BEST EVER!

29th-30th March 2008

Jamie Hancock finds a biggie

The Call

We've had a shaky start to the wavejam series.

Wavejam1 was held on a 30ft/30mph Westerly forecast but it never really delivered -none of the best Cornish beaches were working and the squally winds played havoc with kit choice. We made the most of it, but I have to admit the conditions were a let down.

Wavejam2 had us biting off more than we could chew yet again, with a mast high and very offshore Woolacombe being almost unsailable; the waves were closely spaced closeouts -a one hit wonder if you were lucky enough to make it out. This was gutting as I'd been down there two weeks previous on a similer forecast and had my best sail for years.

So we were desperate to make the right call for Wavejam3. This is no easy ask; if I'm taking myself to the beach, I'll get up at 5am, check the forecast, make sure the weathers still playing ball, choose the best spot and jump in the van. If I'm trying to organise a get together of the countries best sailors and photographers they generally need a days notice and to know that it's the right choice. It's hard for people to leave a perfectly good forecast at home and drive for 6hrs.

For WJ3 the forecast was a tough one, half the sailors fancied Rosniegr (3.7 weather, endless stunt ramps, humoungous jumps guarenteed) and the other half Gwithian (4m weather, mast high and down the line! Pure joy).

A Thursday afternoon poll had Rosniegr in the lead by 1 vote! and so at 9pm I made the call for Wales. This made sense; Gwithian looked to be a Saturday only proposition (albeit a very nice one!) and it would be raining, but Rossy looked good for sunday too and it would be sunny. I'd more or less promised democracy would rule for this jam, as I didn't want the guilt of getting it wrong and hey Rosniegr would be fantastic.

As you'd expect, the first thing I did on Friday morning was to check the forecast again, and horror of horrors, the balance had swung well and truly in Gwithians favour. Sunday's wind and sun had now slid 300 miles south to Cornwall leaving Rosniegr windless.I had a huge dilema!

Two of Britains top sailors Phil Horrocks and Ben Proffitt could only make Rossy having just jumped off the plane -those boys out styling at Rossy is a tasty proposition for a Wavejam and well, I'd promised.

BUT, that one extra vote was Oisin Van Gelderan, and Oisin had decided he couldn't make it over from Ireland afterall. Would it wash that the votes were now EVEN?

In the end I went with my heart, and that was begging and screaming for two days of mast high Gwithian! It was a 'once a year' kind of forecast afterall. So rightly or wrongly, on Friday afternoon I changed the call to Gwithian. Hell, if I'd spent Saturday in the Rossy rain hanging onto a 3m, Sunday at home decorating and then gone into work monday morning and found all-time Gwithian plastered all over the net, it could well have spelled the end for Wavejam!

Saturday

We'd all had our instructions by email and text to get down to Gwithian, check out the conditions and meet up at 12 for a twenty minute expression session.

I'd travelled down with Russ 'Crazy Horse' Tetlow and Rich Potter, we'd left at 3am and managed to pull into Gwithians carpark for 10. It didn't take us long to realise it was worth the drive! It looked windy, very windy! With mast high boomers marching in and perhaps best of all (for a Wavejam) it wasn't raining.

This for me, is one of the best feelings in windsurfing; when you roll up at the beach and know you've struck gold and you're in for a memorable day. This is also where the usual catching up with your friends you've not seen for months, walking 10 minutes to take that leek you need, getting the camera out or organising anything other than what sail you're rigging goes out the window!

''Hi Blackie, what sail you rigging? 4.7?.. see you out there.''

Always a good sign when the local rippers are rigging up, and today they were all here; Ian Ross, Andy Fawcett, Duncan Coombes, Harvey Dawkins, Blackie.


I should have got the camera out though, as when I'm scrambling down the goat track, I see Potter has caught his first wave straight onto the rocks and is now left high and dry on a 6ft lump of granit and is contemplating jumping off into 6ft of whitewater! A classic start to the day that has me in stitches, but fair play to him he pulls it off and heads straight back out albeit with a huge tear in the foot of his sail

The next hour flies by as I catch a few hell rides past the rocks, trying to dial myself in and get braver with every hit. It's not easy sailing though especially the getting out part, sometimes taking 2 or 3 attempts.

