So long, and thanks for all the sotong.

“So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish”. This famous quote from the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is the message left by the dolphins when they departed Planet Earth just before it was demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass. Well after 3 years in Singapore it's time for me to return to the UK, reflect on my windsurfing in Singapore say so long, and thanks for all the sotong.

Here and there comparisons.

It's hot here.
Well temperature has got to be the obvious one. It’s great being able to sail in Singapore in just board shorts. Back at my home beach in the UK average water temperature is 11ºC, varying between 7 & 15 depending on the season. Looking at this from Singapore with it’s average 29°C sea temperature is a frightening prospect; and it would be a show stopper were it not for the wonderful invention of neoprene. For those of you unfamiliar with modern wetsuits they are highly effective; and you don’t really feel cold if you chose the right suit for the conditions, and they are so flexible they don’t inhibit your movements at all and actually help with a bit of impact protection. Body extremities are the problem in winter; “ice cream” head & hands if either the air or the water is below 10°C, and extra protection never really fully overcomes it. But actually whilst I’d prefer not to wear a suit it’s not such a big downside; the worst aspect is having to come ashore to take a leak!

It's calm here.
The sea in Singapore is flat calm. Yes I know you think it’s rough during monsoon or a squall, but that’s just gutless chop. But a benign sea is not a bad thing, for a start it’s great for beginners. 4 years ago I did a week in the Red Sea with windsurfing guru Jem Hall, and he stressed the importance of doing slow speed practice to help crack manoeuvres like the carve gybe. I never did my light wind homework in the UK; partly because at my UK home beach the sea is rough and tidal even when the wind is light. The flat, warm and often current-less seas in Singapore are great for light wind practice and also no anxious moments in the shore break when a mistake can be a costly kit wrecker. Lots of light wind practice in Singapore has helped me finally nail those gybes!

There lots of other sailors here.
I live in a fairly remote area of the UK. If I stuck to the “never sail alone” rule in the UK I’d rarely go out. Most often I’m not just the only windsurfer out but the only craft of any description. Alone in a big sea definitely increases the adrenaline, and whilst I’ve never needed assistance it's great in Singapore knowing there are others around.

Flotsam & Jetsam.
Timber, fish crates, ropes, net, weed, dead cats, oil, kite surf boards... where does all the crap floating in the sea off Singapore come from?. Changi beach is worse; always a bit kan cheong when doing warp speed in a good NE blow.

Re-learn how to uphaul.
Most used sail size: UK 5.8-7m. Singapore SW (WVEC) 8.5-10m, NE (Changi) 7 - 7.8m. My view on is a big and what is a small sail has shifted upwards by 2m in the last 3 years.

Last & First.
My last weekend in the UK gave me 2 memorable days sailing. Bright sunshine and a strong on-shore wind (5.2m sail). Getting out through the white water was a challenge, and several times I was washed back up the sandy beach in a heap. But once on the outside it was balls out blasting fully perpendicular to the wave direction. Great. Occasionally I’d find myself on the top of a big breaking wave and so steer just off the wind to drop down the 2 metre+ wave face. Not really wave riding but scary enough for me. Waterstarting was pretty traumatic in the breaking waves as half the time I was recovering/positioning the rig it seemed like I was fully submerged.

Back at shore I rolled up my 5.2m ready to be packed for shipping to Singapore. That was 3 years ago; I haven’t used it since.

Fast forward 2 months from my last UK sail and I’ve just unpacked my container, recovered my gear and headed down to the East Coast for my first sail. When I arrive it’s bright sunshine, white caps and lots and lots of sails blasting about! I go out fully/overpowered on my 8.5m sail for a great blasting session. It’s so easy! No shore break, just minor chop and easy waterstarts and I sail all afternoon rather than crawling ashore exhausted after 2 hours like back in the UK. A great session and I thought I’d landed in blasting paradise. But eventually I learned that I’d hit it lucky first time and all day wind on a Sunday is a pretty rare beast. Not had a surplus of days like that since, and the only times I’ve crawled ashore exhausted like back in the UK have been during NE monsoon off Changi beach.

Most memorable sail.
Christmas Eve 2010 Changi beach. The wind got more and more with an approaching storm until I was fully maxed out and struggling to hold it all down. Then the heavy rain started for the extra thrill of warp speed in near zero viz until the rain finally killed the wind.

Final word - Brush with the law.
January 2010, Changi Beach in a good NE blow. I head out for one last reach before setting off home. When I get well offshore a Marine Police boat appears in front of me with blue light flashing. Thinking I’ve gone too far or something, I try a gybe to head back in. But I fluff it, and end up doing a waterstart. Just as I’m back on the board I hear the police shouting ...so it seems they wanted to talk to me... but what the hell I just go anyway and blast back to shore at speed. They chase me in but it’s low water so they can’t get in too close, but hang around off the beach being buzzed by nonchalant kiters.
So I’ll never know what they wanted. I know my blasting stance is bad, but I didn’t think it was criminal.