“The logistics from my side of organising the downwinder were quite straightforward, a keen, friendly and tirelessly enthusiastic (I’ll stop now) photographer, a super qualified and dependable RIB driver, with an equally dependable boat and finally, the easy part, the sailors! There was certainly no shortage of windsurfing friends who were champing at the bit to be part of the expedition. The biggest issue was timing that and everyone’s availability with a decent forecast. We tried in vain during the autumn with a small window of opportunity, but the gods were acting against us and the predicted winds fizzled to nothing. We needed a solid consistent westerly wind. Even a south westerly was okay, but too much north in it and the wind would be too fickle on the inside near the cliffs between Ringstead and Durdle Door. It also needed to be windy, at least 20knots plus on the forecast, as the last thing you want to do is a downwinder off the plane! Funny things happen to the wind in lee of the harbour. In a prevailing direction, the wind squeezes over Chesil bank between Portland Island and the mainland, increasing in strength and giving Portland Harbour its reputation as the most consistent and windiest location on the south coast. So if you’re completely stacked in the harbour as you set off, there’s a good chance you’ll be okay for the rest of the trip.