CODE RED: STORM DURRAGHCODE REDSTORM DARRAGHArmed with cameras, a van full to the brim of windsurfing kit and a questionable amount of common sense, John Carter and Timo Mullen head to K-Bay to capture the madness of Storm Darragh!Words: John Carter and Timo Mullen.Photos: John Carter.EXPECTATIONSThe moment the forecasters mention a named storm, it usually sets any die-hard wave sailors on edge with anticipation and trepidation. There are usually two ways a windsurfer will weigh up the opportunities these exceptional days may provide. Firstly, they could be looking embrace the raw power of nature at its fiercest and simply go out and sail and survive in wild challenging conditions. Or secondly, the prime conditions might well come from the post-storm winds or further afield from the epicentre. One way or another, big storms usually guarantee intense action if you are up for the challenge and are sensible by knowing your own limitations.Either way, when a storm like Darragh comes knocking, you know one thing for suretheres going to be action. The only question is: will it be epic, or will it be a total wipe out?CODE REDBack in early December 2024, the UK Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for parts of Wales, Somerset and Devon and an amber warning for many parts of the south coast. Storm Darragh was forecast to strike on Saturday, December 7th and promised to be nothing short of extreme. Unlike typical storms that batter the south coast, from the south or southwest, Darragh was promising raging winds from the west swinging northwest by noon. This unusual wind direction instantly sparked thoughts of a mission to photograph Kimmeridge Bay. Known locally as K-Bay, this stunning stretch of the Dorset coastline is famed as one of the UKs premier wave sailing spots.Timo Mullen was equally eager to take on Darragh at his home spot but had to be done and dusted by 2pm due to family commitments. Phone calls and messages flew around as we were trying rally a crew, but many sailors were out of the country, injured or had other plans. It looked like it would be just Timo and me, plus any die-hard locals who were up for this K Bay showdown!Would it be too windy to sail or could turn into the day of all days with wild winds, massive waves, and jaw-dropping action? Either way, I was determined to embrace this storm, come what may.THE BUILD UPDarragh was such a strong weather pattern that the forecasts looked to be reliable two or three days before it hit. Looking at all the windsurfing forecasts winds were predicted anywhere between 40 and 65 knots. I knew I had to head over the night before from the Isle of Wight as it was almost certain that ferries would be cancelled, and travel disruption was imminent. So, on a wet Friday night, I caught the ferry to the mainland armed with my two-battle-worn Canon R5s and a handful of lenses, determined not to miss this major storm. I made it to Timos in Poole by late evening just as the first gusts from Darragh started to stir the trees. I woke up early and checked the status of the Isle of Wight ferries and pretty much every route was majorly disrupted of cancelled. I had dodged a bullet by coming over early but getting home might be an issue laterTHE JOURNEYWe loaded the van to head out from Timos in Poole around 8am. As I opened the passenger door his trusty Panasonic camera slid off the chaotic pile of clutter on the front seat, toppled out of the van and smashed onto the concrete below Oops! What a way to kick off the day! Timo was less than thrilled. I did suggest to him the week before that he needed to tidy out his van, but given the circumstances decided not to hold my tongue as we headed in silence to K-Bay! Despite the rocky start, there were some hints of blue sky up above but looking west, the sky was dark and ominous. As we made our way closer to the coast, the signs of the storm became more apparent with lots of branches, leaves and debris littering the roads. We finally made it to the top of the hills that overlook Kimmeridge Bay to the sight of dramatic waves pluming in the wind. The vibe in the van was suddenly back on a positive note and our spirits began to lift, ready for whatever the day had in store!Down at the carpark there were a few other windsurf vans with their drivers wisely assessing the conditions but nobody had ventured the water as yet. The wind was strong enough to make me hang on with all my might as I opened the van door. The camera damage Timo could probably handle but if I allowed Timos precious van door to be ripped off its hinges, then that might be one step too far.I left Timo to chat with the other sailors and decided to trek up to Clavell Tower in order to grab an overview of the untamed scene in the bay. Hiking up the rickety steps, the strength of the wind became much more apparent. At the top the wind was so strong I could barely breathe let along stand upright or be able to take a photo. It must have been gusting 80 knots as the wind accelerated up the hill. For a moment, I felt like a fighter pilot straining against G-forces, on the brink of blacking out. Breathless and exhilarated, I stumbled back down to the van, where Timo was already rigging up his 3.7m Super_Hero sail and my Grip 3 D/Labboard.The sea state outside the bay looked chaotic and out of control, but in the bay, there was just enough shelter from the cliffs to provide some workable conditions. There were ramps galore and some big jumps to be scored for those with the guts to send it. Right as Timo hit the water, I felt the first splats of rain in my face as I set up my camera, not the best since I was going to be shooting directly into the wind. Storm Darragh was now in full force, and I was interested to see how Timo and a few other hardy windsurfers were going to pitch battle with these crazy conditions.SURVIVING THE STORMTIMO MULLENBig storms dont really excite me the same way a forecast does with perfect side of winds and big waves. A storm is much more unpredictable and there is no way of preparing for it. You just know it is going to be survival. It will most likely be extreme strong winds and the performance levels will drop slightly compared to when the wind is manageable. Your expectations are always lower. Even so a storm can be a windsurfers dream. Some one that doesnt windsurf will tell me I expect that will be a good day for you tomorrow Timo! Big storms like Storm Darragh are the ones that grab all the headlines. I am not as expectant of good conditions in a storm.We had a yellow wind storm warning for Storm Darragh which for the UK is pretty extreme. The reason we went to K-Bay was that it would be windy but you have got some shelter from larger waves within the bay. The bay would also provide a little bit more shelter from the wind. As it turned out that was a good decision because the reports from the other beaches were out of control. I dont think I would have been able to sail at any other beach. Pozo regularly gets 3m conditions overpowered but in the UK when we have a storm with similar strength winds in the middle of winter, it is so different.Locations like of Pozo, have much more consistent wind, while we were getting gusts up to 75mph while the average wind speed was 50mph! My smallest sail is a 3.7m Duotone as anything smaller I will barely use. I knew I would be overpowered. I was on my more onshore board, the Duotone GRIP 3. I had my harness lines set up so I was always in control. I move them slightly further apart on a really windy day so I can relax a little bit more. I never really sailed further out than I had to. Just because you are asking for trouble if something goes wrong! When the wind is that strong it almost creates its own rip. So if you fall in on the outside you can get blown downwind quick quickly.I kept to the bay and only went for big moves when there wasnt a crazy gust. I had a hood on to protect my head as in those winds it is very easy for a board to flip over and hit you. I would never really sail on my own in those conditions. I would still say it was a day to remember. It was a named storm, but at the end of the day it was more about survival than epic conditions. When I was a kid I always thought that sailing in big storms was the level of extreme that I wanted to reach!JAMES DATEMy wife knows instantly what the underlying meaning of the question Whats happening on Saturday? is! This question is usually asked around Wednesday when the forecasts start to firm up, and she is very understanding of my constant checking of whether the