UK Downwinding

[Area 10]

Here's a clip of Charlie Head (SUP) and Brad Symington (Kite) doing a section of my local downwind run on a small day.

http://player.vimeo.com/video/50668414

This is a small part of Charlie's epic 500 mile coastal paddle, which you can follow here:

http://www.oceansup.org/

Enjoy!

[PDLSFR]

Can't wait to track the Full Ocean Stage 3 event !!! Looks Epic !!

[peterp]

Looked like fun! Nothing wrong with those conditions - downwinds really only need just that - wind straight in the back...

Normally you'd need 10-20knots for the runners to start building - but over and above that its just about the angle of the wind - so you can do downwinders pretty much anywhere!

[UKRiverSurfers]

Nice one, Area10!

[Muskoka SUP]

That was great. Even had the obligatory pub stop! 
Near Weymouth?

D.S.

[Area 10]

That was great. Even had the obligatory pub stop! 
Near Weymouth?

Same coast. The location of the start of the run is about 70 miles East of Weymouth.

Can't wait to track the Full Ocean Stage 3 event !!! Looks Epic !!

Yep, unreal - Charlie Head is going to SUP unsupported, across the Atlantic Ocean.

He will live, eat and sleep on a custom boat containing all the supplies and equipment for the 3000 mile paddle and survive up to 150 days. He is going to follow the trade winds from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean, known as the Columbus route.

BTW, anyone else wondering where Brad's kiteboard is at the end of the video when he is getting a "lift" with Charlie? It was just the two of them out there...

[DavidJohn]

Great vid.. Looks like awesome DW conditions.. 

DJ

[Argosi]

Thanks for the vid. Enjoyed it and wished it was longer.

[RainWaves]

 Nice to see what your D-W'ing conditions are like after all this time. Looks like you two were having a blast as well! Also interesting to note that you are still going barefoot. How much longer before bootie season is on you?

[Area 10]

Nice to see what your D-W'ing conditions are like after all this time. Looks like you two were having a blast as well! Also interesting to note that you are still going barefoot. How much longer before bootie season is on you?

This was a fairly typical small day with mainly locally generated wind waves. Charlie and Brad didn't choose this day because they wanted to go downwinding - it just happened to be a section in Charlie's schedule which was part of his much longer journey.

When you get a proper groundswell on this run it gets a lot larger, and its pretty much surfing all the way with your back foot over or even behind the fin. You get a hint of what it is like then in the video at 0:55 secs - when it's on, it's like that but bigger pretty much continuously for 2 hours. It's a lot of fun, and a great workout. Brad has agreed to film us the next time it is good (and there is enough light), so I'll post the result.

Unfortunately I couldn't go with them this day because of work.

Incidentally, Brad lost his kiteboard 1 mile out to sea from the endpoint so had to get a lift home with Charlie - he's not two-up on Charlie's SUP out of choice but necessity!

[1paddle2paddle]

That was great.  The pub shot at the end was cool.

[upwinder]

Great fun vid! (although not happy about you stealing my trademark move at 1:38  )

[balance_fit]

Brrrr, big and chilly waters ! A very fun session ! Wish i had a cold beer right now....

[spookini]

To each his own... but this guy is going to SUP across the ocean??  

I can't understand ....to me it's just like trying to ROW across the ocean -- pointless.  (And I love distance rowing).  But on the high seas, the WIND is the obvious center of the universe... ignoring it and the obvious propulsion it provides...  just makes no sense.

If I had to bet, I'd bet against this guy.  Most rowers who've attempted transatlantic crossings have failed....  and these are folks w/ the benefit of SITTING DOWN and also much greater propulsion than a single SUP blade can provide.  A recent transatlantic crossing via windsurf failed last year, due to fatigue and atrocious conditions.  Despite the benefit of planing conditions and a follow boat with support staff.

I can't imagine a solo SUP crossing will go well.  Especially if this guy is towing a sled or supply barge.  Props for trying but ...  I'd give it 10 days  

[UKRiverSurfers]

I would say "So what" to the above post if I were him!

I'm sure he'll have a great experience whether he makes it or not

Good luck to him, I say!