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BIGBURY GOLDBIGBURY GOLDAfter an all-out action-packed day at Gwithian for the Code Red session a few weeks agothe forecast then threw in an extra twist to the story. The following day was showing east winds and another pulse of thumping swell on both coasts. John Carter, Lucas Meldrum and Ian Whittaker didnt take much convincing to stay down in Cornwall and roll the dice on scoring again. What followed was once of those hunches that paid off and at Bigbury they finally struck gold!Photos: John CarterBest Viewed on the big screenclick any shot to enlarge and scroll.JOHN CARTERWHEN ONE SCORE ISNT ENOUGHWe were all on a bit of a high after the epic session at Gwithian for the Code Red swell and when the forecast promised another solid day it seemed rude not to stay down in Cornwall and see if we could strike again. Poor Ian Whittaker was in a bit of a dilemma as he had promised to head home to Witterings to do the school run on Wednesday morning but had to call to his wife to see if she would let him stay down for an extra day of windsurfing! Cue delicate negotiations, a hopeful phone call to his wife and what we can only assume was some elite-level pleading. Somehow he got the green light.Lucas, meanwhile, was frothing. New North and Quatro kit, fresh energy and he had a burning need to test it anywhere possible so didnt need any convincing!Decision made. We were staying!OMENS, BAKERIES AND BLIND FAITHWe managed to find a cheap hotel in Redruth and the plan was to check out Praa Sands in the morning and let the ocean decide. Back at the hotel, I managed to perform a truly world-class act of self-sabotagedropping my Micro SD card inside my drone where it promptly vanished into the internal abyss. What followed was hours of shaking, tilting, and increasingly desperate attempts to retrieve it but somehow, I had actually managed to the SD card completely jammed inside.Morning came. Lucas was already glued to the webcams. While I was still mid-surgery on the drone. Then the miracle of miracles, the memory card simply fell out. Just like that.An omen? A sign? A mechanical fluke? Who caresNow it was game back on.Despite the webcams showing very little, my spirits were lifted. The forecast promised swell later and that was enough for me. Ian was dispatched to Praa Sands as the official scout, while we took on the critical task of bakery reconnaissance. A full sausage, bacon and egg bap was consumed and washed down with a decent mug of latte. The diet would have to go on hold for another day. Lucas even managed to scoff down a donut, but he only weighs about 60 kilos so anything goes for him.Reports from Praa were that it was messy and not very big, so we made a vote and decided to head for Bigbury rather than hang around for the swell to kick in. We checked in with Bigbury locals Ben Page and Dave Ewer but they were both working and unable to join us. We were taking a gamble and banking on Bigbury. We had no solid reports. No guarantees just blind faith that the waves would kick in with the pushing tide.DISAPPEARING ACTBy 11am Ian Whittaker had beat us to Bigbury and reckoned it was logo high and pumping. Suddenly myself and Lucas were fired up that this could turn out to be an epic day. Looking at the sat nav we would be there in less than half an hour. Game on!By the time we reached Bigbury, Ian was still in the carpark and getting his gear together. The logo high swell he had mentioned was not there however. Somehow in the space of thirty minutes it had gone flat! The ocean had changed its mind!Surly this was a mere low tide glitch and the swell would be back once the tide started to really kick in.The good news was that the wind was absolutely cranking and blowing about 25 knots side offshore and it was sunny. With most of the ingredients in place the boys rigged up and were keen to get out on the water and get a feel for the location.TEASING!The next few hours were an emotional rollercoaster for me. Once every half an hour or so a head high set would roll though and I would start getting excited that this was the swell kicking in, but then it would go mostly flat again. At low tide the windsurf action was pretty close to where I was shooting on the beach but as the tide surged the action drifted further away with the tide, turning prime shots into distant specks. The waves werent quite delivering and my frustration was building.The boys meanwhile were having a blast. While they may not have been huge waves, it was still clean, cross off and super fun sailing. I could see Lucas and Ian getting aerials right over the far side of bay but it was just too distant to score the right photos.REGROUP, RE-ROLL, REPEATAround 4pm, Ian and Lucas finally came in both exhausted but buzzing after scoring nearly three hours of epic down the line fun sailing. I must admit, I was still a bit grumpy after not really getting the epic shots I had came for. The swell had not really delivered and I felt there was still some unfinished business to be sorted. In my mind I could not go home without the shots I had came for.Back at the carpark we regrouped and now had to decide if we were going to head back home or go for another session. Ian was suffering with back pain and sensibly decided to call it a day and head home.Meanwhile, myself and Lucas made a new plan to drive round to Bantham, despite it being a painfully long, winding, countryside mission for what looks like a stones throw on the map.THE MOMENT IT ALL TURNEDFinally, we made it to the Bantham side and climbed up over the dunes to check it out. Boom! As we edged to the top of the dune a clean, glassy, half-mast to logo-high set marched across the bay like something out of a surf film.No