A Perfect Windsurfing Comeback

by Alan Cole · Thursday, June 27th, 2024

I hadn’t been windsurfing for a while, and it wasn’t just because of unsuitable conditions. A mix of the occasional illness, a few injuries, and a desire to avoid further injuries kept me off the water. The main reason, though, was always having something else planned when the wind was perfect. Windsurfing is also the on sport I do that is most likely to get me injured, so I often opted for caution over coastal blasting.

Today, however, was different. With no trips or major undertakings on the horizon and and time in lieu from work as I’ve been doing lots of extra hours, I was all set to hit the water. The weather couldn’t have been better: clear blue skies, warm temperatures, and a solid 25-knot wind – the perfect ingredients for windsurfing.

High tide was at noon, so I had to choose between a morning session or waiting until around 2pm. The wind forecast looked stronger for the afternoon, but given my potential rustiness, I opted for the morning to ease back into it. It turned out to be the right call – there was plenty of wind from the start, and the waves were manageable too.

I began with my 5.0 m sail and a larger 104-litre board, but it wasn’t quite enough for full power. Switching to a 5.7 m sail made all the difference. I now found myself effortlessly blasting over the turquoise sea.

The conditions were spot-on. Close to the beach, white-water rollers gave way to inviting 2-3 foot waves in the impact zone, with rolling waves and chop beyond. A steady 25-knot wind and the sun shining overhead made it a perfect session.

The only downside was a mishap with my Insta360 camera. Unbeknownst to me, it had taken on some water. Strapped to my back, it only recorded my first run with the smaller sail before giving out. I managed to salvage a few clips from the SD card, and now the camera and battery are drying out. Fingers crossed they’re not permanently damaged.