52 PROFILE SIMON PETTIFER
Total contentment
Windsurfing is welcome relief from work, haha! I've just
been sailing today for the first time in four weeks due
to a foot injury – a dislocated big toe. Two and a half
hours on the water was amazing. I was in the middle of
Poole Harbour grinning like a kid. The sun was out, it
was warm and some good friends were with me –
what’s not to love? The feeling after a good session on
the water never changes: total contentment, super
chilled and happy. According to the wife I’m much
easier going after a sail. (I think we can all relate – ed).
Slalom is what I do. I guess I dabble in speed as well. I
love doing Weymouth Speed Week – it’s great when the
wind blows. A whole seven days of charging down the
speed course is cracking. It’s been a long time – years
in fact – since I have ventured out in waves. I can bust a
forward and find my way around but with it currently
being so tough trying to keep up with the youngsters of
slalom this is where my priorities lie. I don’t have time
for anything but slalom training at the mo. The fact I
don’t have any wave gear is also an issue. Though any
day now I’m sure Jim Brookes-Dowsett or Nik Baker are
going to send me some… They are both such nice guys
and super supportive. I can’t thank them enough.
My favourite place to windsurf in the UK is Portland. It
never let’s you down, works in most directions, is
mostly flat water, but with the option of popping
outside the harbour wall into Weymouth Bay. The place
I sail most, however, is Hamworthy Park, Poole.
Spectacular views, works in every direction (except NE
– I hate NE winds!) and I love it. It’s ten minutes from
home so I can go there after work. There are about
150 buoys already laid ready for gybe practise. Also
there’s the Hamworthy Hero’s: a highly tuned group of
windsurfing athletes ready to race at a moment’s
notice. We have some quick sailors usually in
attendance so it’s great for tuning up.
I like to think I’m pretty good at gybing but in a
race it can go so wrong so quickly with 8-10
people all wanting the same piece of water
uk
WIND
SURFING
At the moment I’m mostly focusing on trying not to
damage myself after what seems like an onslaught of
annoying injuries. But as a rule I find I just can’t get
enough gybe practise. It’s really hard to copy what
happens in a race. I like to think I’m pretty good at
gybing but in a race it can go so wrong so quickly with
8-10 people all wanting the same piece of water. It’s
good to be as on form as you can be. The other thing I
focus on is trying to go faster than anyone else – same
as all the other slalom sailors reading this. Sometimes
a couple of us bang out an hour of figure of eight
slalom and how could I forget the winter training
camps at the OTC? These are great for honing you’re
skills and staying sharp during the off season.