BALANCE
I find balancing family, work and windsurfing increasingly difficult as the years go by and I have more responsibilities off the water. Inevitably you make compromises and these days I get far less time on the water than even three or four years ago. Living on Hayling Island is a life saver as it means I can sneak in a quick session and get back home within an hour. Having a van packed and ready to go is a second lifeline. As I am always in a hurry, one thing that I miss is the beach chitchat with other sailors after coming off the water. The massive plus to windsurfing is that I vent the stresses of life when I am on the water and I am then a far more karmic and healthier person mentally and physically the rest of the time. The downside of me being a windsurfer is my reluctance to commit to things until I know the forecast and the not inconsiderable time that a windsurfing session can take. Windsurfing ‘admin’ time is not inconsiderable either!
MEDICINE
Within medicine there are many very different roles and some are more compatible with a double life as a windsurfer. When I was a junior doctor and trainee anaesthetist I would do frequent runs of night shifts and I would fit sleep and a sail in between shifts. It meant that I could get out on short winter days when many people with 9-5 jobs struggle. Now that I am a consultant I do less night shifts but the good thing about anaesthetics is that my working pattern tends to be long days but fewer of them. The last thing of note is that there is a window of opportunity as a junior doctor to work overseas. I went down under and spent three years in Western Australia and some of my best windsurfing memories are of Geraldton and Gnaraloo road trips.
At events I occasionally get asked to check out other racers who have been injured. Happily it has never been anything worse than a dislocated shoulder, so it has almost always been a case of offering reassurance.
FAMILY TIME
I am in eternal debt to my long-suffering wife Aneeta who has tolerated family holiday after family holiday being spent in windy locations, usually coinciding with international competitions or training camps. She might have some interesting things to say about the ‘family’ holidays we’ve had to the Fuerteventura PWA slalom event. Perhaps, ‘Yes it is sunny and indeed what a beautiful sandy beach… BUT IT GUSTS 50 KNOTS IN THE SWIMMING POOL’. I should add that I do go to great lengths to make it up to her when I am not on the water!
The family windsurfing holiday location that we enjoyed most last year was Bol in Croatia, where the IFCA Slalom Worlds were held. It is a picturesque location and we rented an apartment just off the promenade. The small town has a lot of character, the people are very friendly and there are decent restaurants and gelaterias. The sailing is usually on biggish gear and there is gentle rolling wind swell and flat water near the shore. Even when it is windy there is plenty of shelter on the shore. There are also lots of water-based activities on offer including ‘total wipeout’ style inflatable aqua parks.