K-Bay stars are going to align, and on a weekend when I am not at work this probably happens 2 or 3 times a year.December 7th was one of those days. Storm Darragh was blowing through and at the tail end of it the wind starts to come round to the W / NW, cross to cross offshore, which brings the hope that the Bench will be firing. The forecast looked like this perfect scenario could be on. I love that view as you drive down and get your first glimpse of the bay. When it looks big from a mile away, its probably going to be good, but in reality it was not quite as cross off shore, with messier waves than the 4 to 5m at 12s period suggested.Probably because it was really, really windy! Sheeting in the 3.7 was optional and moments of feeling in control were few and far between. Providing guinea pig duties to confirm to those still hiding in their vans how windy it was, I launched, closely followed by Timo, and as always K Bay provided an epic day out.The hard deadline of my daughters swimming gala meant I never made it out as far as the Bench, but there was some great jumping and waves to be had in the bay. Back to forecast watching for the next opportunity.IZZY ADCOCKI arrived at Kimmeridge, and it was crazily windy and gusty; everyone was sailing in the bay only.I was a out on a Duotone 3.0 Super_Hero and a 69L Grip 4 as small as I (or most people) go. There was point when the wind came through at probably a genuine 55 knots, I decided to sink my sail as I couldnt hang on (partly due to cold NW wind too) and was worried it might tumble weed away from me!I think Timo was the only one still windsurfing at this point and it had sent a few people in to de-rig. Its probably the closest Ive felt to a Red Bull Storm Chase. Also, a huge thanks to John Carter for braving the at points torrential rain!STAYING FOCUSSED!There is a certain thrill in dealing with this type of chaos as a photographer. Everything is unpredictable. You never know how high the next jump will be or if you will anticipate shooting that one critical moment that may capture the essence of the day. The pressure was on but when you are shooting in driving rain and over 40 knots of wind, capturing the action is never going to be easy. Just trying to hold a camera steady as crazy gusts hit you in the face was a serious challenge.When you see a photo, the one thing that is invisible is the wind and it can be tough to capture the actual drama of the moment in one split second. After the first hour of dealing with the elements my camera gear was already coated in salt spray, I was soaked to the skin and my fingers were rapidly turning numb. Protecting my cameras from fogging up and keeping the rain off the front of my lenses was a priority but not easy as the drizzle intensified. Despite the fact I wasnt actually out on the water braving those conditions, I felt I was still involved in my own personal battle with the that same fierce wind, cold and salt spray. But at least I had a front row seat to witness natures sheer power and the brave windsurfers up for the challenge of harnessing this storm.TRAVEL CHAOSAfter three gruelling hours on the water, Timo finally threw in the towel, utterly exhausted but happy to have survived unscathed. (Actually he did head but his rig at one stage and came into the beach with blood all over his face! When we deemed it to be a mere scratch, Timo was obviously straight back out there for the next round of action).Now it was time to call it a day and head homeMaybe it is a bit of a clich to recount my travel woes after such a mission, but wild weather nearly always has its consequences for those trying to get from A to B especially when a ferry or trains are involved. So, after packing up we eventually made it back to Poole after being re routed due to fallen trees on the road between Kimmeridge and Wareham.Timo dropped me at the railway station and disappeared off on family duty. Thats when the chaos started. Apparently, there had not been a train come though for the past three hours due to fallen branches littering the tracks. Determined to get back home, I decided to persevere despite the fact there was only one ferry crossing between the Isle of Wight and the mainland still running.After waiting around for nearly two hours, as luck would have it, I overheard a guy at the station who was desperately trying to get back to Portsmouth and was about to book an Uber. Cash was exchanged and ten minutes later I was on my way. It turned out my acquaintance in the Uber was a bit of an unsavoury charterer but the less said about that the better. By the time I reached the terminal, I was rattled but otherwise unscathedonly to witness a catamaran leave port just as I arrivedstandard!An hour later, I was finally on board and nearly home. The approach to Ryde Pier was the worst I have ever experienced! The sea was ferocious, and the ferry slammed repeatedly against the pier as the crew battled to secure the moorings. The captains voice on the Tannoy was laced with tension, but he gave the go-ahead for passengers to disembark, two at a time. Apparently, the next ferry was not so lucky. The ropes snapped while they were moored up and only two passengers disembarked before the ferry had to turn back! Looking back at the wind readings in the afternoon, there had been a dip down to 40 knots in the Solent between 4 and 6pm but for the rest of the evening the wind returned with a vengeance and was gusting well over 60 knots! Lets just say getting home was just as tough a mission a braving the storm itself.SUMMARYThe wild winds from Storm Darragh were too much for most beaches in the UK to handle and looking back on reports, Kimmeridge turned out to be one of the few locations that was not too out of control and sailable. Despite the logistical challenges I was glad I went on the mission to document this rare code red storm at K-Bay. Fallen trees, broken cameras, cancelled trains and a perilous ferry crossing were all part of this manic adventure provided by storm Darragh. Definitely a mission that wont be forgotten!The post CODE RED: STORM DURRAGH appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

CODE RED: STORM DARRAGHCODE REDSTORM DARRAGHArmed with cameras, a van full to the brim of windsurfing kit and a questionable amount of common sense, John Carter and Timo Mullen head to K-Bay to capture the madness of Storm Darragh!Words: John Carter, Timo Mullen, James Date and Izzy Adcock.Photos: John Carter.EXPECTATIONSThe moment the forecasters mention a named storm, it usually sets any die-hard wave sailors on edge with anticipation and trepidation. There are usually two ways a windsurfer will weigh up the opportunities these exceptional days may provide. Firstly, they could be looking embrace the raw power of nature at its fiercest and simply go out and sail and survive in wild challenging conditions. Or secondly, the prime conditions might well come from the post-storm winds or further afield from the epicentre.One way or another, big storms usually guarantee intense action if you are up for the challenge and are sensible by knowing your own limitations.Either way, when a storm like Darragh comes knocking, you know one thing for suretheres going to be action. The only question is: will it be epic, or will it be a total wipe out?CODE REDBack in early December 2024, the UK Met Office issued a rare red weather warning for parts of Wales, Somerset and Devon and an amber warning for many parts of the south coast. Storm Darragh was forecast to strike on Saturday, December 7th and promised to be nothing short of extreme. Unlike typical storms that batter the south coast, from the south or southwest, Darragh was promising raging winds from the west swinging northwest by noon. This unusual wind direction instantly sparked thoughts of a mission to photograph Kimmeridge Bay. Known locally as K-Bay, this stunning stretch of the Dorset coastline is famed as one of the UKs premier wave sailing spots.Timo Mullen was equally eager to take on Darragh at his home spot but had to be done and dusted by 2pm due to family commitments. Phone calls and messages flew around as we were trying rally a crew, but many sailors were out of the country, injured or had other plans. It looked like it would be just Timo and me, plus any die-hard locals who were up for this K Bay showdown!Would it be too windy to sail or could turn into the day of all days with wild winds, massive waves, and jaw-dropping action? Either way, I was determined to embrace this storm, come what may.THE BUILD UPDarragh was