Jam time

11:45 and it's time to shoot back up the goat track and round everybody up for a fun contest. Wavejam is really about getting all the top sailors out in the best conditions, getting loads of footage for the mags, seeing who's ripping and enjoying the craic.

But it's always good to get a result on paper and have half an hour where the sailors can go nuts on the water and the photographers can focus their efforts (particularly as most of them sail.)

Unbeknown to the sailors, there were a few goodies up for grabs too. Russ Tetlow had managed to sweet talk the 'Sunset Surf Shop and Cafe' into helping us with a few cool prizes (and had russled up a Vestal watch for first place, a t-shirt for second and a beanie for third) and we'd managed to find a trophy.

A quick meeting at the van and we decide to start the expression session at 12:15 when I'd signal the Le mans start by waving my arms from the top of the cliff. Judging to be done by the photographers, myself and any sailors who happened to be around and not on the water. Not quite upto the PWA's way of doing things, but works surprisingly well -we chat about who's sailing well and keep track of the top 3 order until the 20 minutes are up. Not a problem with todays 'riding only' conditions but maybe in need of a rethink if we get 30 sailors and stunt ramp city -we'd certainly have to keep numbers on the water down and run a few heats to be able to keep track and judge fairly.

At 12:15, despite the top 3 seeds not yet having made it down to the beach, I set the rest of them off down to the water Le mans style. They all blast across the first 30ft of mirror flat water at 40knots maxed out on their 4m sails, dance across the first couple of lines of whitewater, then grind to a halt as the rip takes hold just before the impact zone. We watch with horror from the top of the cliff (it was horror honest) as 3 huge set waves appear on the horizon, building with perfect timing, to completely anihilate all the sailors in one fell swoop as wave 1 unloads. Waves 2 and 3 then finish the job off -depositing the entire fleet back on the sand. Classic timing, nothing any of them could do, it was inevitable and bloody funny.

Nick Moffatt showed his metal though and was the first to get his breath back, shake the sea out of his head and make a bid for the outside. Successfully making it out, he ripped a wave all the way back in, including a super late turn under a mast high lip and we wondered if he'd perhaps got this one in the bag already.

Gwithian at low tide is a pretty gnarly place; the lovely peelers at mid-tide gradually give way to more violent close outs as the tide drops down, the bigger the waves the bigger the problem, and this was BIG -would anyone else make it out?

Jamie Hay did. Not once but twice. Jamie is bit of a hell man and has no fear; earlier in the year he broke two masts at a 'mast and a half high' Woolacombe before lunchtime, and still went back out for more. No broken masts this time though, as Jamie made light work of low tide Gwithian and romped to an easy victory.

No-one really put up much of a fight. The King brothers, Steve Jarvis and Jamie Hancock appeared half way through after frantically rigging but just didn't seem dialed-in having only just got wet. If we'd run the expression session at the end of the day (when they'd had time to suss the conditions, tweak new kit, warm up and get their timing right) it might have been different, but as it was Jamie Hay wiped the floor with everybody.

Rich Potter showed that his keeness and time on the water is paying off, as he slid into 3rd with a mix of powerful and skatey turns.

So that was the contest bit over, Jamie Hay being crowned the first ever winner of a Wavejam! Now back to the freesailing..

Despite the great conditions, numbers on the water dwindled as trashed kit and tiredness took it's toll on many. By 3 'o'clock it was raining and there were only a few diehards left; it was very challenging sailing but those who knew Gwithian, knew that the best was yet to come. Sure enough the last few hours of light were the best of the day; empty waves which walled up and peeled around the point just as they had done when we first arrived, only now the wind was cleaner and the rip less evil. Who cares about the rain? This was fantastic. Eventually we gave it best as our arms gave out and we made our way back up the goat track completely shattered, packing up slowly and watching the only sailor left on the water -Blackie. He'd disappeared back to work during mid-day but was now back with the place to himself, giving the local seals a master-class in waveriding. It was surely the best we'd seen Gwithian break for a long time and Blackie was styling.

