Stephen Squirrell (34966km):
3990 days ago 1 categories  Saturday 11th May – windsurf *** La Franqui – sunny – wind 25/45 mph :(
Falcon 80 & 5.8 – 38 + kts again
Top night in our lovely sheltered spot by the Sigean Etang after exercises and breakfast I fancied a nice cruising day at Port la Nouvelle so headed over to the north beach and parked at the end of the entrance road as it’s still impossible to drive on the beach without a 4x4 :( With no local sailors out I decided to have a walk up the beach leaving Mag reading her book by the huge fuel tanks!!! The turning yacht for the Defi was there and then loads of rescue books turned up and they placed the turning bouy at the end of the 5 mile course in winds gusting to 45 mph!!! :( Then in the distance you could see a shimmering mass of sails as 800 windsurfers were flying towards me – a truly amazing sight!!!!! :) I stood near the bouy and watched the leaders gybe around the bouy which was followed by carnage as the lesser sailors tried to turn and they just kept coming and coming – a never ending stream of windsurfers !!!! As it was too windy for a cruising day here and with the Defi in progress for a couple more days this ruled out Port La Nouvelle as a sailing option so we headed over to La Franqui and there were no cars on the beach, only one windsurfer who sailed up from Nouvelle, some kite buggiers using tiny kites and 4 people on horse back!!! After lunch I rigged the same as yesterday 5.8 on the falcon 80 and the day was just the same – super strong gusty winds and choppy water – especially the La Franqui side :( Did several runs above the pier and a couple of death defying mile runs towards La Franqui – not much fun thinking you could wipe out at any second :( So decided to pack up and head for our nice spot at Lac Salagou even though there is more wind forecast for tomorrow – can’t face another bumpy battering at La Franqui – perhaps my love affair with speedsailing is coming to an end as there is always something not right – too windy,not enough wind, wrong angle,wrong board,fin sail – the list goes on and on !!! Shame really as we love the area but a few more good windsurfing days would be appreciated!!! But then you think about sailing in toward the wooden pier in choppy sea then turning and sailing flat-out a metre from the shore for over a mile in flat water with your fingers crossed you have enough eater and you think speedsailing’s cool after all :)
Got our favourite spot at Salagou and de-sanded the van and chilled :)
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