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2012 Dahab windsurf trip

Nine of us traveled to Dahab, with new comers Ross and his dad Steve, another week of sun, great winds particullarly in the mornings, lots of windsurfing and loads of fun.
We again stayed in the Coralia Hotel which stands in lovely grounds adjacent to sandy beach with crystal clear water in Dahab bay. Windsurfing kit was hired from the Neilson centre who had a good range of sails and boards to suit all levels of ability and sizes.
Weather was very hot so no wet suits needed only rash vests required, more against the sun than anything else. Conditions were very good for all levels of sailing with one calm day which gave all of us hot shots a day to recover.
Colin, holiday organiser extraordinaire, did lots of blasting, concentrating on the gybe, woke one morning and decided to do a 40 mile bike ride, came back with sore bum, cuts and bruises and discovered the first aid kit carried was less than adequate!! For his efforts he won a prize at the prize-giving of a first aid kit, which he duly topped up with more appropriate and in date medication and donated it back.
Steve and Ross joined the intermediate group to practice harnesses, foot-straps, beach starts, water starts and tacking with Ross keeping the pressure on and dad trying hard to keep up, both managed the harness, but Ross got ahead and got into both foot straps and has started trying out some freestyle tricks.
The two Micks "over size sail" Janman and Reeks were permanently full on but did come unstuck on a few occasions, compared with Bobs considered choice of "slow" sails. Bob tried not to fall in so not to turn the red sea into the black sea. Mick J, facilities manager (Dahab), sorted taxi's for the runs into town, etc. and Bob transport manager (GB) did great jobs, one's that we all agree cannot be beaten, so jobs for life!!
Mick R, went to speedy after we convinced him Peter Davis' horror stories are extremely unlikely to come true, he also clocked the best speed of the week within our group with 37 knots.
Dave Crowhurst had his camera with him all the time to get some great photos of the group whether blasting, being rescued or grazing, which can be viewed on Facebook or BCSC web site run by Dave. He started to learn a few tricks but ripped his hand apart so just went back blasting, again on big kit
Paul " Yul grinner" Aldous, back to windsurfing after along lay off looking at rock formations and artefact digging, got back to top form including water starts, and the only one ever to lose a sail while windsurfing (amazingly it sunk!!), but managed to get his board to dry land in the rescue boat.
This year Jason was listening and not so much transmitting, improved his sailing including some fancy jibes and wipe outs, but he then went for bigger and bigger kit in search of speed.
Many in the group used the rescue boat as a taxi after a full on day blasting in the sea.
All in all a good time was had by all.
Oh and it must be mentioned that the trophy winner was Ross for his progression through the week, well done.

5 May 2012

Whilst there have been a few sessions out this year there has been little info provided for the website.
With todays forecast high winds in the morning and then dropping, a few braved the cold winds to have a blast, Dave, Steve and Ross, who are looking forward to sailing Monday in 30+ deg in Dahab with others from the club, were joined by Simon, and after a few blasts on big kit, unfortunately the wind dropped away and apart from a front coming through which gave a short period of very cold winds, and rain, giving a few decent runs before finally dying away that was it. Dave

2012 Tips and Tasters

Just to get some dates published, there will be tips and tasters running for 3 days.
Sat 26th May
Sat 23rd June
Sat 4th Aug
Anyone willing to assist will be welcome as I have only heard from a few. Please Drop me an email to the Webmaster if you are attending either to assist or take part.
Dave.

Board storage

Sunday 29th saw an additional work party to do some work for board storage between the containers, many thanks to John Williams, Mick Janman, Kevin Nisbet, Cameron Morrison, David Peek, Jeff Wood & Peter Davis for their efforts in mixing and pouring a lot of concrete.
Dave

Weekend 21/22 Jan 2012

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd January saw 6 windsurfers turn up each day, launching from the main beach both days saw the wind swing round making what was good direction then hard work to get back. However on both days saw 30knot speeds, Saturday by Dave Crowhurst and Sunday by Ian Foulds, a positively fast start to the year.

First outing of 2012

Saturday 7th January saw 5 windsurfers turn up for a sail, no chance of launching from the main beach due to the mess there, so the mid point launching area was used, with the wind direction this was the best point anyway to give a good run. A good day was had even though it was a little cold on the hands

Weymouth Speed Week October 2011

The week started with sunshine, but missing any decent wind with only 8 knots even my kit wasn't big enough! Monday however brought good wind and a port course was set along the beach. So starting with a 7.6m sail and 115 board and taking ages to get back to the start after each run I put some decent runs in of 25.94kts ave. over 500m. I then changed down to a 6.4 and 94 board, again some decent runs ave 27.04kts. My best of the day being a run of 27.73kts, (somewhat off the pace as the fastest of the day was 36knots!!). This was the best day of the week, even if it did mean a trip in the rescue boat after a bump on the head and a good bit of blood down the face!!
Tuesday with less wind saw a starboard course set that was difficult to get to the start line, not feeling too great I only did 4 runs during the day on the 7.6 sail and 115 board, with an average of 24.76kts and a fastest run of 24.93kts.
Wednesday, still not feeling right, but in what were lighter winds I rigged the 9.8 and formula board, this very quickly became a handful in the strengthening and shifting winds along the starboard course, calling it a day after 5 runs ave 21.51kts, fastest 23.3kts.
Thursday no winds so I didn't sail, good opportunity for a bit of relaxing and doing some overdue kit maintenance.
Friday was once again lighter winds forecast, strengthening later, well later never came so it was 9.8 and formula kit again all day, again a port run along the shore. 10 runs completed, along with 5 half runs where it was impossible to keep the board planing through the course, and even harder to get back to the start line, ave 21.56kts and fastest run of 22.76kts.
Overall it was a good week albeit frustrating at times, especially not feeling well, however I was pleased that the sailing that I did do was pretty consistent.
Dave C

