A great weekend 11/11/07

A Storm-Chaser Result!
14.00 - a calm sea
The forecast: GALES and storms may hit Britain over the weekend. Forecaster Jonathan Powell said the big concern is the expected north wind which could again whip up a storm surge ... Well we're on the South Coast but even the least curious kayaker should be wondering if this could generate a wave or two on our beach - as they say "It's an ill wind that blows no good!" So we (Ali, Adrian, and Mark)  set off in a relatively calm sea (3 hours after high tide) to see what would turn up on our beach! We paddled up the beach and hung around for about half an hour and there was a good swell in the sea so we knew we'd likely get a wave or two, and it was a beautiful afternoon with a slight off-shore breeze so didn't much care what we got. Then out of nowhere the first clean wave-set reared up to about five foot and the games began!

14.35 - first waves roll in
The average wave-set delivered 4 foot faces with regular 5 footers for the first hour with long enough gaps between sets to make this an easy surf session  - we were joined later by two new club paddlers (Rob & Mike) who timed their arrival for low tide and when the waves reduced in size. But we only had 5 paddlers in the sea on what is likely to be one of the best surfing days of the year! - 2 other regular weekend paddlers couldn't make it but where were the rest!? - "who wouldn't want to play in 4 to 5 foot clean waves on a beautiful afternoon with practically no wind on the beach!" ... You've got to chase the storms to get good surf in Hastings!

We surfed until sunset!		Big thanks to Diana for the photos - but she apologises that she missed much of the action as it was cold standing on the beach and her camera batteries were playing up! ("where did you put the batteries to warm them up!!?!") - And a big thanks to the guys who turned up - "what a brilliant afternoon".

Ps. If you are cynical enough to comment that the waves don't look 4ft or 5ft in these pictures ... "sorry you missed it!"