WindsurfingUK issue 11 June 2019 | Page 75

75 Have you got any specific goals in mind with your speed sailing? I wanted to break 40 knots by the time I was 40 and I got 39.98 knots! Big 50 is next on my list and a 46 average. You sort of get a bit number crazy. Every session you try to beat your personal best. I’ve started to concentrate more on the 250m/500m and basically holding that peak speed for 10s/20s. I’m lucky enough to have the master Farrel O’Shea as my team mate and mentor to help push my speeds. Crashing wasn’t on my to do list last year! What’s your normal stomping ground for screaming reaches? Our local lake NSC has a couple of great directions for reaches but like any lake when it starts to blow 30 knots the water state gets all choppy and speeds become a real challenge. If the wind’s in the right direction I travel up to West Kirby (three-hour drive) as you get super flat water and even in 20-30 knots of wind it can be awesome fun. Anywhere you desperately want to score? I’d love to go to Luderitz, just to experience the place and of course break the world record! Where’s the best location for speed windsurfing in the UK and why? There are a couple of great spots: West Kirby and Southend (The Ray) both can be epic. But I do favour West Kirby out of the two. I always find Southend very iffy. The forecast could be perfect and you get there and there be nowt. Kirby always seems to deliver with super flat water and nothing to stop the wind as it comes straight off the sea. The added bonus of your van parked three metres away from the water makes it so easy to change fins, sails or get the kettle on. This is something you can’t do at Southend as it’s a mile walk out to the Ray! What about abroad? Southern France gets some epic speed conditions at Le Franqui and Le Palma. I fancy doing an event there called The Prince of Speed. So I’ll see what happens on that. There are also some great spots in Holland such as The Brace and Strand Hoist to name a few. How hard is it nailing good conditions for speed sailing? Now that’s the hard bit. You end up checking multiple forecasts, watching ALL the weather maps, checking angles, current wind speeds and in the end you just have to go and see. You try your best but sometimes it’s not perfect and sometimes you get that epic day. Normally it’s minus 5C, raining and on a Monday! And what about other windsurfing disciplines – do you indulge or are you too focused on speed? I love all windsurfing: big kit, small kit and everything else. I’ve not tried this foiling lark yet but my other passion is stand up paddle boarding. It’s completely the opposite of going fast but I love it. On a summer’s day with no wind just out cruising on my SUP is perfect. Plus the whole family does it too so happy days… You’ve been through the mill a bit in terms of injury. Can you give us some more details about that? After what was an epic day at Kirby the decision to have one last run probably wasn’t the best decision. It was blowing 40 knots plus, we’d been out all day and were beyond knackered. But it was sunny, broad and fast – I mean really fast! I couldn’t quite get over 46/7 knots so had to try again. The whole run felt wrong. I wasn’t quite in full control. I peaked at 45 knots and after 20 seconds or so started to slow down in the rolling death chop at Kirby. I lost grip and bailed off the back. I remember crossing my arms as I hit the water. At 40 knots that bloody hurts so I tried to protect myself. As I hit the water my left arm got torn upwards dislocating my shoulder. At first it hurt, yeah, but my kit was flying off so I had to go get it. I swam for it and think that’s when I relocated my shoulder. Next day my wife and best friend (nurse) said I best go to hospital as one shoulder was lower than the other (eek! – ed). How long are you likely to be recovering? Luckily I’ve been able to carry on working as I’m self employed but I’ve not sailed for a good eight months. As we speak I’m due to go for open surgery in five days’ time (April, 2019). I’ll then be six weeks in a sling and then physio for a while. Fingers crossed I’ll be back on the water for the summer. But hopefully the problem should be fixed by then? Yeah. I tore over 50% of soft tissue from the bone but hopefully it’ll be stuck back on by summer. uk WIND SURFING