A Real Good Demo…

Posted on 13 August, 2014 Neil Greentree

As you ‘should’ all know by now, we at Quayside Windsurfers and Severneshop.com are reknown for our willingness to properlt demo windsurf kit to our customers old and new and this week has been no exception. Caspar contacted me over last weekend wanting advice on new skool kit as he was well into windsurfing ‘back in the day’ but left the sport for 20 years to pursue other things. He was up visiting family and wanted to get back into our sport as he used to visit Tarifa and other top spots around the world to sail.

I met up with him Sunday and we sorted him out a full quiver of Severne sails (S-1′s), masts and an Enigma Boom to top it all off. The only problem was he was torn between 2 boards we had – a Fanatic Freewave 105 and a Thommen FreeX 105. Now as you know the team riders are detailed with being honest with all our customers which put in in a fix! I use Fanatic Freewave boards and love them but openly say I consider Thommen boards to be the best in the world – Time for a Demo!!

We set of Hunstanton on a forecast of 20-26mph winds and sunshine. Caspar and Victoria (his wife) joined me in the team bus and we rigged up ready for him to have a go at the sport he hadn’t done for 20 years. I rigged my 5.6 S-1 and 96 Freewave Textreme, and Caspar his 5.0 S-1 and Fanatic Freewave 105 ( I wanted him to try the newskool feeling board first so as not to lure him into thinking new boards feel the same as old boards (Thommen do feel a little old skool). We headed for the low tide channel and the wind seemed good for our sail choices. Caspar set off a little wobbly (hardly surprising) but very soon was getting into the groove even trying my board and sail and getting round hi first gybe…..after 30 minutes!!

The speed strip out the back was showing and Caspar was doing really well so I decided to push him further and take the 1/2 mile walk over the sandbar to the strip as there would be more water to play in. It was hard work fighting the upwind trek but eventually we got to the spot and found the wind was much stronger there. I could easily have been on a 5.0 and 86ltr board so concern crept in for Caspar. I needn’t, he really got on well lovin our sweet spot in the wash and REALLY taking to my Textreme version of the Freewave 96. We were even greeted with coffee and donuts on our return by Victoria….fair play!

So in conclusion, the last few days have been good for Team QSW – great sailing with Steve and I on saturday at Wells, high wind sail at Hunny Monday, and then a great sail with Caspar on Tuesday and another comrade rejoins our army of windsurfers!! Welcome back Caspar.

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