JACK HUNT
“Well I thought there was as much chance of Guns ‘N’ Roses reforming as Chris Audsley turning up to windsurf at Hayling. He would always dismiss the possibility out of hand, just like Axel. Well it seems that both have happened now and maybe a few more people might stand up and take notice when the word ‘Beechlands’ is uttered as a plausible option in a south west. It is a given that there seems to be no set code for when it is going to be good, garbage or absolutely epic at Hayling. The sand banks add an extra dynamic to the mix. But somehow the notorious Solent second tide wrapping around “swell blocker island” (aka Isle of Wight) seems to push the waves back west allowing you to ride side shore in a very near bolt on shore wind direction. I sailed there a lot last year from my house in Southsea. I’d walk down to the seafront then sail out over Langston harbour straight on to the Winner sandbank swerving the rush hour city traffic. The stake of the bet was the possibility of being stranded on Hayling. A very undesirable option I can tell you! I remember sailing one evening last summer when the wind dropped. I desperately tried to tack back across the harbour to Portsmouth. I ended up staggering through Southsea at 10pm in my wetsuit carrying my kit in front of a lot of bemused looks from drunk people out and about on a Friday night knees up. It didn’t take me long to catch them all up though!”