COCKY KIRKHAM
I love El Cotillo; it is my favourite spot on the island. The setup on the cliff and punchy waves are amazing. I also like sailing Glass Beach and Punta Blanca for jumping and Majanincho in the winter. My only rule at Cotillo is never sail it at low tide! It is so heavy and punchy and both Timo and myself have both broken masts there on the same day!
I was first on the water; luckily for me I boosted a nice eagle-wing on my first run out, much to JC’s amusement! You have to go big here, if you hesitate going out or bottom turning you will most likely get punished, you have to be the boss and charge it, no matter what age you may be! Only recently have I started to feel 51! In fact it was only in Lanzarote, when JC said to me he is 53 that I even thought about it! I have always given 100% in every session, it is how my life has always been and until the day I can’t do it anymore I will keep going. One day you can’t or won’t be able to, so I go full on. Yes it hurts and only recently have I really started to feel the hits. After this year’s Tiree Wave Classic I broke my 5th metatarsal on the last day after sailing in Hurricane Ophelia, which led to a four-month recovery period. We sailed 15 hours in 10 days, so it was a hell off a trip. I went straight back to work with my foot on ice in a boot!