such a strong weather pattern that the forecasts looked to be reliable two or three days before it hit. Looking at all the windsurfing forecasts winds were predicted anywhere between 40 and 65 knots. I knew I had to head over the night before from the Isle of Wight as it was almost certain that ferries would be cancelled, and travel disruption was imminent. So, on a wet Friday night, I caught the ferry to the mainland armed with my two-battle-worn Canon R5s and a handful of lenses, determined not to miss this major storm. I made it to Timos in Poole by late evening just as the first gusts from Darragh started to stir the trees. I woke up early and checked the status of the Isle of Wight ferries and pretty much every route was majorly disrupted of cancelled. I had dodged a bullet by coming over early but getting home might be an issue laterTHE JOURNEYWe loaded the van to head out from Timos in Poole around 8am. As I opened the passenger door his trusty Panasonic camera slid off the chaotic pile of clutter on the front seat, toppled out of the van and smashed onto the concrete below Oops! What a way to kick off the day! Timo was less than thrilled. I did suggest to him the week before that he needed to tidy out his van, but given the circumstances decided not to hold my tongue as we headed in silence to K-Bay! Despite the rocky start, there were some hints of blue sky up above but looking west, the sky was dark and ominous. As we made our way closer to the coast, the signs of the storm became more apparent with lots of branches, leaves and debris littering the roads. We finally made it to the top of the hills that overlook Kimmeridge Bay to the sight of dramatic waves pluming in the wind. The vibe in the van was suddenly back on a positive note and our spirits began to lift, ready for whatever the day had in store!Down at the carpark there were a few other windsurf vans with their drivers wisely assessing the conditions but nobody had ventured the water as yet. The wind was strong enough to make me hang on with all my might as I opened the van door. The camera damage Timo could probably handle but if I allowed Timos precious van door to be ripped off its hinges, then that might be one step too far.I left Timo to chat with the other sailors and decided to trek up to Clavell Tower in order to grab an overview of the untamed scene in the bay. Hiking up the rickety steps, the strength of the wind became much more apparent. At the top the wind was so strong I could barely breathe let along stand upright or be able to take a photo. It must have been gusting 80 knots as the wind accelerated up the hill. For a moment, I felt like a fighter pilot straining against G-forces, on the brink of blacking out. Breathless and exhilarated, I stumbled back down to the van, where Timo was already rigging up his 3.7m Super_Hero sail and my Grip 3 D/Labboard.The sea state outside the bay looked chaotic and out of control, but in the bay, there was just enough shelter from the cliffs to provide some workable conditions. There were ramps galore and some big jumps to be scored for those with the guts to send it. Right as Timo hit the water, I felt the first splats of rain in my face as I set up my camera, not the best since I was going to be shooting directly into the wind. Storm Darragh was now in full force, and I was interested to see how Timo and a few other hardy windsurfers were going to pitch battle with these crazy conditions.SURVIVING THE STORMTIMO MULLENBig storms dont really excite me the same way a forecast does with perfect side of winds and big waves. A storm is much more unpredictable and there is no way of preparing for it. You just know it is going to be survival. It will most likely be extreme strong winds and the performance levels will drop slightly compared to when the wind is manageable. Your expectations are always lower. Even so a storm can be a windsurfers dream. Some one that doesnt windsurf will tell me I expect that will be a good day for you tomorrow Timo! Big storms like Storm Darragh are the ones that grab all the headlines. I am not as expectant of good conditions in a storm.We had a yellow wind storm warning for Storm Darragh which for the UK is pretty extreme, some parts of Wales, they were even calling a red warning!. The reason we went to K-Bay was that it would be windy but you have got some shelter from larger waves within the bay. The bay would also provide a little bit more shelter from the wind. As it turned out that was a good decision because the reports from the other beaches were out of control. I dont think I would have been able to sail at any other beach. Pozo regularly gets 3m conditions overpowered but in the UK when we have a storm with similar strength winds in the middle of winter, it is so different.Locations like of Pozo, have much more consistent wind, while we were getting gusts up to 75mph while the average wind speed was 50mph! My smallest sail is a 3.7m Duotone as anything smaller I will barely use. I knew I would be overpowered. I was on my more onshore board, the Duotone GRIP 3. I had my harness lines set up so I was always in control. I move them slightly further apart on a really windy day so I can relax a little bit more. I never really sailed further out than I had to. Just because you are asking for trouble if something goes wrong! When the wind is that strong it almost creates its own rip. So if you fall in on the outside you can get blown downwind quick quickly.I kept to the bay and only went for big moves when there wasnt a crazy gust. I had a hood on to protect my head as in those winds it is very easy for a board to flip over and hit you. I would never really sail on my own in those conditions. I would still say it was a day to remember. It was a named storm, but at the end of the day it was more about survival than epic conditions. When I was a kid I always thought that sailing in big storms was the level of extreme that I wanted to reach!JAMES DATEMy wife knows instantly what the underlying meaning of the question Whats happening on Saturday? is! This question is usually asked around Wednesday when the forecasts start to firm up, and she is very understanding of my constant checking of whether the K-Bay stars are going to align, and on a weekend when I am not at work this probably happens 2 or 3 times a year.December 7th was one of those days. Storm Darragh was blowing through and at the tail end of it the wind starts to come round to the W / NW, cross to cross offshore, which brings the hope that the Bench will be firing. The forecast looked like this perfect scenario could be on. I love that view as you drive down and get your first glimpse of the bay. When it looks big from a mile away, its probably going to be good, but in reality it was not quite as cross off shore, with messier waves than the 4 to 5m at 12s period suggested.Probably because it was really, really windy! Sheeting in the 3.7 was optional and moments of feeling in control were few and far between. Providing guinea pig duties to confirm to those still hiding in their vans how windy it was, I launched, closely followed by Timo, and as always K Bay provided an epic day out.The hard deadline of my daughters swimming gala meant I never made it out as far as the Bench, but there was some great jumping and waves to be had in the bay. Back to forecast watching for the next opportunity.IZZY ADCOCKI arrived at Kimmeridge, and it was crazily windy and gusty; everyone was sailing in the bay only.I was a out on a Duotone 3.0 Super_Hero and a 69L Grip 4 as small as I (or most people) go. There was point when the wind came through at probably a genuine 55 knots, I decided to sink my sail as I couldnt hang on (partly due to cold NW wind too) and was worried it might tumble weed away from me!I think Timo was the only one still windsurfing at this point and it had sent a few people in to de-rig. Its probably the closest Ive felt to a Red Bull Storm Chase. Also, a huge thanks to John Carter for braving the at points torrential rain!STAYING FOCUSSED!There is a certain thrill in dealing with this type of chaos as a photographer. Everything is unpredictable. You never know how high the next jump will be or if you will anticipate shooting that one critical moment that may capture the essence of the day. The pressure was on but when you are shooting in driving rain and over 40 knots of wind, capturing the action is never going to be easy. Just trying to hold a camera steady as crazy gusts hit you in the face was a serious challenge.When you see