ROSS WILLIAMS
“Sailing Ventnor in an easterly is in my opinion one of the best conditions you can get on the Isle of Wight. Unfortunately it is not a very regular occurrence, but it can be a thing of beauty, with high performance riding to be had. Ideally you would prefer to get these types of days during the summer when the winds do not carry so much of a bite, but if the east winds come in the dead of winter and I am around I will be on it for sure!
I think this day was the coldest UK sailing I have ever experienced, the wind chill was really bitter. Standing on the seafront and rigging up wasn’t too bad as it was slightly protected, but once I was in the water and my body and hands and head were wet, I knew it was going to be a challenge just to stay out there. I felt my heart pumping trying to keep me warm, it was like I was running hard and could not catch my breath. I did try to wear gloves, but they were the surfing type and they blew my forearms up straight away so I had to come in and give them to JC. I do have palm-less mitts but I had lent them to my brother a few weeks ago, what a mistake! I was hating it. Every run out the back I had to jump in and hold my hands under the water to warm them up enough to make it back and ride a wave. I feel out of all the water sports, windsurfing is by far the most challenging for the body to put up with that level of coldness. In hindsight keeping my hands warm before entering the water and even rigging would have been key. Once they are cold and burning it is almost impossible to reverse the situation without getting back to some proper warmth.