Sunday

Quite a few of the jammers were on a one-day pass and had to head home Saturday night, thinking that Sunday's forecast was a bit dubious anyway. For those of us left, Sunday dawned with clear skies and zero wind. Out came the surfboards and a couple of hours paddling into some pretty small waves at Hayle. It was soon lunchtime and thoughts were turning to getting some grub and starting the long journey home.

Guy Cribb arrived at the Bluff with his INtuition dudes in tow and started rigging -presumably to do some lessons on the sand, but Guy mentioned there was bit of a breeze building at Gwithian and it was cross-shore. Gotta be wishful thinking I thought, as what little wind was now forecast was South Westerly and would be cross-on. We headed for Gwithian anyway to grab lunch at the Sunset Cafe. What we found on arrival was shockingly promising; sunny, head high, cross-off and enough wind to wobble out. We were going to get a sail and a pretty sweet one at that -the wind building all the time.

We rigged 5.0-5.7's and headed out. Within half an hour the water was packed -the more managable conditions meaning everyone could get out for a play. The conditions were getting better by the minute and luckily we'd get an extra hour on the water due to daylight saving. From 4 'til 6 the conditions were just all-time; the waves had built to logo plus and were peeling far more predictably at that size, the wind was a steady 5, the tide was right, the route out back a hundred times easier and the sun was shining. People were ripping! We totally scored it. It was better than Saturday!

The Kings were goitering off the biggest sections they could find, the local boys were finding their way onto all the set waves and going banzai, Cribby was signing his style on the waves with his full laydown bottom turns and smooth lines, Gwithian was being taken apart!

It was perhaps a good thing that the wind dropped and the rain came just before 7pm -forcing us to pack up and head for home rather than sail 'til dark. We eventually arrived home at 3am completely shattered and all had to be up early for a semi-comatose day at work.


For me it was a fantastic weekend, the only thing we didn't quite nail was to run another expression session, -I guess the weather caught us by surprise, but that's a minor detail.

Congratulations to our first three winners; Jamie Hay, Nick Moffatt and Rich Potter -kicking ass in mental conditions.

Rich also winning the rock star and worst driver award.

I nearly won wally of the weekend when I managed to drop Russ' 10k Canon camera (A screw came loose and it fell off the tripod!) and thought I'd bust it, total trauma! Luckily it turned out the focus had just switched to manuel, but boy was that a scary half hour.

Thank's to the Sunset Cafe for the prizes (it's a cracking place with great food, lots of toys for sale and views over the bay), Russell Tetlow and Niamh Hyslop for the pics and most of all to the sailors for making it to Gwithian and putting on a show.

http://sunsetsurfshop.co.uk

Jamie Hay

"After driving about a thousand miles for work during the week, the thought of driving to Cornwall in the rain at the weekend was not on my to do list! I almost turned back at Bristol, but after a quick argument with myself I pressed on, and was made up as I arrived in the car park at Gwithian to see big waves and tonnes of wind.
The format of an expression session was right up my street in these conditions meaning I could leave my brain in the van and just go out and enjoy. No sitting around getting cold waiting for my six minute heat!! Long may the Wave Jam continue."

Guy Cribby

"Gwithian proved to be a world class venue again, with plenty of mast high sets peaking, and sometimes closing out across the bay. I have never done so many chicken gybes in one day as far back as I can remember- but I am seriously out of practise having not sailed since October. I was on some pretty amazing new kit, but the smallest board I had was an onshore board for smaller waves- the Mistral Wave Fish RD 74- it was absolutely brilliant, although not designed to be used in side off shore down the line mast high 4.2m weather conditions! Since the bottom turns were so fast, I took out a GPS to see just what speeds were recorded- to my amazement I clocked 36 knots into a turn!

I was running my first INtuition Surfari- a coaching event where we book the dates but not the venue until the last minute, and Gwithian was clearly the BEST place to be in Europe this weekend, so it was no wonder the Wave Jam crew were out in force.

Everyone was making the most out of very tough conditions, local sailors were looking pretty hot being in the right places at the right time, especially Ian Ross who has come on heaps and seems to have all of Cornwall nailed.

