Island City Boards

I’ve got an issue with a certain kind of Kite Surfer. Not all Kite Surfers. In fact, I’m quite impressed by them generally. They must have immense core strength to be able to control their kites, and it’s probably pretty cool to be speeding through the waves.

But…

And it’s a BIG BUT…

There are one or two who seem determined to seriously hurt people, mainly swimmers or bellyboarders. They are the ones who zip across the shallows close to the shore.

One day at Bracklesham Bay, it was a perfect day for boarding. It was low tide, there was a good swell and a strong offshore wind. Surfline had given a Fair to Good Forecast, so the Foot Surfers were sat in the car park, waiting for the Push. A Surf School had a cluster of young learners in the breaking waves. A dozen or so Kite Surfers were out at sea, but one, The Beast of Bracklesham, was skudding along the whitewater. As we were getting ready, we saw him go between the Surf School and the sand. His course was from the Bracklesham marker, west towards Minions, and then back. Never going out further than waist-deep water. He dodged an early morning sea dipper, but only just. We got in the sea, with our boards and kept our eyes peeled. At times like this, I hold my board in a way that I can swing it towards the Beast, if required. A Surf School tutor put himself in a position to act as a marker to protect the learners. I saw a great wave coming. I checked where the Beast was, he was heading west. I caught the wave and shot towards the beach, at speed. And then I saw that the Beast hadn’t continued west, but double backed and was heading towards me. Before we got to the point of contact, he come off his board. I got up and had to talk to him. I made sure that I didn’t swear, but I was very very assertive. “You should be out there.” I said, “You’re going to hurt someone.” “Oh, I’m alright.” He said. “No. The by-law says you should be fifty metres from the shore.” “I can’t get fifty metres out.” He replied. I left him with the words, “YOU ARE GOING TO HURT SOMEONE.” He got back on his board and headed east. He carried on in the shallows, but far away from us and the Surf School.

So, if you ever go bellyboarding, or swimming at low tide on Bracklesham beach, watch out for the Beast, with his orange and yellow kite. You have been warned!