Todd in the Hole

• Donegal Windsurfing Clinic - More Accessible and Definitely On!

• Todd in the Hole

• Another Wind Site to Bookmark

• The Usual Plug

Donegal Windsurfing Clinic - More Accessible and Definitely On!

The good news is that the Donegal windsurfing course is definitely running and the both the format and the dates have changed slightly, now including a full weekend.

Firstly, we've broadened it to be less wave orientated. Jim Collis was unable to provide the coaching this year, however we're delighted that Phil Richards and Danielle Lucas have stepped in - 2 for the price of 1! These 2 are great, we first met them as the 'Hobbits' at El Tur where they provided excellent coaching and showed off some great free styling - and that was just Phil's hair...You can find out more about them at http://www.getwindsurfing.com/

We've also opened up the format so that as well as catering for the wave guys, it now also provides a huge performance boost for other sailors. Learning to gybe, tune up, speed sailing, freestyling - all now join with waves. So the new package is :

There is still time to book at the discounted rates. Just reply to this e-mail or contact Lord, Andy or Wookie. But remember, if you leave it within 1 week of the start of the course, all discounts are off!

Todd in the Hole - or Should This Happen to a Lawyer - Part 2

Do you know the difference between finding a dead dog on the road and a dead lawyer? There are skid marks in front of the dog....

We all began to believe that there is a god when some years ago there was a lightning storm and Ali Todd, well known lawyer and purveyor of 4 letter words, was very nearly struck by it. However celestial intervention has been rather sparse since then - until last Sunday. But first a round up of various bits and pieces, since this newsletter has been a bit quiet over the Summer.

The Downings event ran in July and after a couple of excellent years of wind, had the inevitable lull. A very good crowd still appeared and the Fletcher crew ran their usual immaculate event but with all races non planing.

One of the delights of this event is always the number of kids on the water. This year these included Gary and Wookie. The squealies were out in all ages, including a number being towed around on blow up windsurfers by doting fathers. And the tens to teens were super competitive on the water and like flies round Wookie at the gybe marks. And the traditional Saturday evening Downings hoolie was as usual spoiled by what Chris Loughridge believes to be sartorial elegance - but hey, the craic was good.

Actually, talking of the Emperor Ming, after many years of being right up there, he was crowned Champion and finally gets to have his name engraved on the trophy. He did of course win every race and, even more impressively, he managed to plane for some parts of them - no mean feat in around 8 mph of wind. So all hail Ming - Emperor of the Universe and Champion of Downings!

Rather more embarrassing was the fact that I was awarded Grand Master of the event. OK I completed every race and never dropped a gybe, but I have a very strong suspicion that the number of entrants in this category this year would not exceed the number of valentine cards Wookie has ever received. So, taken totally by surprise at the prize giving, I had to waddle up for my gold medallion still in my summer wetsuit - yes, that one with the entire arse hanging out. Still, the kids enjoyed it!

There've been a number of good sessions over the Summer, but generally the wind hasn't been great that often. Wookie and I had a good blast at Whiterock where the larger yachts were also rather inconsiderately racing. Most of them are good and respect the rules of the water, but 1 sneaked up behind me (when I was off the plane) and came within 2 feet before thinking to call out to me. I had to hurl myself off my board and only just avoided being run over by this 2 fridger (around 30 feet). Clearly he hadn't had enough gin that day.

Paddy's ducklings have been out most Tuesday nights. It's a good system, they all go down to the club on a Tuesday evening regardless of the conditions. Then they sail, float about, swim or just lark about in the water before retiring to the bar. I joined them 1 night and you can't fail to be impressed by the group dynamic and just how keen they are. That's what windsurfing is all about and more power to Paddy (got be a pun in there somewhere) for bringing on so many new windsurfers!

Actually, we'll have to stop calling them ducklings soon as some are getting very good. David Corkill is charging about at speed (over 26 knots) and many are waterstarting and getting the odd gybe.

I don't usually bang on about supping, although increasingly that's what many of us do in light winds. Andy, Wookie and I were at Strangford on Saturday to sup up the lough with the tide and then back down as it turned. Ricky joined us in a canoe. All went according to plan apart from an almighty splash when Andy got his feet muddled up (try painting L and R on your wetsuit boots Andy) and took a big dive. But the most amazing sight was when we parted company and Andy headed back across to Portaferry. By now the tide was racing in the Narrows and Andy took off like a rocket. He'd judged it perfectly and arrived at his van at Portaferry, but a long way down from where he's started with us. A very scary sight and one can only wonder what would have happened if he's come off his board. Isle of Man perhaps?

And now, to the best which I've save to last. The bank holiday weekend Sunday saw a good crowd out at both the club and the car park. Fred, David, Dave, Mark and Tesco Tim led the charge but Paddy was soon down and talking - and eventually sailing. Gary had his X-fire out as indeed had Mr Wookie. Most of these were on around 6.5m as was Andy. He looked like he'd under-sailed but in fact he'd judged it perfectly and had a power hour of charging in and then going for ducks and 360s.

From the car park, Mr Todd headed out on his 6.5m. As soon as he reached the far side of the lough, his mast broke - spectacularly. He was so far over that we couldn't even hear the swearing from our side of the lough. After a while the Wookie chanced upon him and immediately turned and sped off - cue more cussing from Ali who clearly didn't trust William to do the right thing. Of course he did and so Paddy was dispatched in a rib to go and pick up the happy lawyer. As the wreckage (I mean the kit, not the lawyer) was dragged into the boat, Ali took the broken mast and hurled it back into the sea - where hopefully it was hit by a 2 fridger and holed it. Of course there was damage to Ali's sail, it's hard not to have this when a mast breaks and splinters.

More power to him though, he rerigged and sailed on. I would have liked to include some picture of his smiling face and wrecked kit, but he's now issued a super injunction...

Another Wind Site to Bookmark

Nice one Mark. No more wasted journies to Bangor then.

The Usual Plug

You're receiving this because you registered on the www.mylyst.com / www.windsurfcraic.co.uk site, you can stop at any time, just follow the links.

You can also register your mates, just fill in their e-mail address and the system will e-mail them and check if they're happy to receive my meanderings. Why not share the pain with them?

And we're always looking for reports, ideally with photographs, so if you want to share the craic with or dish the dirt on your mates - just drop us a line!

These newsletters are about the people who windsurf - anywhere in Ireland. But a lot of the action takes place at Newtownards Sailing Club - probably the largest windsurfing club in Ireland. For lessons, great beginner kit, to join or just to sail there as a guest and try it out, see the website at www.newtownardssailingclub.co.uk