a photo, the one thing that is invisible is the wind and it can be tough to capture the actual drama of the moment in one split second. After the first hour of dealing with the elements my camera gear was already coated in salt spray, I was soaked to the skin and my fingers were rapidly turning numb. Protecting my cameras from fogging up and keeping the rain off the front of my lenses was a priority but not easy as the drizzle intensified. Despite the fact I wasnt actually out on the water braving those conditions, I felt I was still involved in my own personal battle with the that same fierce wind, cold and salt spray. But at least I had a front row seat to witness natures sheer power and the brave windsurfers up for the challenge of harnessing this storm.TRAVEL CHAOSAfter three gruelling hours on the water, Timo finally threw in the towel, utterly exhausted but happy to have survived unscathed. (Actually he did head but his rig at one stage and came into the beach with blood all over his face! When we deemed it to be a mere scratch, Timo was obviously straight back out there for the next round of action).Now it was time to call it a day and head homeMaybe it is a bit of a clich to recount my travel woes after such a mission, but wild weather nearly always has its consequences for those trying to get from A to B especially when a ferry or trains are involved. So, after packing up we eventually made it back to Poole after being re routed due to fallen trees on the road between Kimmeridge and Wareham.Timo dropped me at the railway station and disappeared off on family duty. Thats when the chaos started. Apparently, there had not been a train come though for the past three hours due to fallen branches littering the tracks. Determined to get back home, I decided to persevere despite the fact there was only one ferry crossing between the Isle of Wight and the mainland still running.After waiting around for nearly two hours, as luck would have it, I overheard a guy at the station who was desperately trying to get back to Portsmouth and was about to book an Uber. Cash was exchanged and ten minutes later I was on my way. It turned out my acquaintance in the Uber was a bit of an unsavoury charterer but the less said about that the better. By the time I reached the terminal, I was rattled but otherwise unscathedonly to witness a catamaran leave port just as I arrivedstandard!An hour later, I was finally on board and nearly home. The approach to Ryde Pier was the worst I have ever experienced! The sea was ferocious, and the ferry slammed repeatedly against the pier as the crew battled to secure the moorings. The captains voice on the Tannoy was laced with tension, but he gave the go-ahead for passengers to disembark, two at a time. Apparently, the next ferry was not so lucky. The ropes snapped while they were moored up and only two passengers disembarked before the ferry had to turn back! Looking back at the wind readings in the afternoon, there had been a dip down to 40 knots in the Solent between 4 and 6pm but for the rest of the evening the wind returned with a vengeance and was gusting well over 60 knots! Lets just say getting home was just as tough a mission a braving the storm itself.SUMMARYThe wild winds from Storm Darragh were too much for most beaches in the UK to handle and looking back on reports, Kimmeridge turned out to be one of the few locations that was not too out of control and sailable. Despite the logistical challenges I was glad I went on the mission to document this rare code red storm at K-Bay. Fallen trees, broken cameras, cancelled trains and a perilous ferry crossing were all part of this manic adventure provided by storm Darragh. Definitely a mission that wont be forgotten!The post CODE RED: STORM DARRAGH appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

The post NEW FreeWing LIFE appeared first on SUPboarder Magazine.

DUOTONE: EAGLE_SLS, EAGLE AND THE DUOTONE E_PACEDUOTONE: EAGLE_SLS, EAGLE AND THE DUOTONE E_PACEDuotone have just launched the incredible Eagle_SLS , Eagle and the Duotone E-Pace sail with perfect timing as the summer freeride conditions approach.Duotone claimthere is no other board which will help you to experience the gliding/planing sensation in such a short time than the Eagle. Plus the stunning looking Duotone E-Pace sailis a high-performance freeride sail that combines effortless rigging, powerful acceleration, and competitive speed with the simplicity of a no-cam design! Lets hear all the details from Duotone!Photos:Stefan CsakyEAGLE_SLS AND EAGLE IN A NUTSHELLThe Eagle is designed for effortless planing, instinctive jibing, and maximum control in all conditions, making it ideal for intermediates progressing to advanced riders. Its VOLUME YET CONTROL concept allows for up to 30 litres more volume without losing stability, ensuring a relaxed ride even in light winds. The longer, less curved outline prevents the board from becoming windwardy, allowing the Eagle to plane almost automatically, and also reduces bouncing in rough chop, a common issue with wide-curved boards. Thin rails make jibing smooth and predictable, benefiting both beginners and advanced sailors.The EAGLE was designed with the following objectives:Super early (passive) planing.Automatic/instinctive jibing.Maximum wind range and control even in choppy conditions This makes it a perfect intermediate to advanced board which will accompany you from your first planing attempts all the way through to blasting and laydown jibing. To achieve these characteristics the team around Dani Aeberli (Product Manager Boards) have developed theVOLUME YET CONTROL CONCEPT:The slightly longer and therefore less curved outline allows us to increase the volume by up to 30 litres compared to short-curved boards (e.g. Fanatic Gecko or Tabou Rocket) without any loss of control.The extra volume though results in a much more confident, predictable and relaxed riding position especially in underpowered or sub-planing conditions.This leads to an unbeatable, broad range of use The slightly longer and therefore less curved outline also offers 2 important advantages:It prevents the board from becoming windwardy which lets the Eagle get onto a plane almost automaticallyIt prevents the board from bouncing around even in rough chop which becomes an issue with wide-curved boards The manoeuvre-oriented rail shape allows for an effortlessness and predictable jibing behaviour as the thin rails require less pressure to initiate the turn. This is ideal for jibing novices or to increase your lay-down jibing success rate. Yet even for an advanced sailor the EAGLE is anything but a boring board to sail. It almost feels like a longer version of the BLAST since it shares a very similar scoop-rocker line.Available in PREMIUM SLS or EPOXY SANDWICH TECHNOLOGYSHAPE DETAILS BOTTOM SHAPE:Progressive double concave V front to back: ideal compromise between performance, manoeuvrability and control + comfort even in rough chop. Deck Shape: Flatter deck shape for comfortable stance and maximum control during jibes. Outline: Slightly longer and therefore less curved outline avoids the board from bouncing around in choppy conditions and improves passive planing. This also allows to increase the volume which results in a much more confident, predictable and relaxed riding position. Rail Shape: Medium rail diameter in the nose and centre offer an ideal blend of performance and manoeuvrability. Thinned out ergonomic rails towards the tail for increased jibing success rate. Rockerline: Longer flat between the straps for better passive planing, more stability and easier jibing and tacking.DUOTONE E_PACEE_PACE IN A NUTSHELLThe E_PACE is a high-performance freeride sail that combines effortless rigging, powerful acceleration, and competitive speed with the simplicity of a no-cam design. Its 3-in-1 design allows for versatile tuning, offering both strong low-end power for early planing and foiling, as well as excellent speed and control when overpowered. The E_PACE is the perfect freeride sail for all waters and conditions, combining handling and rigging advantages with a crisp, direct feel and harmonious, sparkling power deliveryoffering lots of fun, confidence, control, and wonderfully easy windsurfing. It is also available in a durable monofilm-free HD construction for added longevity.THE E_PACEThe E_PACE is exactly the kind of athletic freeride sails that makes windsurfing so fascinating and uncomplicated: easy to rig, accelerate like an e-motor and get into planing without pumping. Paired