Weekend July 16/17 2011

Early start on the Saturday as Arthur had to leave late morning for a concert, wind was a bit up and down but 7.5 meter sails and big boards saw some decent runs.
Sunday stared with strong winds which were forecast to drop, so 7.5 m again which was quite a handful at times but generally gave great sailing in the ever shifting winds. Once again Jason topped his best speed, now up to 26.4 knots and Dave put up several good speeds, the fastest being 29.2 kts. With the wind dropping it was time to convert another sailor to the boards with Ben having a go at windsurfing and showing good balance for a first time out.

Kit container

Saturday 23rd saw Mick Janman, Peter Davis (the talkative one!!), John Williams and Dave Crowhurst turn up to sort out the container. Dave and his son colin had finished off the power and lighting to the container so that there is now light. A grand job was done which now sees the end of the continer fully racked for storage of windsurfing kit and clear lines painted on the floor for a keep clear area as the place was a trip hazard nightmare.
Thanks to all for their efforts, now it's time to really go to town on clearing out the unclaimed equipment.
Unidentified sails have been put on the pile of club sails for anyone to use. Also if any of the equipment shown below belongs to you, get in touch and identify it or it will be removed, all equipment in the container MUST be clearly marked and storage fees paid.
Dave

Weekend June 18/19 2011

Very good windy day on Sat when it blew well for 6.4 - 7.5 sails, with some lighter airs which just required a bigger board to keep planing, but only Mick Reeks and Dave out.
Sunday stared slowly but a few people arrived and got out, again the wind came through in fits and starts so either bobbing along or fully powered up and fighting for control. Great weekend.
Jason increased his top speed to 26.2 knots and at one point decided to take up flying, straight towards the bank, maybe that was when he got his top speed, Hee Hee!!!

Tips and Tasters June 4th & 5th

Have to say that Saturday was a really great day with a good turn out of club members, weather was fantastic, if a bit blowy for some, everybody managed to get out on the water (except me) and seemed to enjoy themselves.
Sunday, weather-wise was not so good, little wind, lots of rain and fewer takers, those that did brave the elements, guests of mine, had a great time and would like to thank the club for the opportunity to sail with us, potentially two new members....
I would like to thank the guys for their help and support throughout the weekend (Great to have you back on Sunday Dave) couldn't have managed without you...... "lets do it again
Geoff

Weekend of 28th/29th May

Another windy weekend with 4 out on Saturday for a great session, followed by 9 out on Sunday. Some good speeds were obtained and Jason broke his personal best with 25 knots.

 

30 knots

Finally the 30 knot barrier has been broken, by Mick Reeks on his JP Supersport and 5.7m NP Hellcat, clocking 30.1 knots on his Garmin GPS

Dahab Trip 15-22nd May

Once again a number of members, this year 15, took a trip to Dahab in Egypt for the now regular windsurfing trip. The weather conditions were varied, that is the wind was varied as it was always hot and sunny. This gave everyone from beginner to advanced the opportunity to get out on to the water most days, even some of the long time beginners moved up to improvers this year having been caught out last year by performing tricks they hadn't been taught!!
The varied conditions gave people the opportunity to do other things as well as windsurfing, with the lasers and Dart 15 catamarans being taken out, however I think we left more lasers broken than in working order after our sessions with Mick and Dave both breaking the outhaul pulley at the same gybe mark on one outing, possibly just as well as this meant Mick could assist Jason who took a Dart out single handed in the strengthning winds.
On another day when there was no wind in the afternoon 8 of the group took the bikes & rode to the 'Blue Hole', a famous diving/snorkling spot, for a spot of lunch and then snorkling which was excellent, a round cycle trip of 18 miles which saw a few tired bodies at the end and Clive getting a lift back with a puncture.
By the end of the week sore hands, cut knees and feet and even a bruised ear suggested that there was sufficient wind for everyone.
The Bruno cup this year was a close run thing with a number of people improving and trying out new tricks but in the end it was the newcomer to windsurfing who came good, so Robin took the trophy helped no doubt by telling the outgoing holder that he was trying to catch him in the Laser when he went over at the gybe mark (twice!!) (there you go Mick, a tip...)
Another fantastic holiday with a great group.
Robin Counter, Dave Crowhurst, Peter Davis, Dan Ellis, Phil Fidler, Jason Grafton, Mick Janman, Colin Male, Toby Manktelow, Nick Perriman, Frank Walters, Clive Warner, John Williams, Peter Williams, Bob Wolsenholme.

Free sailing 2nd May

And if the weekend was good, the Bank Holiday Monday was even better..... Although still gusty it was a good bit windier and a good show of faces along the bank, even if a couple of people did have their sensible heads on and didn't go out in the conditions.

Free sailing 30th April / 1st May

Finally with warmer weather and a good bit of wind the numbers of windsurfers along the bank swelled over the weekend, although gusty it was finally time to dust off the smaller kit and get some decent speeds in. Definite need to get more work done on the bank as lack of rigging space with the number of vehicles there.

And although not necessarily at the Lake, here are individuals best recorded.

Here are a few of the speeds registered on the lake, including the kit used
(where known)
Just drop me an email and let me know the details

And although not necessarily at the Lake, here are individuals best recorded.