Surfladle

Now, do You remember that feeling of jubilation and absolute freedom when you cleared the school gates and the whole of the Summer was ahead of you? Apart from the week away with the family, it was all going to be Fun in the Sun. You would have to admire our ‘hope’ but may I ask, were you like most of us from the ‘middle ages’ of the 20th Century, who also remember the whole thing turning into a pipe dream? So many of those Freedom Days were spent sat indoors, looking out of the window, wondering when the rain might stop! It was so frustrating and to this day, I hate being trapped indoors, which is an odd statement to make, considering the lifetime I have spent in this shop, but still true. Sadly, it is looking pretty much the same for the start of the school Hols 2023 (so much for the friggin Heat Wave they keep mentioning) but I guess that the majority of the kids of this Millenium are far happier to spend their time indoors anyhow.. ‘Virtual reality makes the outdoors too unreliable’.. so come rain or shine, nothing changes for them. Ah well, times they do change but in my world, a Heatwave would still be appreciated. I’m sure there are a certain group of outdoor people that would agree with this as… we have the Outriggers racing at Shoreham this weekend!

 

Saturday, the racing is starting earlier than expected due to the school Hols weather. It’s a 20km course which has to have an upwind and downwind section, so it’s from Shoreham Harbour Arm to Worthing Pier and then back again. I think they are heading out around 8.30am to try and miss the stronger winds forecast to pick up during the morning or at least avoid a ‘nasty’ paddle into a strong wind / choppy sea heading to Worthing. The home leg back to Shoreham will be a lot nicer with a tail wind. The tide will be out (great dog walking as plenty of sand…) as the High is not until mid-afternoon, so the Harbour arm and the Pier will offer the best viewing areas as the outriggers and safety boats may have to stay ‘offshore’  to avoid any breaking waves. 

Sunday the racing continues and that may be run on the sea and the river. 

I cannot find an itinerary for the racing on the web other than the below (Jon, please can you add a link if there is one please?) but I will update this if I get more info.

Don’t forget the Hawaiian party tomorrow evening at the SYC. I think the tickets are now ‘Sold Out’ but do ask if you would like to join the fun, you may get an entry.

This year the Distance Nationals is hosted by Shoreham Outrigger Club and the Sussex Yacht Club and we are very excited about having the Championship in this area as it offers lovely options for a variety of courses dependent on the weather.

V6 races (approx. 16 to 24 km) will run on July 22. On Sunday July 23 experienced paddlers (individual paddlers with two years plus ocean outrigger small boat experience) can enter into V1, OC1 and OC2 races (approx. 12 to 16 km).

The course will be dependent on the weather conditions on the day and there is an alternate river race if the conditions do not warrant racing on the ocean.

 

Keeping it short tonight as rain is forecast and to be honest.. I need to get out of this office!!

So, what of the weekends weather and tides?

 

Saturday, 18-20kts up to around 11am from the West, slowly veering Sou’West. From then on it increases all afternoon peaking at 28-35kts late evening (sorry Alan, still over 30kts at Shorekipa!). Rain forecast from around 9.00am with a brief interlude during lunch and then more to come in the afternoon and evening.. lovely jubbly. High Tide is at 14.55hrs on a 5.7m. Out on the sea until around 1pm and then off to the River for Wing Foiling practice.

 

Sunday, the Sou’West wind drops back to 20-26kts until around mid afternoon when it is expected to drop back again, to around 18-20kts and then continue to drop into the evening. NO RAIN shown at the moment so make the Outdoor plan! Tide is High at 15.24hrs on a 5.6m. Could be another re-run of Sea and River fun (typical that the wind drops on Sunday afternoon after 4pm.. ).

 

And that is it for this week. If I’ve forgotten another event that is happening this weekend, my sincere apologies.. it all becomes a bit of a blur at this time of year! 

And for all of those who are desperate for a few warm and windless days to get their SUP boards out again, I hope your time will come soon but for now, it’s wind, Wind and more WIND (see next weeks forecast.. defo School Hols weather!).

Do try and have a good weekend everyone!