Is Two Tacks Still Kitesurfing?

It just looked too nice not to give it a go!

Kitesurfing today was a nightmare! Leaving Brighton at 12pm the waves looked epic but we knew all the way to Shoreham that it was far too southerly. We couldn’t see anyone kitesurfing in Hove, Shoreham or Lancing. Went to the beach to check out the conditions and the sea looked inviting but with it being dead southerly and gusting over 50 knots we headed to the Beach Café for a cuppa and a bit of munch. After gusts of 71mph (Sea Sprite) at 1pm the wind swung around to SW and down to 38 knots; Hon and I went to pump up our kites on Shoreham Beach with the excitement of nippers at Christmas.

The kite of choice was a brand new 7m Switchblade 2010. Fully depowered and sheeted out I managed just two tacks and was taken up by one gusty loft, not much fun but had to christen the new kite. Decided to pump up a 5m Convert but another squall came through pumping 60+ and so packed up and called it a day.

The windsurfers looked like they were having a blast, even the one that got washed up without his kit whilst we were packing up. Maximum respect to the sea, Mother Nature and anyone that decided to sit today out.

On the up side we met some really nice guys on the beach and in the Café; Sunday, Monday and into next week are all looking good.

There will be more info on the 2010 kit and Zaafarana Student Session imminently.