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EPIC CORNISH WAVES: SUMMER SEND-OFF!

Cornwall delivered in style on the final day of August…a perfect send-off to summer. With mast-high waves pumping in under stunning blue skies, Mexico’s and the Bluff turned on epic conditions for riders like Timo Mullen, Ian Black, Freddie Sargent, Max Metcalfe and Steve Thorp. We tracked down some of the photographers who were there to capture the action and have pulled together a gallery of the standout shots from an unforgettable weekend on the water. Meanwhile, Freddie Sargent gives us a run down of his crew’s mission out west! 

Photos: Ben Bulson // Hannah McFadyen // Elsa Edgecombe // sr.offshore

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WEST IS BEST: A GWITHIAN WEEKEND MISSION

Forecasts were circulating group chats, anticipation brewing. It was about lunchtime on Friday and the decision had to be made. There’d been some talk about Avon for a day trip, but Gwithian was looking increasingly tempting. With the location locked in, I rallied the group chat: Max Metcalfe, Hugo Dobrjievic and the photographers (our girlfriends). We committed to the drive, rolled into Cornwall around 2 a.m., and grabbed a couple of hours of sleep.

SATURDAY DELIVERED.

Fun, head-high waves… head and shoulders above what we’d have found at West Wittering. We’d come a long way and were hungry to make the most of it. The beach was busy with familiar faces: Andy King, Ian Whittaker, Emile Kott, Joe Vernon and plenty more.

We sailed for hours, enjoying cross-off winds and clean, peeling walls while our girlfriends sat through driving horizontal rain (troopers). After a long day on the water, we dried off, grabbed some food and hit the pub. We could have left satisfied after that. But Saturday was just the appetiser.

SUNDAY: MEXICOS FIRES

Sunday carried a different energy. The forecast showed a 9-foot swell and solid wind. The anticipation was intense. Max headed to the beach early and sent the message: “It’s on.” That was all we needed. We scrambled to pack up and raced to the beach. We’d heard rumours that Mexico’s…a tucked-away spot between Gwithian and The Bluff was the place to be. We were expecting a crowd, but when we rocked up, it was eerily quiet: a couple of kites, a few surfers, and that was it.

The wind was lighter than expected and Mexico’s is notoriously light on the inside, making it a mission to get out back. But the wind was cross-off and the waves were mast-high and rifling. I stood for a while, watching sets unload, then spotted a gap and made it out. A couple of warm-up waves gave me confidence.

Feeling dialled in, I pumped onto a bigger set wave out back. It lined up perfectly; a couple of carving turns on the open face and then a chunky section jacked up down the line. I hit it late and got absolutely sent. Wipeout. When I came up, my gear was nowhere to be seen. Long swim in.

Back on shore, I spotted my gear washed up downwind. My only 400 mast was snapped. The best I could do was a 4.5 rig, which wouldn’t cut it for getting out back. Turns out Max had broken his mast in the same set. We came in together and he mentioned that Timo Mullen had just arrived. Word was, he might have a spare 400. I sprinted up the sand track to catch him. Missed him as he left the car park, but luckily he recognised my girlfriend, which delayed him just enough for me to flag him down. He handed over a mast and my session was back on.I re-rigged and got out again. Everyone sailing that day spent at least 50% of their time

swimming. Even Timo ended up trashing a sail and snapping a boom. Afterwards, we packed the cars and drove straight home…absolutely knackered, but buzzing. Kit broken, bodies beaten, but grinning ear to ear with stories to tell!