We have been blessed with some wind over the past few days, and Thursday afternoon provided us with the first substantial blow (no Ghost, not that sort of blow) for more than two months. Onto the sea with a smallish sail to experience that special moment when the board lifts up onto the plane, the sail fills with power, and suddenly I am whizzing across the top of the waves at more than 40 kph. It’s a sublime feeling and I can’t help just screaming and hollering at the pure pleasure of the moment. The waves were reasonably substantial and the wind direction allowed me to run down and along the waves, which made the experience even more enjoyable. If you have never done it, you will have no idea what I am on about; but it’s the reason why those who windsurf are willing to spend long afternoons at WTFW (Where’s The Fucking Wind?) club meetings on the beach, just waiting for the time when the wind will arrive and give us the feelings we crave. I’ve been doing this for twenty years now, and I still get the same buzz as I did when I started. (Actually, when I started, all I got was bloody knees, near drowning, and endless frustration; but eventually you learn). I dread the day, which will eventually arrive, when I will no longer be able to windsurf, but until that day comes, this sport is what really makes me come alive.*
Yesterday was not as windy and a good deal more gusty. After an hour or so of windsurfing I took a shower and brought out the camera. There was a young Thai guy kite surfing who was very aware of the camera and kept sailing much closer than my telephoto lens could manage.
He then decided he really needed to smile at the camera as he went past, thus being unable to see where he was going, thus ending up lying on the sand rather than landing in the sea.
Also out on the water was Euan who manages to kitesurf, SUP and windsurf with no apparent effort.
Most of the windsurfers were out in the bay chasing the stronger winds, out of range of the camera; but Pierre flew close inshore on occasions. Pierre gets by on minimal funds and considerable ingenuity to keep himself sailing, and he is out on the water every day.
Antony was out on a SUP and doing his “I am Jesus and I command you not to throw me off” impression, entirely without success.
But the main reason for getting out the camera was to catch Craig in a SUP surfing pose. Sadly, the waves had dropped and we failed to get the epic capture we were hoping for. He assured me that, after I left, he cracked it. Yeah, right. Still, we did get a few shots of Craig doing something that is a great deal harder than it looks.
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*Apart from going shopping with she who must be obeyed, of course. This sentence inserted for arse-covering purposes.
Comments 🔗
2008-08-17| Craig saysThanks Spike, I think you captured the day pretty well. By the way, if you would like to know where all this fun is happening visit http://iwindsurf.asia/ and http://isup.asia/