Tweet

BIG MONDAY: THE WITTERINGS, ISLE OF WIGHT AND WORTHING!

Nuclear winds, heaving swell and sailors clinging on to their smallest rigs…Monday delivered a south coast classic. We have reports and crazy action photos from The Witterings, the Isle of Wight and Worthing as riders braved 40–50 knot winds and wild seas during the Monday madness!

HENNING VON JAGOW: Big Monday at Jolliffe Road

“It was a Big Monday on the south coast of England. Down at Jolliffe Road, the crew gathered with big smiles. The forecast had promised a proper storm: southwest swell, a layer of wind swell on top and a strong west wind already blasting by breakfast.

Messages in the Jolliffe Road WhatsApp, intensified and created an early work finish before lunchtime. Names like Ian Whittaker, Max Metcalfe, Oliver Randall, Timo Mullen, and the Audsley Brothers all turned up. By noon they were flying across the bay, hanging on to their tiniest sails. Three-seven was the weapon of choice. By midday the gusts were over 45 knots.

From the beach it looked like a fun day out. From the water it was survival training. Every ramp was a gamble: launch into glory or disappear in spray. As the tide filled, the waves lined up cleaner, offering proper ramps and rides.

With my water camera set-up, I found myself swimming non-stop. Once past the sandbank, the current dragged me through the bay like luggage on a conveyor belt. Catching a rider mid-jump was more about luck than skill. Still, it was the best work-out of the month.

The afternoon turned into a blast. The crew pushed hard, grinning through the chaos. The only sad note came from jump hero Chris Audsley, who had to quit early with a leg injury. Spirits dipped for a moment, but he left with a smile, already planning his comeback.

By sunset the team was buzzing. Big Day Monday had been wild, windy, and a little insane. More than just a session, it was perfect training for the upcoming 2XS West Wittering Wave Classic and the final event of the UK BWA Tour this year. The south coast delivered. The Jolliffe Road Crew survived, laughed and left the beach hungry for the next storm.”

Text and pictures by Henning von Jagow / www.henningvonjagow.com

---

Also on hand at The Witterings to capture the drama from the land were sr.offshore photography.

---

ROSS WILLIAMS: BONCHURCH DTL…ISLE OF WIGHT

Meanwhile, on the Isle of Wight, JC managed to hobble the beach for the first time since snapping his Achilles back in July. Ross Williams was on hand to provide the action down at Bonchurch for a solo morning and a bonus late afternoon session.

Sunny and windy, great day to get back in the game!

The morning was wilder and Ross was on a 3.6m and 82L, while for the evening, he switched up to the 4.4m.

ROSS WILLIAMS: “I have had a few sessions lately but nothing as full on as Monday. I saw the forecast abut a week out.

The Island has a few nooks and crannies that can handle those conditions. I was in a 2mil wetsuit and on small gear and it was full power sailing. It helped me reconnect with windsurfing and get me fired up for the rest of the autumn and winter!

It was pretty rad! I had to go pick up Carter because he is wearing a boot and unable to drive! I think I have fallen in love with windsurfing again after those sessions and I am now pumped for the winter. It was pretty wild out the back and it definitely ignited a little fire in me.”  

---

 MONDAY MADNESS! WORTHING

BILL SHORT: “I turned up at Worthing and the tide was already on the groynes, but it was too windy for me. At 2.30pm there were big guys on 3.4m sails and I saw one 3.1 rig …and that was ‘Loopy Steve’ (best nickname on the beach…) But I’d probably have needed a 2.8m. So, I put myself on half an hour’s camera duty, trapped in that chilly wind tunnel by the Sea Lane rock groyne.

Nik Baker showed up for the late show!

Monday Madness!

The wind never eased off until the 5pm rain came, plus then the wind filled back in. And then Nik Baker turned up, so I thought I’d stick with the photography plan, if for old times’ sake. I’m always amazed he’s still on the water at his great age. I was just a nipper when we all used to sail off Shoreham beach. Or at least that’s how I like to remember it. Nik was sailing with his son today.

Nik Baker out on the new 2026 Duotone gear! (No jumps due to previous back injury!)

So, it was gusting to 45knots this afternoon and the sea was wild. The waves were overhead big out back, but the camera doesn’t show that…and for Worthing photos you really need a longer lens than I have.

The waves however did get better as the tide rose, with the deeper water allowing in the big swell…and it was arguable that the late arrivals had the best session, plus the wind after 5pm was less manic.”

---

 

STOP PRESS: EPIC SHOTS LATE IN FROM MAZZA!!

Down in Cornwall the sun was also shining and the wind was howling. Fast Jan grabbed his camera and caught a few epic shots of Ian Ross and the local crew tearing it up at Mazza!

---