JUDGEMENT DAY
If Lady Luck ever felt she owed somebody a break, surly we were first in line after the previous day’s catastrophe? All I could do was imagine all those shots I had missed but in all reality, maybe it had been too big and I was just feeling sorry for myself.
Having bunked down in the Travel Lodge in Hayle overnight, we headed to the Golden Arches to load up on Sausage McMuffins before heading to the Bluff.
New Year’s resolutions of a healthier diet were going to have to wait, this promised to be a big day and we had no time to mess about. Outside, the sky looked kind of clear and the trees were still waving around despite the forecast calling for it to drop off later in the afternoon.
Perhaps we were going to score a windfall of epic conditions? Surely after those ridiculous waves there must be plenty of leftovers for the second course?
After all, the call from Magic Seaweed was still giving a six-metre swell with an 18-sec. period. In my books, that’s still massive! ‘Come on Carter’ I murmured to myself, ‘Start focussing and look on the bright side!’
Up in the car park, the local crew were all sat in their vans and cars pensively checking the conditions. Andy Fawcett, Harvey and Blacky – the usual suspects – are always there when it’s big.
Fair play to these guys. With the tide right up to the rocks, the wind on the edge and pumping eight-to-ten-foot close-out sets, I already was thinking the worst.
That this was going to be one of those frustrating days when the elements don’t quite play ball the way you want them to. But Andy Fawcett and company looked pretty optimistic and were already starting to rig, ready for their second day up against the Herculean Storm.
Without further ado, everything started to click into place. The tide started to slowly recede, the waves were cleaning up and still firing, blue sky seemed to be dominating overhead – and the wind was even looking steadier.
