PAUL HUNT
“Hayling Island has become a bit of an obsession of mine the last few weeks; my first ever day’s wave sailing was there way back in 1995. On Boxing Day we had a family dinner at 1pm and since time was an issue and it’s so much closer than Wittering’s, my usual haunt, we headed to Hayling. I know a lot of people sail here at low tow tide out on the sand bar but I find the wave so soft it is almost annoying, so have been avoiding it for years. I remembered though from days gone by that the wave becomes much punchier as it floods over the outer sand bar and onto the inside. So my brother and I raced to make it there before high tide and scored a great sail with awesome jumping. It was so good, I even went back the next day, on my own (Jack didn’t surface till lunch time) and scored the best UK sail in years. I was out with just with one other guy; I couldn’t believe we had it to ourselves, long waves, perfect angle and heavy. All the other sailors were packing up as I turned up.
On the phone to JC later I waffled on about how sick it was and we should get him over for some snaps, he agreed and I went on standby for the right forecast. The next morning storm Frank loomed on the weather map and it started looking like it might be on the next day, New Year’s Eve! JC was moaning that he had a family thing planned but I could tell he was keen. The forecast was for sun, wind and waves and with such close proximity to the ferry, it was a no brainer. I gave him the timings and left him to bridge the subject with his wife Suzanne.
“ I like to get in about three hours before high tide.. when the swell is starting to make its way over the sand bar and into the beach ” Paul Hunt.