with competitive speed potential and the playful handling of a no-cam sail. This is pure windsurfing, with lots of thrust, speed AND the special simplicity even for the most sporty driven manoeuvres. Versatility is the great strength of the E_PACE: versatile range of use, versatile in a wide range of wind conditions. Thanks to the 3 IN 1 DESIGN with a greatly reduced luff curve, which is almost straight in the upper area, the downhaul tension has a major influence on the loose leech and in turn on the character of the sail, depending on the trim. The two extremely wide MIN and MAX trim points offer the opportunity to cover an incredibly wide wind range and to give the E_PACE a completely different high- or low-end performance and sail feeling. On MIN setting it accelerates very powerfully with the slightest wind pressure and feels incredibly light ideal also for foiling. On MAX trim, however, it offers endless speed and control even when overpowered thanks to its pronounced loose leech.The No Cam E_PACE is the perfect freeride sail for all waters and conditions, combining handling and rigging advantages with a crisp, direct feel and harmonious, sparkling power delivery. Offering lot of fun, confidence, control and wonderfully easy windsurfing. We are sure that there is not a no-cam sail out there covering a larger wind range and range of use than the E_PACE. Simply awesome: When used for foiling the E_PACE features a special clew eyelet to be able to position the sail even more upright! The E_PACE is also available in monofilm-free HD construction. The extremely durable material mix, however, has its price, which we want to point out.Your benefits of the E_PACE 2025:+ combines acceleration power with playful handling+ start into motion without any pumping+ ensures top-end performanceQUICK FACTS:Category: Performance No CamSizes: 5.4 I 5.8 I 6.2 I 6.6 I 7.3 I 7.8 I 8.2PRODUCT HIGHLIGHTS:+ Combines acceleration power with playful handling+ Start into motion without any pumping+ Ensures top-end performanceThe post DUOTONE: EAGLE_SLS, EAGLE AND THE DUOTONE E_PACE appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

COCO FOVEAU: PUERTO RICO VLOGCOCO FOVEAU: PUERTO RICO VLOGCoco Foveau takes us behind the scenes as she heads to Puerto Rico to compete at the World Wave Tour 4 Star event. Follow her journey alongside her boyfriend Morgan Noireaux as Coco travels in luxury while poor Morgan has take the board bags the long way around!Coco says: Very first vlog outside of Guadeloupe ! Very happy to continue my routine. On top of that, it is my very first time in Puerto Rico and compared to the others trips I have done, this one was pretty easy to do in a comfort incredible ahah. Thank you St Barth Executive. .The post COCO FOVEAU: PUERTO RICO VLOG appeared first on Windsurf Magazine.

April 2025 ISSUE 82 CONTENTSALSO AVAILABLE ON JOOMAG AS A DOWNLOADABLE PDF: https://joom.ag/zVMdA chat with Ray Goodwin MBEBy Peter TranterSafety training at sea with the dredger RioBy Dimitri VandepoeleKayaking safety the power of counting lemonsBy Del ClareBig smiles on surf kayakingBy Simon HammondA chat with Ben HaylettBy Peter TranterPaddle UK event calendar Calendar of events for the Spring of 2025Fancy a paddling city break?Top urban places to paddleClub welcomes surge in paracanoe interestAddlestone Canoe ClubBig Paddle Cleanup campaignPaddle UK launches crowdfunder#SheCoaches survey launchedShare your experiences in coaching and leadershipA chat with Grayson BourneBy Peter TranterChasing the mid-winter sunBy Nicole JacksonConquering Mount Kailashs riversBy Guy BakerA canoeing classic the Rannoch crossingBy Emy McLeodManaging mental health during paddlesport activitiesBy Cory JonesReviews:Silverbirch Broadland kevlar canoeBy Ray GoodwinReed Aquatherm spray deckBy Philip CleggPaddling books to be published April/MayBy Bloomsbury PublishingPalm Fidlock phone caseBy Dale MearsC Monsta Mini Split BagBy Jo MoseleyWaterhaul 52-litre adventure kit boxBy Jo MoseleyHelly Hansen Mens Varde fleece 1/2 Zip 2.0By Peter TranterCover: Ray Goodwin on the River SpeyPhoto: Ray GoodwinAdditional thanks to: Jo Moseley, Philip Clegg, Dale Mears, David Bain, Axel Schoevers, Jack Lowe, Ray Mears, Jean-Marc Rhys, Bernine Deramoudt, Johan Deramoudt, Jack Grace, Trevor Wilson, Matt Brook, Jamie Greenhalgh, Tom Clare, Keiran Hammond, Pete Astles, Peak PS, Sven Tosch, Archer McLeay, Lucas Quintero, Chris Jones,The International magazine for recreational paddlersFREE TICKETS TO THE TRAILER BOAT AND WATERCRAFT SHOW. CODE: PADD25Download the full magazine in PDF format for free:

Download the FREE PDF edition of the Paddler Magazinehttps://joom.ag/zVMdAlso available to purchase in perfect-bound and high-quality glossy print https://paddlerezine.com/printed-subs/

Interview: Peter TranterPhotos: Ray Goodwin, David Bain, Axel Schoevers, Jack Lowe & Ray MearsA chat with Ray Goodwin MBEWe first interviewed Ray over six years ago, in issue 48 (https://paddlerezine.com/an-interview-with-ray-goodwin-mbe/), shortly after he received his MBE for services to canoeing. Before and since that interview, Ray has been a prolific contributor to the Paddler magazine with invaluable coaching advice and accounts of where he has been canoeing across the globe. With those contributions, Ray has helped to inspire so many other paddlers through his books, coaching, talks, and YouTube videos. So, once again, please take it away Ray Please remind us, and for those who will not know, how you started in a very successful paddling career.I first worked as an instructor back in 72 and then later became a teacher. Then, I took a year off to travel and climb. Back in the UK, I experienced real failure and the dashing of a dream. I was very much a climber and had applied to join the British Antarctic Survey. It was a two-and-a-half-year contract. I got an interview but failed to get the post. All of a sudden, I needed a job. I had contacts with an outdoor centre in North Wales (Plas yr Antur), and the boss offered me work as an instructor. Even then, I saw myself as a climber, but most of my colleagues were sea and WW kayakers as well as mountain folk.They got fed up with me taking them out on wet climbs on rainy days: I had been choosing climbs for wet days that had a reputation for being damp, so a bit of rain made no difference in my mind. Anyway, I soon got dragged into kayaking on the sea and rivers. I had a big reputation for swimming down rapids, and it took a while before I started staying in my boat. Eventually, I paddled in the Alps and even made a Grand Canyon trip.Weve seen your WW kayaking photos; when and why the change to open canoeing?I am currently wading through piles of slides, so some sea kayaking ones will also turn up. I loved sea kayaking as I could just put the boat on the roof of the car and set off on amazing solo adventures: some bloody sneaky ones at that.The centre where I worked had a canoe, and we were all keen to play with it. Loel Collins was a decent canoeist and an exceptional kayaker and gave me my first actual instruction and a lot of fun. We were running a lot of class 5 in a kayak then, and I reasoned anything I would take a canoe down would be far safer, and I could always swim to the side (in the middle of the Irish Sea, this thought seemed very naive. There were a couple of brilliant outings with Loel, and some of the upsets were so funny. I remember laughing so much; it hurt. At the same time, I started reading as much as possible about canoes, including Bill Masons books on technique. It was very much like climbing, which had literature and history, and that inspired me.Of all your travels which have you enjoyed the most?Do you have a favourite child?Thank goodness I have only one, so that is easy to answer. Now, trips are a different thing. Fresh in my mind is the Porcupine River in Saskatchewan. It was challenging and remote, and I knew it would be the last of that type I would paddle and portage.But I loved Algonquin with Maya (my daughter). To share the wilderness with her was amazing. I have fond memories of travelling in Western Sudan and climbing a remote mountain there: the people were amazing, and oddly enough, I really like desert-like landscapes. Hence, I loved the Big Bend of the Rio Grande. I cant forget the wonderful River Spey.I have done it so many times and loved it so much.How do canoeing and exploration give you satisfaction?I love the dance in the canoe. There is a beauty and satisfaction in the movement.Exploration:well, the bigger, the better. What