hesitation. Back to the van. Rig. Go!GOLDEN HOUR GLORYBantham delivered. The wind flirted quite offshore but just enough for lightweight, Lucas to work his magic on his North 4.7m and Quatro Pyramid. The waves were buttery smooth and the light turned almost cinematic.When the sun dipped behind Burgh Island, it cast a golden glow that photographers dream about and rarely get. Lucas threaded smooth lines through the bay, making it all look far too easy. Meanwhile I Sprinted up and down dunes like a man possessed, chasing angles, light, and redemption.This timefor once, everything clicked.WORTH THE ROLL OF THE DICEBy 6pm, Lucas came in grinning from ear to ear. The gamble had paid off. Big time. The swell finally showed. The wind held. The light delivered. Bigbury had revealed its goldwe had to wait for it, just like my memory card but eventually, just like magic it turned on.And as a final bonus? I made the last ferry home with 15 minutes to spare. A nice bit of fortune to round of an epic day.Ask Lucas when the luck changed and you might hear a different theory. But for me it was the moment that memory card dropped out of the drone.From then on the tide turned.Sometimes you dont chase too hard.You just stick around long enough and the luck will come to you!LUCAS MELDRUMSo we got to Bigbury and had been told by Ian it was logo high, but when we arrived it was flat and howling windy. I think about 10 minutes before we got there wed heard it was going off, so I was pretty excitedbut it wasnt quite as good as wed hoped.Still, it was windy enough, just a bit small. We went out anywayI was on my 4.2m and 75L.That first part of the session was actually really fun. When the sets came through, they were maybe head high! The sandbank near the Bigbury side had a nice little lip you could hit. Perfect for little aerials. Me and Whittaker even got a few party waves, which was fun.As the tide pushed in, I thought the swell might pick up, but it never really did. Still fun though and it was sunny again.Then we regrouped and headed over to the other side to check it out, maybe for photos. And when we got there, it was like something out of a film. You walk over the dune and suddenly its peeling waves, super clean and sunset lightingit just looked amazing.It felt like the swell had suddenly kicked in. I was a bit nervous about how offshore it was, it almost looked dead offshore. I rigged a bigger sail and off the beach there was barely any wind, which was worrying. But once I made it out, it filled in.There were some decent setsmaybe logo highbut super offshore. Still, it was such an amazing session. The waves were butter smooth, once you were on them, they were incredible. You could get some really nice turns and a few airs, although the airs were tricky with the wind so offshore.I really enjoy those sessions when you sail somewhere newthat was my first time at Bigburyso you get that adventure vibe, which is different from your local spot.It was not quite a 10 out of 10, but probably an 8 yeah, about a 7 or 8 out of 10.IAN WHITTAKERGwithian was great the day before so decided to stay down the forecast looked solid for Bigbury on Sea. I have sailed there once way back in the 90s With the swell building as we arrived it was low tide and starting to come in, so I grabbed my 4.7 Ezzy wave and my Quatro 86 custom quad.When it hit the water, it started to come alive it was so cross off you could ride the whole of the bay. I remember the third wave so well, it peeled perfectly and had so many sections to it, I nailed two aerials and it had 6 smack-able lips, as I pulled off, I had to pinch myself how good it was.I shared a couple of waves with Lucas turning round each other and airing over each other was a dreamy day!Action from the locals!!The post BIGBURY GOLD appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

Soft, small waves happen more often than not. The Solution is built for them.Designed by Britt Merrick, this step-down shortboard is meant to bring speed, glide, and performance back into everyday conditions. Recently, Britt put it to the test himself at URBNSURF Melbourne alongside Tom Carroll and Luca Elder in a session with the Onboard Store crew.What Is The Solution?The Solution is what you reach for when your normal shortboard isnt cutting it in weak surf.Britt says it best: We all have that problem the waves arent giving me what I want, but I wish I had a board that was.Its designed as a true step-downsomething you can ride smaller, generate speed easily, and still surf properly.How It Felt in the WaterWith Britt, Tom, and Luca all riding different sizes, the feedback lined up fast.Tom on first impressions: It felt zippy instantly almost zero effort and I still held a lot of speed.Luca after his first wave: I connected instantly putting almost zero effort off the bottom and it still carried speed.Even with the wide, round tail, the board didnt feel sticky or tracky. Britt pointed out thats been the surprise:You think its going to get skippy or not hold but that just hasnt been the experience.Britt also called out something you dont fully see in a pool:This thing is a crazy wave catcher.The Design in ShortThe Solution keeps things simple but effective: Fuller outline and round tail for speed in weak waves Single to double concave to keep it lively New rocker and outline that work off the front foot or neutralBritt built it after chasing a board that sat below his everyday shortboardand it clicked within a few versions.How to Ride It Ride it about 2 shorter than your Better Everyday Works as a quad, thruster, or 2+1 Best in small, soft, everyday surfStock Dimensions:Bottom LineThe Solution does exactly what it saysit solves the problem of below-average waves. Its fast, forgiving, and makes the kind of days youd normally skip worth paddling out.Watch + Learn MoreFull breakdown by Britt:https://youtu.be/0ihuErX36gkExplore The Solution:https://cisurfboards.com/products/the-solution

