2017-04-01 Rhosneigr Surf Session

Rhosneigr Panorama- after my surf session

After seeing my wife and daughter off on Saturday morning to see the ballet in Sheffield, I set off for Anglesey. Leaving home, near Nottingham at this time would mean not arriving to Anglesey until 1300-1330 in the afternoon. But seeing as I am away for the week, to do my 5 star training, I would have plenty of time to sort my kit out and maybe even get a little surf session in.

When I arrived at Rhosneigr the SUP guys were all getting off as the surf was not that good. It was about high tide. So I got some food and went and put my tent up at Anglesey Outdoors. With my kit now all sorted, I took a trip down the coast. There wasn't much happening at Porth Dafarch, nor at Trearddur Bay.  So I headed back to Rhosneigr. The SUP boys had all left, but when I looked over the sea wall there was now some great surf waves running. Yet there wasn't a soul out there!

Rhosneigr - after my surf session
Rhosneigr - after my surf session

I had some tremendous long runs, with the waves remaining green for a long long time before breaking. And every now and again a bigger set would come through. It was on one off these I found myself just on the top of the wave just as it broke, dropping down 4-5 ft followed by a good working. Unfortunately, during the working I came out of my seat. Upside down I tried to get myself back into the seat to roll, when I was hit by the next wave. There was nothing for it, I swam.

Rhosneigr Panorama- after my surf session
Rhosneigr - after my surf session

Popping up to the surface, I was thinking this is going to be interesting: I am a long way from the shore, I am out of my depth (Andy Sloan take note) and there is absolutely no one out there. All the time I was getting a trashing as further waves came through. There was nothing for it, a timely re-entry roll was required. Timely as I had to set up, re-enter and roll before the next wave hit me. I had to wait for a couple of waves to pass before making my move and then bang, straight in and up with a cockpit full off water. I then had to paddle out to the green non breaking waves in order to pump out.  There was a lot of water to pump out.  This was also the first time had used my new Lomo bilge pump I had recently bought. It worked absolutely fine.

Rhosneigr Panorama- after my surf session
Rhosneigr Panorama- after my surf session

I bought the LOMO bilge pump as it has a much longer tube length. The previous SeaToSummit Bilge pump I had been using for a few years, along with its broken handle, I found was too short. This meant you had to angle the outlet slightly up to clear the cockpit rim with the ejected water. With the Lomo Bilge pump there are no such problems. And at only around a tenner + postage it is a bargain.

Rhosneigr - after my surf session
Rhosneigr - after my surf session

Even so, there was a lot of pumping. Back on the waves once again I had some excellent rides and quite a few rolls. Finally a SUP boarder came out to join the fun. But by now I had been surfing for a good couple of hours and I was getting hungry.  Besides the Surf now was definitely dropping off again. It was time to head back to Anglesey Outdoors and re-hydrate with a couple of pints and some excellent food in the Paddlers Return.

The Paddlers Return - great food beer and company
The Paddlers Return - great food beer and company
The Paddlers Return
The Paddlers Return

What a cracking little paddle. I cannot wait now for the 5* training to begin on Monday.

In the superb Anglesey Outdoors drying room there was not a lot of space left. It was a Saturday night after all.  The space was limited mostly due to there being lots of helmets, spraydecks and buoyancy aids taking up valuable space. I do not understand why people do this as it will be getting wet as soon as you are back on the water. So moving some of these items aside I was able to get my drysuit hung along with a sweaty top. [roll-eyes]

Any room for a Dry suit
Any room for a Dry suit
Hmmmm...
Hmmmm...
Why?
Why?

Walking into the Paddlers but who should I see? Abo!! All the way from Nottingham not by the Sea!

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