is around the next bend? What is over the horizon? I think the need to explore is hard-wired into our DNA. Our ancestors spread out from one spot in Africa to fill the world (for good or bad).An expedition has a purpose, which is often simple in concept and a real contrast to our everyday lives. There is an oddity, and I warn the client about this on our Canadian trips; having travelled with purpose, the endpoint can be an anticlimax and filtering back into the modern world can be harsh, even depressing.Do you have any overseas canoeing journeys lined up?Sadly no. I can still travel to Canada as long as there are no real portages. Insurance is now a problem with age and heart issues.What canoe and equipment are you currently using?Paddles by Freebird. Love their stuff. NRS has been so good with drysuits and more. Then into canoes: I still love my Venture Afon, the big blue beast. It is excellent as a tandem boat and will take a battering. However, my favourite is the Silverbirch Broadland in Kevlar. I can pick it up from the ground, throw it on my shoulders, and believe I am 20 years younger. It moves beautifully and is light. That is transformational.What is the most significant accomplishment in your career?Two things I would list. First, the circumnavigation of Wales by canoe back in 1992. It changed peoples perception of what a canoe could do, all down to Robert Egelstaffs original concept of the circumnavigation of Wales. Once we started discussing the idea, with a liberal helping of wine and whisky, we changed from doing the coast in sea kayak to doing the whole thing in canoe. That was some trip. I think it helped change peoples perception of what a canoe was capable of in skilled hands. Strangely, we managed to get on with fishermen on our ascent of the Afon Dyfrdwy (River Dee), and with one exception, kayakers either openly mocked us for being in a canoe or were dismissive. Canoes were seen as something used by people who couldnt kayak.The second is helping to inspire so many other people through my book, coaching, talks, and videos.You run a very successful YouTube channel on your canoeing exploits how did that come about?I have always enjoyed talking and writing about technique and my trips, so moving to video was obvious. Covid helped as I had masses of spare time and a small reservoir 350 metres from our isolated house. I could take the time to learn how to use Final Cut Pro and start the process. Dont get the idea that I am a tech genius, I struggled to learn this stuff. I have often described myself as a stubborn bastard learner. If I have an objective I truly want, I will work hard for it. I have had a lot of highly supportive comments and conversations.It makes no sense financially as the returns are so low, but some help via buymeacoffe.com. It gives me a sense of purpose.When canoeing as a duo, what attributes do you look for in a fellow paddler?Someone who shares my objectives on a trip. The style, the speed, the ethics. Having that shared purpose gets rid of a lot of rub points. The objective can be as simple as sharing a gentle trip to crossing Scotland in a single day.Which gives you the most pleasure WW canoeing or flat water?Depends on the day.It is hard to beat the mirror calm of a lake in the early morning light.There is also a great joy in making moves down a rapid, interacting with the changes in current. It is a dance.Youre no spring chicken, and you have publicised your health conditions on knees and heart; how are you trying to improve your physical condition? Does having a teenage daughter help?In my seventies, age has finally caught up with me. In response to one of my questions, my doctor said, Are you surprised? It still makes me smile. This body is not going to have a good second-hand value.I am going to the gym twice a week for a workout. Im trying to do some walking, but my knees and heart make it harder. Having Maya, if anything, makes it harder as I wanted to do trips with her to the mountains and the like.Not possible now. Paddling is fine if I dont have big portages, but I still can do distance.Maya says she encourages me out on walks. Mind once we are out, she talks at/to me the whole time, and I am too slow to get away (which she likes).Do you prefer solo or tandem canoeing?Tandem but only with my daughter (Maya made me type this). I love both and wouldnt choose between them. With a good bow paddler, it is wonderful and becomes a dance, and you can really push distance. I love the quiet times when I am solo, as well as the movement.Do you have an eco-message for fellow paddlers?Not really because so much has changed in our understanding in recent years. Having had all those years where air travel and the like were not a spoken-of issue, things are different now, and folk will have to deal with the philosophy of what they are doing environmentally. And where in the world would that favourite place be?In a kayak, the Grand Canyon of Colorado.In a canoe, anywhere in Canadas Boreal Forest.If you could capture just one feel good moment in your time paddling which would it be and why?Paddling in Algonquin with my daughter and wife.I already knew, as should we all, that time is limited when we can do these things.Im so glad I did that trip with Maya.Whats the best way to improve paddling skills?Doing it. Doing it with purpose. Doing it well all the time. If you aspire to always paddle well, then when you are tired, under pressure, or frightened, you will continue to paddle well because your body knows no other way. That is fundamental to my approach to paddling.Of the many canoeing/bushcraft expeditions youve undertaken, which has been the toughest and why?The circumnavigation of Wales in a canoe was relentless, and we averaged some 32 miles per day for 18 days. We had some brutal days, with the crossing from Tywyn to Tudwal Island standing out because the wind forecast was out. I have a picture of me in total exhaustion, physically and mentally, slumped on the Tudwals.Whats the one favourite piece of camping kit you couldnt do without?A good tarp. A lightweight one for my personal space around my tent. A larger one (Aiguille) for group use and improvised sailing.You look a very happy and contented man whats the secret to your good feeling?Looks can be deceiving. I do have a habit, though, of putting things behind me and accepting them. I look forward to what I am going to do. I love where I live and love my family.Whats it like being a new owner of kittens?I am not the owner; Maya is. After an initial reluctance, I have enjoyed having them around the house. Mayas being away for a few days has allowed the kittens and me to bond.What would be your ultimate achievement?That I have inspired other people. Whats next for you?More videos, several Scottish trips, one of which really excites me.Whats your favourite UK location for paddling?Any of the islands on the west coast of Scotland. I was so privileged to sea kayak guide there for many years. But then, I can still imagine paddling the Spey for many years to come.Quickfire questions:If your canoe had a name, what would it be?The canoe must decide on its name.Whats The strangest thing youve been floating in the water?Not the strangest, but the most surprising. Off a Scottish island, in a sea kayak, I spotted two fins flopping about in the water.I paddled across to have a look. I looked down to see the biggest, open mouth I had ever seen. I was very quickly elsewhere. Then I stopped and called myself a stupid It was my first encounter with a basking shark. Ever since, I have relished these encounters, but that first one was a complete shock. If you could only paddle to the beat of one song, what song do you choose?Lose Yourself by Eminem the chorus rather than the song as a whole. Maybe not the beat but the idea of seizing the moment, and maybe it is the one chance.What essential gear do you always bring?A spare paddle. Its so easy to drop one, and the spare saves the embarrassment.If your canoe could talk, what would it say about your paddling skills?Mind the bloody stern! on ledgy rivers canoes have a habit of smacking the stern down on the lip with a loud crack.Other than that, I think the canoe is happy with me.If you could only bring three items on a canoe trip what would they be?If it were paddling kit, it would be one of my wooden paddles from Freebird, a buoyancy aid because I am such a crap swimmer, and my GoPro to tell the story. For the shore, it would be a tarp (I cant live comfortably without one), a good sleeping bag and, most importantly, dry