Beadnell Bay 21st/22nd October 2000

A fantastic time was had by the small band of enthusiastic women who made the journey to the beautiful Northumberland coast. This year we stayed at Ali and Lynn’s B&B at Seahouses, just 5 minutes down the road from Beadnell, (we were cosseted and spoilt all weekend). On Saturday the wind was blowing from the beach, quite light but gusty in places, with quite a swell running on the outside of the bay, and across the middle where the rocks lurk to cause breaking waves. We all had a really good sail, not coming off the water until after 4 o’clock. Ali organised a figure of eight racing course, so Caroline, Sarah, Marion and me (Lesley) could have a fun race, then she couldn’t resist joining in herself, three races later we called it a day (a great day), not before Caroline hurled herself off her board in a valiant effort to beat me over the finish line.(Sorry Caroline you missed!) We ate out in Seahouses on Saturday night, too much, drank in the stars on the walk home (frosty night) and had a wonderful nights sleep, ready for Sunday. Sunday, the sun rose majestically out of the sea, it was worth getting out of bed to see it, it looked as if the sea was bubbling around it. It was a beautiful morning, we had a fabulous breakfast, thank you Lynne, and went for a walk along the cliffs and admired the views across to the Farne Isles. The wind was blowing, the sun was shining, the sky was blue, but it was cold, was I turning wimpish? We returned to Beadnell, the wind was now on shore and really blowing! We all ran around rigging frantically, not quite believing it was really that windy. That’s my excuse for rigging my 6.5 for my Screamer, I soon found out I was wrong. (Once across the bay and back, hooked in and hanging on for grim death, whoops!) Marion decided to sit this one out, as did Libby, Sarah tackled the waves with gusto on her 6.5, as did Caroline. Where was Ali, a dot in the distance, well powered up on a 6.5, no wonder we struggled. Deciding not to struggle on and risk further injury (long story), I decided to change down (very wise), to my 5.8, still well powered up and at times overpowered, but I did enjoy myself well battered and bruised. Beadnell wouldn’t be Beadnell without a Women Windsurfers Rescue….. While I was re rigging, two men strolled onto the beach with a sailing boat, spent half an hour trying to launch, when they eventually did set sail they sailed straight out of the bay, tried to tack and ended up on the rocks (big Whoops). Caroline, Ali and Sarah to the rescue, sorry I didn’t fancy the climb over the rocks. They managed to disentangle the sails from the scaffolding which is holding the harbour walls up, and enabled them to get back into the safety of the harbour, so they were blown back to the shore. They didn’t hang around for long. All in All a fabulous weekend was had by all. I’m looking forward to next year already.