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I have taken the time to train myself the art of Wakeboarding. A few days ago it was a calm day, glassy flat sea, no wind, perfect conditions and with the help of my brother Nick's board I was able to try for the second time (first time I was mastering getting up). Once I am up on the board I can only describe it as a surreal feeling of gliding across the water, the slightest movement of balance to heel or toe will move the board where you want to go. I am looking forward to improving and catching air, but I need to learn to walk before I can run and I will certainly be buying my own board!

Well as many of you have probably noticed, Paignton Beach parking is open again. With no surprise of a parking meter every 15 metres. (luckily they are not active just yet). I shall remind any new visitors that Torbay Surfing petitioned against these along with 2000+ other angry people and as usual the council did not listen! - In future there is not much point petitioning as its getting clearer and clearer that they will do what they want regardless of what the people say. The council has recently been building up a nice little list of local mess up's including Rock Walk, that big Balloon thing and now Parking meters!

After sailing in after a light wind session something caught my eye , breaching out of the water, off Paignton Beach.  10 -15 dolphins swam up and down 200 metres off the beach.  I sailed back out  catching up with the pod off Roundham. I had followed an infant dolphin up to the point as it jumped playfully. I stopped 50 m short not wanting to disturb and sat on my board churning water to attract attention. The pod then came back toward me and gave me 5 to 10 minutes of pure dolphin entertainment. An adult  jumped repeatedly doing 270 degree rotations. Definitely the highlight of my year!

Monday Morning at 9 am, an hour or so before high tide, there was only the slightest cross offshore wind with 3-5 foot waves under the pier. The sea was jelly with occasional set rolling in. Warm  water, well coolish, warm air temperature. I couldn't ask for more. I've been desperately trying to improve on my surfing. Hoping that the miles and miles of  wakeboarding and wakeskating would feed through to surfing. And it did! I caught a few rides that's left me hungry for more! 

After not sailing Coombe Cellars in preference to the cleaner waters of the Bay for so long I decided to sail the afternoon high tide on Wednesday 12th August 2008. I Remember now why it's such a great westerly / Easterly spot. Easy parking, great food, channeled and accelerated wind, and I managed to tick off a number rare tractor units on my train spotters guide in between gybes.....

Good cross offshore windsurfing on Friday at Preston and Wakesdkating in flat glassy water at Babaacombe on Saturday....I'm checking the forecast for Sunday....... Some Waves would be nice!

It's a been a good week. Monday Dan and co found some really flat water on a westerly the otherside of 'hopes nose' for a really nice wakeboard session, topped off with a nice windsurf session at Preston today. Wakeboarding's coming along but any tips on getting more air would be appreciated. Not being one to hold back I've picked up a wakeskate at Harbour sports to throw that into the melting pot.

So I've got the second hand board and kit ready to go. Take myself down to Preston beach on Sunday afternoon, looks a bit choppy for me but no pain, no gain.

Tackled getting the sail and board all together, not too bad I thought. Now dragg it all into the sea.......ah ha, bloody knackered already. Right, up on the board, bend zee knees, pull.........oops fall off. Straight back up on, pull up the mast and grab the....wave.....splash...try again, wave....splash......and so it goes on. Did manage to get hold of the 'boom' a few times for a fraction of a second before....wave....splash.........unbalance.....splash...get the picture?

After an hour and a half, knees bleeding and bloody knackered, but still laughing we got up, we got the boom in hand and ...............we balanced, actually got some wind in the sail and moved forward for about 15 seconds......until............wave..........splash, off again.

Ha ha, absolutely knackered and loved it can't wait for the 2nd attempt, going for a full minute next time!

ciao.

Danny and I had a great Wakeboard session today in light wind flat water from Torquay along to Paignton. The learning curve is plateauing as I'm trying to jump the wakes. But I've got more questions than answers.

What is the best length of line?

How do we get a better wake off the boat?

How to get more line tension to whip into jumps?

Is our boat speed too high? Do we need to trim up?

Do I need to be in a more crouched position before the pop 'up?

Or edge in more perpendicular to the wake?

etc etc.

One thing is for sure... I sailed a week ago and the wakeboarding is really helping the windsurfing... Wakeboard wipe outs are far more violent so the FEAR of windsurfing wipeouts has been tamed 'a bit'!

BRING THE WIND!

As many of you probably know. The council, despite having over 2000 people against the idea of parking meters on Eastern Esplanade road on Paignton beach are going ahead with the idea. This really frustrates me that they didnt even consider the people that use the current free parking as a means to enjoy their local watersport of windsurfing, surfing, kayaking etc. It is quite possible that Paignton Beach will be ignored when coming to these sports. The people that need to carry a large amount of equipment from car to sea may find themselves finding it easier to go somewhere else to enjoy their hobby. We dont just sail, surf, skim or kayak for 30 mins at a time, we may sometimes be there for hours, it will cost us all a fortune in parking costs!

Torbay Council mayor Nick Bye and whoever else is responsible for these meters will definately NOT be getting my vote or my family and friends vote come the next election.  The council have potentially destroyed one of the best locations for watersports in the bay.