socks. Life still has pleasures if you can have warm, dry feet.Whats the oddest snack youve ever eaten while paddling?Deep-fried, rehydrated vegetables!For a thirteen-day trip, a Canadian outfitter provided us with a poor selection of food, but we had a mass of batter mix and fat for frying fish.We were terrible at catching fish and desperate for anything different to eat, so we tried battering and deep frying cereal bars and then, in desperation, rehydrated veg.It was not particularly successful.Whats the strangest thing youve ever tried to transport in a canoe?Various rocks and bits of timber for the house and garden.Paddling a canoe, I have often volunteered to transport treasures.Whats your most unusual canoeing ritual or superstition?Scouter starts on the river! Boat pointed up into the current or up eddy. Then, with one foot in the canoe, shove off quickly and hard to get the speed and angle for the first move. If I know I have an audience, I avoid picking up the paddle until the arc is well underway. Mind, I will do this even if no one else is around. It makes me smile and even giggle with a particularly good one. PS I dont do this when I am frightened.Whats the ultimate canoeing superpower you wish you had?Ankles and legs that still worked after hours in the boat.If you could only speak in canoe-related puns for a day, what would be your best one?No canoe puns, but did you hear about the Greenland kayaker who suffered from cold feet?He took to paddling with a blubber candle between his feet.One day, the candle toppled over in a storm, burning a hole in the kayak. The kayaker drowned, which gave rise to that well-known saying, You cant have your kayak and heat it.Finally, any shoutouts?To all of those I have paddled with over the years, to Venture and now Silverbirch for their support over the last years.I love my Freebird Paddles and, of course, NRS. And a big thank you to my so supportive and long suffering wife, Lina.

Words:Dimitri VandepoeleNORTHSEAKAYAKPhotos:Jean-Marc Rhys,Bernine &Johan DeramoudtWe thank Bernine, Johan, and Jean-Marc for the splendid pictures. They were at the right place at the right time. The same goes for team member Sylvie, who has to do the extra job while performing rescues.Safety training with the dredger RioYou know who we are? We are sea kayakers, deeply interested in and specialised in everything related to safety within the sport. And we go very far in this, putting ourselves in specific situations or places. Do you know the RIO and its crew? The Rio is a Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (T.S.H.D.) with a length of 82.35 metres, a draught of 6.2 metres and a professional, super enthusiastic crew.The ship is a monster compared to us in our tiny kayaks. We have already done several exercises and safety drills with Captain Ruben and his crew. We love to mention the series on Rescue Exercises (four parts, including one with the RIO) in previous editions of The Paddler (https://paddlerezine.com/dimitris-rescue1). By this time, we have conducted even more exercises with similar ships: the DC BRUGGE with Captain Stefan and his crew and the SCALD with Captain Ward and his crew.We must point out the mutual respect between us and professional shipping to understand how we got to this cooperation, which is unseen and unheard of. We know these people carry very high safety standards and must train (mandatory) themselves in different onboard safety aspects. On the other hand, they know that we arent lost tourists and that we train continuously on safety drills. We can tell you the following to answer a question we get a lot of, How do you come to these cooperations? We already have a No! for an answer; we can only get a Yes! So we dare to ask, straight to the point, without caring what people might or might not think of us.The answer is, in most cases, surprisingly positive. By now, we have a lot to show professional crews about how we work. We are like sponges, listening and looking at them. And to our surprise, they do the same: listening and looking at us. We dare to ask the right questions, daring to ask ourselves how to improve our safety. We always ensure that it is a two-way story and that all parties gain by working together.Boarding a moving ship with low freeboard:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCZHWQF7sB0By now, we have made a video of every training we did, highlighting every piece of extra information that can improve the safety of sea kayakers. We will discuss our most recent activities. We emphasise that we carry out a thorough risk assessment before each exercise. We will only highlight the most important things. Although some things might look spectacular, we never do anything without reason or over-thinking twice. All exercises, with no exceptions, were reported in advance to our Coast Guard.We wanted to see if boarding a moving ship on open seas is possible, just as pilots do. This might prove the best way to board if you are still ambulatory and fully operational. We have watched numerous pilot-boarding videos before starting this. Maintaining speed during this is better than staying upright, and it is also better for avoiding drift (for the ship itself).This was also a perfect exercise regarding solid, clear communication. The Rio again agreed to our plans, and we decided to regroup after their offshore dredging activities. Like all our similar exercises, this hasnt been done before. Risk analysis; no risk of being pulled underneath the ship, no danger of being sucked into the props, and little/acceptable risk of capsize (with a positive outcome). The crew was ready and in place along the side since the captain would lose visual contact with me.Boarding a ship with high freeboard:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN07ydicAYESince the Rio was loaded, the freeboard was very low. This would not only benefit my extraction, but we would also try to extract my kayak simultaneously. If the freeboard is high, the kayak would be left (in a real emergency situation) behind. I had to attach my long tow line (waist mounted with emergency release) to the bow of my kayak. First, I had to find a ship working from behind my horizon. Check! Via VHF, we agreed on an exact course (90 due east) and speed.The Rio would slowly creep up on me, giving me (good) chills, as its like an apartment building coming from behind. The Rios speed was slightly higher than mine so I would have one chance of boarding. I threw my paddle on the lower deck when the Rio got next to me, grabbed the railing, and stepped from my cockpit on the Rio without fuss.The fastest way of boardingMy kayak was swiftly pulled aboard while the Rio accelerated to its normal operational speed. Although this looks/sounds very spectacular, everything worked out smoothly with not a single problem. This proved the fastest way of boarding. After securing my kayak, I got a hot coffee and a splendid view from the bridge. I left the Rio NSK-style by jumping off right in front of the harbour entrance about an hour later.Although we love it when a plan comes together, what if the ship that moves in isnt loaden and/or has a very high freeboard? Thats where Captain Stefan, with his Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger DC BRUGGE crew, comes in! This time, I was accompanied by Sylvie and Hugo. The goal is simple: how to board safely and fast in an emergency, kayaks included! Stefan is the second captain who sympathises with this kind of exercise.Together, we came up with the idea of winching the kayaks by crane! After a thorough safety briefing in advance, we regrouped a few kilometres offshore. The ship circled to provide shelter against wind and waves, maintaining radio contact. Once in place, the pilot ladder was lowered. A specific detail we asked for was to lower the ladder below the surface. According to regulations, a pilot ladder must meet particular requirements, leaving the ladder entirely above the surface.This makes it hard, if not impossible, to climb it from the water level. We need at least a few steps below the surface in case of capsize. To maintain contact with our kayak at any time, we attached our long, waist-mounted tow line with emergency release to the stern of our kayak. We made the short tow line ready for winching. The crew lowered a heavy hook with the crane while the captain held oversight from the bridge. I boarded first to see if everything was clear and safe. After connecting the kayak to the hook, I stepped from the cockpit onto the pilot