Cold as a Polar bears butt in a iceberg rut, Tide tables are a comin, FBC leash a QR and Dry or Not, Wassail available in Steyni
What, Friday evening again?? Yep, gallantly we are once more rushing into another Weekend of fun! OMG.. I know it’s January and it’s supposed to be cold but I am now considering breaking out the snowboarding kit, to wear in the shop! I had to make a quick trip ‘North’ on Tuesday, to attend a family funeral in Carnforth, Cumbria (note. The weather forecasts were right about heavy snowfall, but just not in the right places..) and although it was a chilling minus 5°C when we left at 10am on Wednesday to drive back, it did not have that same ‘damp’ cold feel that cuts right into you as it does here.. really odd as Carnforth is only a couple of miles from the sea. Things may change soon but for now I digress..
Tide Tables. As many of you know, the sales revenue of the tables goes into the RNLI box for the local Shoreham crews and boathouse staff, as in our line of business they are our Knights in shining Armour, so we do like to say ‘thank you’ to them, every year. After 30 years of the TT's being in print this year we hesitated, purely due to the escalating cost and diminishing sales, which had reached the point where we may as well have just donated the printing cost to the ‘box’, but during the last couple of weeks we’ve had so many enquiries from beach residents and dog walkers, we renegued and had a chat with the printers. They have agreed to do a charitable price to make it viable for 2025 (Fisk Printers in Hull, very helpful people!) which is great but we will be making one change regarding how we sell them this year. As we were not hitting the donations required to exceed the print cost, even with the help of Naha and Nina in the Beach Store, who have sold them on our behalf and do an amazing number each year, this year we will be asking for at least a £1.00 donation for a table. I’m sure that’s reasonable for a whole year’s tide times and it’s for a very good local cause, for extremely wonderful local people, who will come and find you, even in a hell sea state, during high waters! So, the TT's are happening again and I will put up a post when they’ve arrived and also put old fashioned signs in the shop window (we expect to see them by next Wednesday). By the way, windsurfing Uphauls make great Dog leads, for those of you who have dogs, as being elasticated they take the ‘wrench’ out, when the dog pulls but are stiff enough to still pull the doggy back. Talking of leashes..
FBC have revamped their Foil board leash and now have a QR buckle fitted. This is partially due to feedback from owners but mainly it’s to go with the RYA schools thinking that a QR is a necessity where total newcomers to Watersports are concerned, as we all know how leashes can be a bugger to get off when you are in panic mode.. even though you’ve worn them for almost all of your life! So, you get a new design with a new buckle, which means you get MORE but it’s still at the same price.. now there’s something NEW! The older version without a QR is still available, for those that do not want a leash that ‘could’ undo during use. These can also be used for touring SUP. https://www.surfladle.com/wing-foil-accessories/fbc-coiled-waist-foil-board-leash-v2
You’d have to be blinkered not to notice that Southern Water have the Waste Water Tankers lined up at the Shell garage again. This time we believe it is due to the sewer pipe in Victoria Road having decided to fail again ( there was a failure at the end of 2024 which caused traffic issues in the town for a week or so). Nothing showing on their ‘outfall releases’ page but it’s likely that some blackwater may have entered the storm drains and ended up in the river, so be aware of that if you are heading out on the Adur this weekend. And what of the weekends weather..
Saturday, staying very chilly with an 11kt wind from the Nor’Nor’East and a top temp of 3°C.. less wind chill. Should be a clear sky so the Sun may at least bring something ‘nice’ to the day. There may be a tiny swell running in, which could provide SUP or Foil fun for those of you who are keen. Tide is High at 08.47hrs on a 5.5m, when the air temp is likely to still be below freezing.. lovely for the crews of the Outriggers and Rowing Clubs!
Sunday is not a lot better, with the wind staying from the North for the start of the day but then turning cyclonic later, allowing the air temp to rise to around 7°C.
.. hooray! Cloud cover is likely to be the cause of the improved temperature and if Guru are correct, next week see’s the temps climb back to around 10°C, which will be a god send re. heating bills! Tide is High at 09.47hrs on a 5.8m.
And I think that’s it for tonight, except to mention that although Dry January is a current virtue, Wassailing in January is far more fun. It’s a sort of blessing of the apple trees to ensure a good autumn harvest and therefore.. plenty of Cider! I don’t think there is one held in Shoreham but Steyning, just 8 miles inland does and theirs will take place next Saturday the 18th, so one for the diary, even if you are on a Stay Dry mission.
Back in the morning with the beach vid but for now, Cheers All!