My oh my, the last Friday in August arrives and with it came a month’s worth of rain. Not sure what it was like where you are (some places seemed to miss it) but where I live, it started at 2.30am and stopped at just gone 8am. Back garden was a paddling pool and the fish pond had become an Infinity pond (luckily no fish were hurt…). Well, at least we have the weekend to look forward to!

This week has to be the week remembered for the swell that Erin brought us. As she swept up the Atlantic during Monday night and on into Tuesday / Wednesday, the swell at places just to the West of Pagham was not one that is often seen in a summer month and quite honestly rare, even in the winter. The period of 18 seconds (someone mentioned 24secs at Hayling) is what you dream of, having space to ride the wave and then cruise back out to catch the next set wave.. Nirvana for most.  Shoreham was a little too far to the East to enjoy what others only 30 miles away ‘had’ but there was a perfectly formed wave during the breakfast hours of Tuesday. Sadly, it faded before midday (Hayling had swell right through until Wednesday) but any swell is gladly received by all. Can’t wait for the next one.. 

So, the last weekend of August is here and quite odd that it’s not the Bank Holiday (also odd to think that last weekend was our last ‘working’ Bank Holiday, after all of these years) as it usually takes place on the last weekend.  We still miss the Airshow, as it was a ‘marker’ for the end of the summer holidays.. shame that ended in the way that it did. Weather outlook rain wise is not great.. much more like a Bank Holiday in fact.. so, our apologies if you were hoping for a sunny day at the beach, as we do have wind and possible rainfall on Saturday (rain should be late in the day.. more on that shortly) and a sprinkling of showers Sunday morning but it’s looking better than what’s waiting in the wings rain wise, for next week, if the forecast is correct of course. 

Jumping ahead, next weekend is the Round Hayling Challenge, which is an event that has been going for 45 years and long may it continue. The event is open to Windsurfers of all types, Wing Foils,  Paddleboards, Outriggers, Rowing boats and even Prone boards! 

Two courses, a 9-mile event sponsored by Red Paddle and the main 14 mile ‘all the way around’ event, with Wind sponsored by Duotone and the paddle by Starboard. Weather forecast currently favours the foils but if Friday’s forecast slips over, then it could bring slalom boards into play.. but who knows and perhaps the paddlers will come up trumps (can you still say ‘trumps’?).

There’s still time to enter, if you fancy doing something ‘different’ on a Saturday. Link for the entry form is https://sailevent.net/z/17z

 and a resume of last years event can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPp-TN8g9wo&t=56s

Running late, as always, so weekend weather and Tide times.. time.

Saturday, wind kicks off from the Sou’West 6 -17kt but by lunch we should have 12- 27kt.. excited already! During the afternoon it turns Sou’Sou’West 12-28kt and around 6pm the Met say it will be South12 - 28kt. Rain comes with it at around 3pm and showers stay to approx. 11pm. Tide is High at 15.57hrs on a 5.3m, so that is a bit of a pain, unless you are heading to the river for foiling.

Sunday, rain showers first thing, with Sou’West 12-31kt winds..  , That is forecast to increase 14-32kt during the afternoon but starts to die off at around 4pm and is 8-18kt by early evening. Sunny spells during the afternoon, so it could be a ‘lovely day’, if you like wind of course. Tide is High at 16.36hrs on a 4.9m tide, so not much sand at Low tide,  at Shoreham. 

And that’s it for August 2025, as Monday brings us into September and by Tuesday, James adds another notch to his yearly count!  I’m sure years have been re-sized, as per nearly everything you buy now.. The price is the same, but we just give you less! Not so in our line though. Be assured that a 95lt board still has 95lt of reliable volume ‘in it’ (years ago the German Surf Mag checked that in their ‘dump tank’ and the results were ‘interesting....). Back with a shaky vid in the morning but for now, have a great weekend, whatever you get up to!