WindsurfingUK Issue 7 June 2018 | Page 46

46 FEATURE ESSEX TO MAURITIUS Wave sailing I’ve been in the waves at Manawa a couple of times. Sadly I sold all my wave sailing gear back in the UK hoping to buy wave kit out here. I simply had too much slalom gear to bring over. My slalom racing and speed sailing take up most of my current available water time. However, I was asked to co-judge the recent open national wave sailing competition held at One Eye and that was excellent both watching and helping judge. Michael Archer (a sometimes UK BWA wave sailing judge) was kind enough to brush me up on comp scoring etiquette, which I found easy enough. Getting back into wave sailing is definitely on the to do list. I have friends here that surf but at breaks that are not that local to me. It’s nice that I have that option on tap. Naturally there are surf locations here that are kept quiet for locals use only. I would not want to disclose nor diminish that local trust, I do have to live here after all. Photography has been a growing interest. As is playing the guitar. What’s most notable from my relocation is the freedom of no longer having to work for a living – there’s a lot that can be done. In Mauritius there’s no shortage of activities. I should mention that I run the ‘Mauritius Speed League’ for speed sailing. My arrival, mid-2016, was during a fully formed slalom series