The COAST team set off to a secret reef break on the UK’s east coast where hostile local surfers, treacherous currents and a dangerous launch place this spot into our COAST CONFIDENTIAL category. In a race against the tide, JC and Timo drove through the night to catch the right conditions and only arrived in the nick of time to score a few amazing waves before their magic window was shut tight.
(The images in this COAST SERIES feature are unseen shots from the story that originally appeared in the July 2012 issue of Windsurf Magazine. Print and digital subscriptions for readers worldwide are available HERE.)
Words Timo Mullen and JC | PHOTOS John Carter
10pm: JC: It’s one of the best south coast forecasts in months but both on a ridiculous hunch myself and Timo have persuaded ourselves to drive north in search of a secret reef break on the east coast. The swell forecast for the North Sea is 4 feet at 12 seconds while back home it’s 15 feet at 10 secs and windy all day- are we insane? It’s bed time. My alarm’s set for 11.30pm. Hang on a minute, is this insanity? That’s only one and a half hours sleep which means I’ll be waking up before midnight and then pretty much travelling all through the night straight to the break!
10.30pm: Timo: Van finally loaded; on trips away from home I always try to remember the 6 Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance! I’ve double checked all ropes, UJs and packed about four cans of Red Bull. This is going to be a very long drive…
11.45pm: JC: Leave the house and drive to East Cowes ferry en-route to Southampton. Try to claw back a few more minutes sleep on the one hour crossing but end-up scrolling through forecasts on my phone. Looking closer at the swell I have serious doubts about Timo’s call. The reason why everything has to be so early is that we are in a race against the tide. The spot we are heading towards is very temperamental to say the least.
1am: JC: Arrive in Southampton and wait in freezing cold for Timo to arrive, remember this is December, we are talking just before Christmas and it’s bloody freezing. Some normal people in a club over the road are having a great time at a Christmas party! Receive the standard text from Timo that he is still in Poole and will be about an hour so I hope to God this is a stitch-up…