ladder. Once I was on deck, the winching of my kayak started.Because I attached my tow line to the stern, I could guide my kayak neatly, avoiding scratches or bumps. My kayak was placed out of the way, getting ready for the rest of my teams boarding. Sylvie and Hugo boarded the same way, and I placed myself on the pilot ladder to provide assistance. Within less than 15 minutes, the boarding was completed safely. A hot coffee and a nice chat later, we left the DC BRUGGE NSK-style and paddled back to shore.Boarding a ship with high freeboard lifeboat:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiqAvu2osE8Suction pipeIn case you havent noticed, every T.S.H.D. has a lifeboat ready to deploy. We already have done an exercise with such a lifeboat. Captain Ward from the dredger SCALD arrived at the scene, and our discussion was breathtaking. All these ships also can lower their suction pipe with a drag head in almost no time. Since Captain Ward was aware of all the different trainings we had done, we devised a very unconventional proposal. Also, it has never been done before! Captain Ward and his crew would lower the pipe, allowing us to see if it would be possible to board.The sea was calm, which was perfect to test things out. What an opportunity! My team included Bo and Hugo. I asked them to stay out of the way until we were sure this would work out. We had a thorough safety briefing prior to the exercise. Although I felt the blood pumping through my veins, there were no moving parts where I could get stuck. The pipe/drag head goes up and down, thats it. It just looks and feels very intimidating. I could instruct the depth of the drag head to my wishes. After a few adjustments, I could climb swiftly and safely onto the drag head.Once I was there, we tried the possibility of winching my kayak with me. I had a good look around for options. To our great surprise, I could shift my kayak over the top of the drag head. This part is covered with rubber inserts, making it perfect to avoid any scratches or damage to the hull of my boat. Once in place, my kayak rested on the pipes and the drag head, with no risk of falling off during the winching. It was just like it was made for winching kayaks instead of dredging the seabed, no kidding! I was winched with my kayak, and with the crews help, I could transfer myself and my kayak onboard the SCALD.Once my kayak was secured, I went back to help my team. Bo and Hugo were brought onboard in the same safe and swift way. Its all about using common sense and not letting fear overrule you. Its intimidating, we can tell you this. But its also safe and lifesaving in a situation of real distress. Captain Ward also told us that he would flood all ballast tanks to lower the freeboard in an actual situation.This can happen in less than 20 minutes and can be done whilst underway to the scene. We also got an explanation on the pipes and drag head. The captain showed us that the one and only moving part on the drag head is out of the way for such an emergency boarding and that this specific part only moves when touching the seabed upon dredging. So for the readers who still think we and the crew are mad We arent!Everything is given thought, second thought and sometimes more before beginning such scenarios. What do we get out of this? We can share insights with other sea kayakers and even other shipping. If your life depends on it, how you are helped does it matter? As long as it is safe, that is the only thing that really matters.It has been done before on open sea, but a general repetition to improve cooperation between the dredger crew and ourselves.Recently, we got the invite. They are called orders (laughs) from Captain Ruben and his RIO crew.The ship was waiting for the next assignment and was moored at the sand extraction site in the back of the harbour. The perfect opportunity for a full scenario in a controlled environment, followed by a load of different drills.Waiting to launchWe arrived at the harbour just before sunrise and paddled towards the dredger RIO. The full crew, under the supervision of Captain Ruben, was awaiting us; the lifeboat and the crane were waiting to launch; the pilot ladder was lowered. Since we wanted to board from the water, we asked for the pilot ladder to be lowered (see previous chapter). Since the ship was empty and the freeboard immense, the ladder was already deployed at full length. You cant see it in the video, but the crew did what they would do in an actual situation; the ballast tanks were partially flooded until the pilot ladder was a few steps below the waterline. Perfect for us!Boarding a ship with high freeboard unconventional:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LRT0hG9jj4Exhausted and hypothermic victimWe started with the scenario first! Sylvie and Hugo stayed in their kayaks. Hugo played an exhausted and hypothermic victim who had just capsized. Sylvie performed a swift scoop rescue and formed a raft with a carabiner hook. We train on this often, and the carabiner hook ensures that the raft is solid and that the rescuer has their hands free for other tasks. Sylvie pulled her ODEO distress flare, which was the sign that the RIO crew would rush in.The lifeboat was lowered into the water with the onboard crane. Upon arrival at the scene, Sylvie informed the crew; they immediately took over Hugo (victim) and placed him on the built-in stretcher in the lifeboat. Sylvie also climbed on board, and the kayaks were left behind like in a distress situation. We (imaginary) informed the Coast Guard of the rescue and the kayaks that were left behind. Once the lifeboat was brought on board the mothership RIO, Hugo was treated indoors against further hypothermia while awaiting the Coast Guards arrivalAs this wasnt our first time doing this, everything worked out smoothly. We decided to move on with further rescue drills. The captain even wore his survival suit to participate in the training. The crew operating the lifeboat switched, so everyone got to work together. We trained on bringing casualties on board in different settings (ambulatory versus unconscious) and looked for the best way to exit and board the RHIB lifeboat as a rescuer. We could exchange experiences firsthand; Michel, the helmsman, is a safety instructor. We looked into important differences between the lifeguard and high altitude jump. These are two different techniques, each serving another purpose.With the lifeguard jump, you jump from the side, from a RHIB or something that is not high. Legs are scissor-like, and arms are wide open, breaking the impact on the surface. This ensures that the face stays above the surface, maintaining eye contact with the casualty or overseeing the situation. This is a jump we often perform when training with the Coast Guard (IKWV) during the summer months. When exiting bigger ships, we frequently jump from a higher altitude.If we used the lifeguard jump there, we could easily get injured as the impact on the surface would be greater. Therefore, we developed an existing technique from combat or rescue divers from the military or Coast Guard. It is also commonly used when jumping from higher cliffs or rocks during coasteering activities. We will bring our legs together, stretched and preferably crossed (one foot over the other), and we will keep one hand over our nose (closing the nose avoids water insertion) whilst our PFD is tucked underneath the same arm. With the other hand, we keep hold of our helmets. This way, everything stays in place on impact, avoiding injuries.Before jumping (no matter the height), we will always ensure that there are no obstructions below the surface and that we have enough depth. When in doubt, there is no doubt: dont jump! We ended with the highest jump from the pipe connection on top of the ships bow. According to the captain, it is about seven metres.We truly hope that we will never need any of these techniques. But if we do, we are prepared to contain a distress situation to the best of our ability. In case the Coast Guard isnt the first to arrive, we know how professional shipping will help us. We will know how to board big ships, and we will have created options for our own safety.We have climbed (sometimes literally) the safety ladder and specialised ourselves in this matter. We can not be grateful enough to the people who believe in us, the crews and captains of those ships, and who want to train consistently on every occasion with us. Ruben, Stefan, Ward, and your enthusiastic, super and over-the-top motivated crews!Thank you!