Added by nuporter on 27/07/08

Hi- if you want to contact me- please can you email me on nuporter@earthling.net - Im not sure if the 'contact' link at the top of the report is working- cheers Nuala
(so far- I have received emails from Duncan and Jonathon)

Added by nuporter on 31/07/08

I've consulted the hanging seaweed in the garden & things are looking promosing wind wise for the weekend.

Looks like we may have something from the Southerly through to westerly direction both days, which works well at Hill Head.

Strength looks like it might be around the 12-15 knot mark Saturday & maybe a little more on Sunday.

Just the potential for a bit of rain Saturday morning to spoil things, although it looks as though this may pass by about mid day - so don't let the rain on your window Saturday morning put you off!

High tide is midday Saturday & 12.45pm Sunday, so we should not have to initially worry too much about losing fins on the sand bar......unless you are a real early bird! Just start watching out for the shallow water from about 3pm-ish though.

Keep every thing crossed all - here is hoping for a good one!!!

Last updated: 01/08/08 00:40 By: nuporter

Added by Lawrence on 31/07/08

I would guess that Nuala & I will get to the beach mid morning Saturday - especially as it looks wet first thing.

We will be at the car park at the end of Crofton Lane (not the Monks Car park nearer Lee-on-Solent at the end of Salterns lane). Basically, if you have a load of beach huts between you & the beach, you are at the wrong car park!

We will (space permitting) be parked at the end nearest the yacht club & field.

Toilets are in the block of teh left as you drive into the main carpark.

Sand bar is about 20-30 yards off the beach & parallel with the beach so new comers to this venue watch out if you go out before approx 10am & after 2.30/3pm.

See you all there!

Last updated: 01/08/08 01:05 By: Lawrence

Added by adrian on 02/08/08

On route, see you all down their

Added by Lawrence on 02/08/08

Early Bird Adrian!

Duncan is with us now & will be heading down to beach shortly.

Weather seems to be near as forecast late on Thursday night. ie rain Saturday morning.

I'll be heading down later this morning & Nuala will probably follow with the kids a little later (once it looks like rain is stopping)....trouble is, depending upon which forecast you care to believe, that could be anywhere from 10am through to 3pm!

Still wind looks like it could be good this afternoon in the mid teens knots.

BBQ at ours tonight (in Southampton), & we can get a few vans in drive or tents in Garden, or tempory beds in Lounge & dining room. As a special treat to the members who made Leap a couple of weeks ago, the video footage I shot at that event will be shown on the big screen!



See you all a little later hopefully.

Added by Andrew on 02/08/08

I won't make it, still in pasty land (very damp, but windy)

Added by jonathan on 02/08/08

waiting for the rain to clear then we will be on our way down!

Added by Lawrence on 02/08/08

Forecast was pretty much spot on. It stopped raining late morning (except for a very short sprinkling mid pm

Little wind AM (although Adrian still managed to plane with a 9m & 114L slalom board), but the rest of us ( me (Lawrence), Nuala , Duncan & Ricardo) waited on the beach for the wind........& how came!.

A squal came through with a black cloud at 3pm & that brought the wind (about 10 knots more than forecast....but thats Hill Head for you as South westerlies tend to funnel down the channel between IoW & the mainland which aims it at Hill Head!).

As sod's law would dictate, my Isonic 111 with NP RS6 9m had been waiting ready & rigged on the beach for just a little more wind & 5 mins before wind came the mast decided to 'left go' with a lound bang. So it was a mad scramble to re-rig the 9m on a spare 490 mast, then realised that wind had picked up too much so rigged the 6.5m too.

During PM we were joined by Nick & Sarah, Jonathan & Jane, & eventually by a late Mike T. By now we were all on 5m-5.75m sails having given up on the 6,5m less than an hour after wind kicked in. It got nicely choppy & we where running about an angle of 30 degs to the beach, so airtime was there to be had.

Having given up on the isonic/9m, I turned to my RRD 95 Freestylewave with initially 6.5m then 5.75m later (rigged for Nuala), this board was fantastic in these conditions - I can recommend this board big time - love it!

It was still blowing well late into the evening, but with the BBQ at ours to do, I reluctantly headed for shore, leaving Mike T to enjoy the conditions (who only turned up for the BBQ just in the nik of time)

So we are now all re-fuelled & ready for tomorrow, which should bring good conditions.

........glad I'm not in a damp Cornwall - hope it turned out okay for you in the end Andrew!!

Added by Lawrence on 02/08/08

.......just checked the forecast for tomorrow.......

.......looks like light rain/drizzle kicking in late morning, then starting to get heavier from about 3pm-5pm & staying heavy for the rest of the evening.

Pitty, as the wind looks reasonable Sunday Afternoon, west to south- westerly around the mid teens (but we may get a bit more due to the local 'hill head' effect).

The rain will also impact enjoyment of the action over at Cowes. This weekend is the start of Cowes week & whilst sitting on the beach this morning waiting for the wind, we had 1000's of boats in the solent to watch.

So if you are heading to the beach Sunday, you may want to get there earlier rather than later, at least thats my plan, house guests & kids permitting!, but I may end up finishing mid afternoon if the heavier rain kicks in. There maybe sufficient wind from about 10-11am ish hopefully So I will aim to get to beach around this time.

Hopefully see some of you there.

Added by Lawrence on 03/08/08

After further wind gazing this morning loks like the early afternoon period (12 till 2) will have a happy convergence of wind and sun. Much later and you're going to get wet!

Added by gazmille on 03/08/08

Just wanted to say a BIG thank you for everyone who helped me today with my first attempt at beach starts which will hopefully soon turn into deep water starts. Everyone within the club is so helpful so thanks for all of your help (Lawrence, John, Mike T and others who to be honest I could recognise but can't remember your names).

Hope to see you all soon with my ever improving skills.

Gary