FMHAR: AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELANDFMHAR AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELANDFmhar: Autumn in the West of Ireland is a short film by Finn Mellon and Stanley Vaughton, capturing the mood and movement of Irelands west coast over the course of a week-long autumn mission. Accompanying the film, Finn offers a behind-the-scenes look at the journey, while Stanley discusses his creative background and passion for shooting on the water.FMHAR AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELAND Fmhar Finn Mellon: Fmhar meaning Autumn in the Irish Language, is a short windsurf film by Stanley Vaughton and myself. It is the result of a week long Irish trip for Stan, The forecast for our week was pretty bleak to say the least but we still got some fun sailing and nice weather. Thats kinda Ireland in a nutshell sometimes the forecast might not be great but you have to be there and in the right place you might still find some gold.Im lucky enough to of travelled a fair bit and been to a lot of the top windsurf destinations and Ireland definitely ranks right up there with the very best. Guess the saying Aint no place like home fits hah.I consider myself to be very lucky that I was born in Brandon Bay. I grew up by the sea, learnt to windsurf and surf as a teenager and it has most certainly shaped the person I am and the life I live today.I am very proud of where Im from and I love to show people around Ireland and all its beauty.If you would like to tour around Ireland with me you can on the Irish Wave Chasers CampsMore info https://www.finnmellon.com/irish-wave-chasers-weekWhich brings us back to our video. I would like to introduce Stan, the guy behind the lens.Stanley VaughtonStan is a French photographer, filmer and windsurfer. We got to know each other while working together teaching windsurfing in Greece. I have always admired Stans work and have wanted to go on a trip with him to make a windsurfing film. We first went to Tiree in 2024 to cover the event, that was fun however I hurt myself during that event so we never quite got to film the parts we wanted. Still had unfinished business, Which bought us together in Ireland.Hopefully this is only the first of the windsurf and travel films you see from us.So Stan, who are you and what do you do?Im a sports filmmaker, mainly focused on ocean and marine environments. I specialise in water-based filming, especially using camera housings to get as close to the action as possible. Over time, the more I worked in the water, the more I wanted to push into windsurfing, and thats really where Finn came in. Meeting Finn was a big part of that progression. His passion for the sport and his knowledge of the conditions made it possible for me to step further into wave sailing and keep developing my filming in that environment. I mainly focus on sport-driven content, especially around windsurfing and surfing, with a strong emphasis on being in the water and capturing things from that perspective.What got you into filming and photography?It started from being an athlete myself. Ive always wanted to try as many sports as possible and really be involved in them physically. Along the way, I naturally began filming my friends and taking photos during our trips and sessions. I realised I enjoyed capturing those moments just as much as living them. I started o filming more in the mountains, and then when windsurfing came into my life around 2014, I began to push both the sport and the filmmaking side together, to see how far I could take it.What struck you most about filming in Ireland compared to other locations?I started out filming in flat water conditions in places like Vasiliki in Greece, and then moved into wave sailing in South Wales. But Ireland felt like a completely different level. The swell, the power of the ocean, and just understanding how everything moves, it all demanded a lot more awareness and timing. The conditions arent easy either. You dont always get perfect weather, but when it does come together, its incredible. And because of that, you have to be fully ready, more focused, more intentional with how you approach each shot. Theres definitely more pressure, but also a lot more reward.How was your Ireland trip?It was an incredible experience. Ireland is just such a scenic place, especially when the conditions come together. Youve got amazing coastlines, small towns, wild beaches theres so much character everywhere you go. What made it even better was being there with Finn, he really knows the area, so we were able to move around and find the right spots. To have good conditions and be able to film a sport I love in a place like that, it was a pretty special trip.What was your favourite moment on the trip?One of my favourite moments was being in the water with my camera housing, filming Finn. Whether the conditions were challenging, strong wind, gusty, unpredictable, or just clean and easy, those moments in between are what really stayed with me. Its that feeling of being ready waiting for the next wave, positioning yourself, anticipating whats about to happen. Theres a kind of calm in it as well, just being out there, surrounded by the sea, with the quietness and the wildlife around you. You still have that adrenaline, but its controlled. Its just you, the water, and the moment youre preparing for. And what made Ireland special was how empty it felt. Finn was often the only one out, no crowds, no distractions. So for me, it became very simple: one subject, one environment, one moment