A touch of serenity on a Serenity

When I woke up in hospital on the 22nd October with my scalp hanging off my head and my back broken, the first thing I asked was that they contact she who must be obeyed, because she would be worrying about me. The second thing I asked was when would I be able to windsurf again, because I was worrying about how long I would be off the water. About 3-4 months, was the answer, which at the time seemed like an age.

But today is about three and half months since I lay on the hospital slab and, for the first time since then, my body had a chat with me and said it felt it might be OK if I tried windsurfing again. So I did.

My board of choice was a Serenity, not the easiest beast to sail at more than 4 metres in length, not very wide, and a tendency to have do what it pleases, rather than what you want it to do. But it does whizz along even in light winds, and with a bit of a hand from Craig to get the board and rig into the water, I was up and away.

Here’s photo of me on the Serenity taken earlier. About two years earlier.

Twenty minutes later I was finished. A slightly aching back and general exhaustion highlighting that my 119 day absence from sailing, together with fallout from my accident, leaves me with much to do to regain my previous fitness. But I sailed! And it felt wonderful to be skimming over the water again. l can again say, if only to myself because nobody else gives a shit, I am a windsurfer!

Comments 🔗

2009-02-10 | Santi says

Well done! keep going, before you know it you will fly like a dolphin.

2009-02-10 | Spike says

Thank you Santi, it’s great to be back!

2009-02-10 | Jock says

Yep he’ll fly like a dolphin all right … 99% of the time in the water ….

2009-02-10 | Billy says

We are all in the gutter, Jock, but some of us are looking up at the stars .. O. Wilde

2009-02-11 | Spike says

See, I said you were erudite.