I saw Kingy get a monster back loop as usual, but only one- there was very little jumping, and Steve King sail very well alround too. Thorpey was ripping and was on the water all the time! He must be knackered now as I caught only a few waves and was shafted."

Steve Jarvis

"On friday I was a little unsure on Gwithian, as I'd managed to embaressingly hurt my elbow in a non windsurfing (beer related) incident. After a text from Thorpy saying it wasn't going to be one to miss, and a much appreciated lift from Jamie Hancock, I found myself staring at wonderful logo to Mast high lines at Gwithian!!!!!

I rigged a 4.1 and 73L and was well powered, the best thing was that it was so easy to get out due to some lengthly breaks in sets. On the first run out though there was always going to be a problem........Me and Mark bell were about 20m apart. and sure that we were out. Then suddenly bearing down on us was a solid mast high wave. I bore away, to get over it before it broke, this translated to me hitting a vertical mast high ramp at full speed. Because it was offshore I ended up getting pushed into a rotation that I cannot even begin to explain. My kit dissappeared and I hit the water about 25m from it. Another wave came and it was gone.

To make me feel slightly better I looked up and gave a leisurely wave to Mark Bell(also swimming in with no sign of his kit).

After that the waves got bigger, and with everybody getting some great rides and being served some serious justice(Brendans word) it was an awesome day......"

Jan Sleigh

"Saturday at Gwithian was pretty hard core - if you got your timing wrong on the way out or hit the rip and lost all momentum you basically had to chicken gybe or get nailed. There were rogue sets coming through every now and again that steam rolled over you no matter what. Rich Potter has to get an award for getting totally rammed onto the rocks on his first run out - and then instead of carrying his kit back to the beach he just threw his kit back into the water over the head high waves crashing on the rocks and dived in after it to sail back out through the mast high sets. My timing was off and I did both a lot of chicken gybes and a lot of swimming after getting nailed. Still I was stoked as I got a few maxed on a 4.4 forwards and cheese rolls on the way out and got a few nice big waves as well. Jamie Hay was ripping - his timing was spot on and he was fearless - he just kept going out and getting wave after wave. Queeny did the best jump of the day - a monster stalled forward off a mast high wave - it was seriously HUGE!
After 5 hours of carnage at Gwithian the Kings, Andrew Fawcett, Dudley Young and myself took ourselves of to the Bluff. The wind was super offshore and the waves tame in comparison to the savagery of Gwithian. Dudley and I decided to go out. The minute we put our boards on the water the wind swung slightly more sideshore and picked up! Dudley and I scored an awesome 2 hours to ourselves with sunshine and rainbows and sick turns and aerials through sunset right into darkness.

Sunday was an altogether different day - with wall to wall sunshine and a little less wind Gwithian looked less foreboding. I probably went a littleunder gunned on my sail size with my 5.4 Boxer - but my Pro Wave 95 was perfect and I scored heaps of waves in another 5 hour session. Thorpy, Cribby, and Nick Moffat were taking it apart, but for me it was the local boys Blackie, Ian Ross, Harvey Dawkins and Mark, with perfect wave selection, who were ripping - but tearing it apart better than anyone was Andrew Fawcett - the stand out sailor on the day for my money."

Rich Potter

"just happy steves van made it home even though we didn't get home till 3 in the morning

I don't like to brag but i was the only rockstar of the weekend. Two days of mental sailing couldn't have asked for more.."

Nick Moffatt

"Wavejam 3...the build up was quite something, dont think it was just me getting more excited by the hour counting down to day 1 at the selected beach, couldnt get out of the Lab doors at Bath and down to Gwithian fast enough! It was so nice for it to live up and maybe even surpass expectations, great to have such a good atmosphere on the water with many sailors sharing the break. The usual suspects were ripping the sizeable walls and lips apart, Fawcett, Blackie, Ross along with others. Every so often you'd see someone go for something big, and everyone got seriously drilled at some point, it was fantastic. Some standouts for me were Jamie Hancock with some fluid and connected critical riding, Jamie Hay for going for it all out in the expression session, Thorpy with some solid turns and hits, and for fully milking both days' wind and waves! The King twins have a habit of being freaks in the crazy conditions with some ballsy moves."