to capture. And that made it really powerful.What was the hardest shot to get during the trip?There was a session near Brandon Bay where the swell was strong and the current made positioning really dicult. The clips from the first part of the video were from that session.When youre in the water and theres reef around you, its all about timing and placement, being in exactly the right spot as the wave comes through and as Finn hits it.That day, everything had to align, the wave, Finns line, and my position, and that made it really challenging. Its the kind of spot where experience really counts, so I think going back there in the future would make a big difference.How did the Irish light, weather, and landscapes influence your shooting style?The landscapes are unreal, but the weather and light are constantly changing, so it becomes a bit of a chase. We spent a lot of time driving, trying to find the right bay with the right wind and light. Its not just about where Finn can sail, its also about where I can actually film effectively, whether thats from the shore or in the water. But when it all lines up, when the sun breaks through the clouds, hits the hills and reflects on the water, its honestly one of the most beautiful environments Ive filmed in. There were moments in the water, just waiting for the next set, where I stopped and thought this place is unreal.Do you have any ambitions or future plans within the windsurfing world?Yeah, definitely! My main ambition is to keep pursuing my passion, especially in the world of camera housing footage, pushing myself to film in bigger waves, stronger swells, and different locations. The more experience I can gain in varied conditions, the better. Its something Im really looking forward to developing over time, because filming in the water like that is not only very technical, but also something I genuinely find exciting. From the moment I started using a housing, I felt like it was something I really wanted to pursue. In general, I just want to keep filming more and more, working with different riders who are truly passionate about windsurfing, and with brands that are constantly evolving and pushing the sport forward. What I find so interesting about the sport is that the deeper you go into it, the more technical it becomes, from board choice to sails, to how everything adapts to the conditions. And Id love to keep capturing that progression and see how the sport evolves over time. You can follow along with Stans work here on his instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/stax.prod/The post FMHAR: AUTUMN IN THE WEST OF IRELAND appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.

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HTTPS://PADDLEUK.ORG.UK/Paddle UK Urges Government to Include Glass in Deposit Return SchemeWith one month to go, Paddle UK is gearing up for The Big Paddle Cleanup 2026 a two-week event dedicated to cleaning up our nations waterways.Individual paddlers, clubs, and other volunteers from all over England will take to canals, rivers and the sea, to collect plastic waste and other junk.Since its inception in 2022, volunteers have retrieved 8,000 glass bottles from the water.Thats why we are urging the government to rethink the exclusion of glass bottles and jars from the upcoming Deposit Return Scheme (DRS).The Big Paddle Cleanup 2026 will run from 23 May to 7 June, acting as a reminder of the importance of keeping our waterways clean and mitigating the impact of pollution on wildlife.Chantelle Grundy, Access and Environment Manager, said, Thousands of volunteers make a huge difference to our waterways, and were so proud and grateful for their efforts.Glass bottles in rivers pose a danger, and volunteers have collectively retrieved 8,000 since 2022.Broken glass is a hazard to animals and people, causing cuts to pets, wildlife, and swimmers.Paddle UK is disappointed by the exclusion of glass from the DRS and would like the government to rethink this decision.The two weeks of action will once again be supported by Decathlon and Sportscover Europe.The campaign followed a record-breaking 2025, when 4,228 volunteers over 500 more than the previous year participated.These individuals, clubs, delivery partners, and community groups spent about 8,130 hours on our precious waterways across the country, filling 2,129 sacks of rubbish from canals and rivers.Volunteers collected 6,851 plastic bottles, 4,059 cans, 10,804 food wrappers, and 2,013 glass bottles.The UKs Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) for drinks containers (https://defraenvironment.blog.gov.uk/2025/01/31/introducing-the-deposit-return-scheme-for-drinks-containers/) will begin on 1 October 2027 across England.The scheme will introduce a small, refundable deposit on plastic (PET) bottles and metal cans (150ml3L), aiming to increase recycling and reduce litter.The Big Paddle Cleanup continues to draw high-profile support, with Olympians, including Adam Burgess, and the Paracanoe team including Paralympic gold medal winners Charlotte Henshaw MBE and Emma Wiggs MBE, and silver medalist Jack Eyers all having taken part in previous years.

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DOMINICAN VIBES: 2026 JP WINDSURF & WINGFOIL COLLECTIONDOMINICAN VIBES: 2026 JP WINDSURF & WINGFOIL COLLECTIONFor the 2026 shoot, the JP team headed to the Dominican Republicchasing wind, swell and a fresh perspective. The mission turned into something much more than capturing images; it evolved into the crew discovering a new playground while riding the latest gear, blending exploration with performance in true Caribbean style.The post DOMINICAN VIBES: 2026 JP WINDSURF & WINGFOIL COLLECTION appeared first on Windsurf Magazine Online.