks!!  Back in September, I had surgery done on both my legs.  All I remember was the bright light over me in theatre, then the next time I opened my eyes, I was in the Recovery room bandaged up from the waste down and feeling rather beaten up. That Propofol stuff really works good.....
The long wait is over folks...
Winds have finally come around from the SSE to the North, so it was time to head North bound to ease myself back into sailing after such a long time out.

Pembroke mid tide

Saturday saw lighter winds, with whitecaps on the water, Sundays forecast was for Beaufort 6.
Thinking it would be a good idea to break my legs in on flat water before getting stuck into some waves I decided to take a trip down Grand Harve and scrounge a go on some slalom kit. Spotted Stewie M rigging his Ram F11 on his 85 Jp and cadged a sail.   Riding a borrowed board and with zero practice I had a few runs where I was planing and a bunch of time just underpowered with a 7.0 sail.  I also did not nail my jibes.....My frustration lasted for about fifteen minutes before I said "Screw it, legs, fore arm cramps and general fitness levels stopped play....... 

Rigging frenzy

 I woke up this morning amped Solid breeze forecast today! (Sunday)
Loaded the new pickup with the 85 freewave thinking that the wind had buggered off, I headed down to Pembroke after receiving a txt from Matt (Hitting the beach at 9.30).   I expected to be the only one on the beach but a couple of kite surfers were there already, so was Hutchy, already planing on 5.2/83 litre.  A few minutes later, Jas pulled in, Matt, Starky and the whole crew frantically rigging for what awaited them over the sea wall.  It was pretty much going off: 25-30 knots from the NNE with decently large chop coming through.  It's frickin' windy.  Not exactly freewave conditions.  Wrong board Nooooooooooooooo.....  That 10 minute drive back home was the longest drive ever. 80 litre 5.3 rigged ready for action by 10.10am
 I was on the water by 10.15am and my legs gave out by 12.30pm.
I don't know where the winds came from today (well - yes I do - frontal system passage)
 Anyway, cut a long story short, sailed port tack/starboard tack not sure which as the wind was so onshore.  A totally fun spot. The reach across the bay can't be more than 1/4 mile , so its a bit tough to find ramps coming into the bay on such onshore conditions. With the poverty stricken conditions we've had all summer, we've all been busting at the seams to jump on any flurry of wind that comes our way.  I am no different, and I reckon I am one of the ones experiencing the most seizures and convulsions from the disappearance of mother nature from my time out sailing so it was nice to get back into the harness and catch up with guys after such a long drought.

New l200 Warrior 

RAIL TO RAIL - Movie Trailer - FANATIC

BE READY FOR THE
 WINTER SESSIONS WE HAVE ALL BEEN WAITING FOR!


New movie from Fanatic. You should get it free in boards magazine

North Bound...H2O Overdrive

Here on the little island of Guernsey, August, September and October have not been a very windy time of year for us wavesailer's. If windsurfing was a traditional sport, I'd say that our August/September off season is followed up directly with the Playoffs of the winter windy season. It's a feast after famine transition. From an athlete's perspective, it's like showing up to go sailing on 9.0 metre days after weeks of sailing on flat water and then being told that you'll be entering the PWA at Pozo tomorrow night on 3.7's.
This August/September started out quite typical and actually ended with a few more windy days than usual. Then October hit and BAM! It was windy almost everyday for the last two weeks and things were great! So what happened? (Wind way around to the SSE). Vazon just cant handle a SSE wind way to gusty  It's been over four weeks since I've rigged a sail. I even made binding plans last Sunday, my day off, in advance, and even that didn't stir up a tempting gust.
So here we are, starving through the end of October. Hopefully the feast of frontal sailing is on it's way, because I need a fix and soon.

 On the other foot if your a freeride/speed freak there's been some nice days for flat water sailing.We finally had a good thermal pattern last week, but yet again no good for wavesailing but making for some good flat water action catching four windy days over a seven day span.

  Stu Martel sent me this little clip of some action footage out of  Grand Harve. The windsurfing at the North end of the Island is all about speed with its flat water and consistent 18-28 mph offshore breeze ...  Whether your into Speed, Slalom, Racing or just suffer from FMOWS (fastest man on the water syndrome), you just have to be sailing NORTH..... He looked like he's made a good choice in sails.