Hutchy's Surf Blog
Enjoying the aquatic life in Guernsey, Channel Islands
Sunday, 27 September 2015
Tuesday, 29 October 2013
Monday, 5 November 2012
Wild weekend in Jersey!
Just had a blinding weekend in Jersey. Dimi and I travelled down on the clipper on Thursday eve and checked in to the Raddisson Hotel for 4 nights of fun and frolics and fingers crossed....some "water time" since the van was loaded with kites and boards.
Well, the wind Gods smiled down on us as Friday dawned and it was blowing a good'un! but by the time we got down the beach around 3 the tide was a long way out and it was getting late in the day so the decision was made to come back tomorrow earlier in the morn.
Saturday morning, 10am at St Ouens and the wind looks good for kiting. The forecast is 5 to 6 but to drop as the morning went on. I set up the 12 and had about an hour and a half of fun before the wind decided to drop.
St Ouens is a brilliant place for kite surfing with a hardy bunch of really good kiters which keeps on growing in size every year we come back. There is loads of room, quite a contrast to Vazon in Guernsey and the waves pack a real punch so you need to be of a pretty good level.
Sunday morning, 10am and we arrive at St Ouens with the wind blowing from the Sou-west. There are kites and windsurfers flying all over the place. Today was a day for sailing with a little more direction for jumping and riding I rigged the 4.7 and set off for an hour and half of mental wave sailing.
The jersey windsurfers are all amped up and the local boys are sailing really well with the majority of guys flying over the front and launching into the occasional backie. Everybody is stoked with conditions, nice head high waves and plenty of power on the 4.7.
All in all it was pretty much the perfect weekend...Hopefully we'll get some more with the Jersey crew and below are a few shots from the trip taken by my good lady!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Well, the wind Gods smiled down on us as Friday dawned and it was blowing a good'un! but by the time we got down the beach around 3 the tide was a long way out and it was getting late in the day so the decision was made to come back tomorrow earlier in the morn.
Saturday morning, 10am at St Ouens and the wind looks good for kiting. The forecast is 5 to 6 but to drop as the morning went on. I set up the 12 and had about an hour and a half of fun before the wind decided to drop.
St Ouens is a brilliant place for kite surfing with a hardy bunch of really good kiters which keeps on growing in size every year we come back. There is loads of room, quite a contrast to Vazon in Guernsey and the waves pack a real punch so you need to be of a pretty good level.
Sunday morning, 10am and we arrive at St Ouens with the wind blowing from the Sou-west. There are kites and windsurfers flying all over the place. Today was a day for sailing with a little more direction for jumping and riding I rigged the 4.7 and set off for an hour and half of mental wave sailing.
The jersey windsurfers are all amped up and the local boys are sailing really well with the majority of guys flying over the front and launching into the occasional backie. Everybody is stoked with conditions, nice head high waves and plenty of power on the 4.7.
All in all it was pretty much the perfect weekend...Hopefully we'll get some more with the Jersey crew and below are a few shots from the trip taken by my good lady!!
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:St. Helier,
Thursday, 2 August 2012
Naish Fly takes to the air
Here are some photos of the latest addition to the Naish kite line up. The Fly is a light wind two strut kite which is based around the Park. It is super light and designed to get going in around 8 knots of wind depending on what sort of board your riding.
The day we flew it it was only blowing around 5 to 6 knots and we were impressed with the speed and power that it generated on the 30m lines. It is definitely a beast and if you looking for a kite for light wind fun then this could be the kite for you!
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Ooh La La...!
The beauty of owning a campervan is that you can load it up with all the toys and drive south in search of wind, waves and warm weather. Dimi always leaves it to me to plan the road trip but it's not until a few days before we leave that the decision is made on where we shall go.
My initial thoughts were to head for Spain on the Mediterranean coast, the year before we had travelled to Lucate and the surrounding areas and scored some brutal winds but the weather had been bloody awful. Our main priority was to get some good weather and set up base for a while and just relax.
The forecast a few days before showed a series of low pressure systems winding up in the Atlantic so the call was made to head for a spot called Hourtin which is about 30km North of Lacanau armed with surfboard, SUP and kites. In the past years we have travelled most of the coast line from right up North but the Gironde region was a small bit that we had always missed out. When I was a lot younger I had surfed on numerous occasions the Hossegor area with a bunch of guys and girls from Guernsey but never ventured to the beaches of Hourtin and Carcans.
The drive took us down to Royan from here we caught the ferry across the estuary to Verdon and from there it was a short drive down to Hourtin in the depths of the beautiful pine forests which cover the majority of this region. We checked into the campsite La Cote D'Argent which is about 150m from the beach and set up base for a few days of surfing, cycling and relaxing into the French way of life.
Whilst down this way I also managed to contact an old surfing friend of mine that was living in France in the next town along-a place called Carcans. Leigh drove to Hourtin and we met up and had coffee and a long chat about his time spent living in France with his good lady Anne and their beautiful daughter Lilly Jean. We stayed a number of days with Leigh and his family and we scored some good waves down at his local spot- Carcans plage.
The low pressure systems seemed to keep on winding up, back at home they were taking a battering with epic winds and lots of rain but this just kept the swell rolling in as they headed North......
The Royan ferry ride |
Chillin on the campsite |
aaah...I hate mozzies! |
We scored some great waves during his trip with a couple of glassy, barrelling and heavy sessions. On the Saturday we could only watch as the swell had built to 8 to 10ft and the whole place was closing out. It gets seriously heavy down here when it's big with huge rips. There were a couple of brave souls in the water that day but I only saw one wave ridden and a lot of paddling. The best size to surf the area is around 4-5 feet as much bigger than that and it starts to close out.
Oly and I ready to do battle.. |
Chillin on an empty campsite |
Glassy! |
Not bad saying I don't surf a lot |
I love this photo.. |
The big day and this was an inside wave-unfortunately it's not me! |
Heavy!! |
There are miles and miles of cycle tracks that go through the pine forests, just make sure you take plenty of water and sun cream as it gets hot and sticky at this time of year.
Not only is the surf pretty damn good but there is a cracking lake here which is about 15mins from La Plage which is called Houtin Lake. We stayed here for a few days when the wind was onshore and the surf was blown out, you can kite or windsurf literally a stones throw from the car park and the water is warm and shallow. There is plenty of room and a dedicated kite spot with showers and toilets and a few good bars and restaurants to catch a bite to eat and chill out in after a hard day on the water. There is also a cracking Aires for campervans which is only 8 Euros with 24hr electric for just 2 Euros-absolutely amazing value.
You can't come to France and not have the moules...the ones on the campsite were the best.. |
...and if you want some tasty good value food then head to La Plage Cafe for the best snacks in town and probably the best gouffres this side of Paris! |
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
New retractable fin design?
Has my Naish fin bitten off more than it can chew???
Guernsey granite 1 Naish fin 0
Beware of the elusive reef at Vazon. This deadly submerged clump of rocks lies just below the surface on mid to high tide and has taken many the unsuspecting surfer/windsurfer. Unfortunately it was my turn to be had after I played it too close only to be given a rude wake up call.
Phone call to Bob Warry and 24hrs later she's looking like new and ready to fight another day!
Sunday, 15 January 2012
2011 Naish 87lt Wave board
Selling my 2011 Naish 87lt tri-fin wave board. In excellent condition with just a minor repair near the nose-£500
Email hutch@cwgsy.net or call 07839299999
Also selling 2011 Force 5.3/4.7 £150 ea
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Email hutch@cwgsy.net or call 07839299999
Also selling 2011 Force 5.3/4.7 £150 ea
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Location:Portinfer Rd,,Guernsey
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