The Man Who Windsurfed to Lundy

You never know who you’ll meet on Lundy!

The thing that I enjoy most about working in the Marisco Tavern, is that you never know, who will walk through the door next.

One recent afternoon, a cheerful chap arrived at the Marisco Tavern to pay his landing fee. When I asked him to fill the ‘boat log book’ in. he said. “I didn’t come by boat, I windsurfed from Westward Ho!”

His name – Henry Cartwright. He is a long distance windsurfer.

I must admit, I was a little taken aback. During my time on Lundy I’ve known kayakers, yachts, motorboats, RIBs and even jet skis arrive on the island, but never a windsurfer. Rather than the 6-7 hours it might take on a kayack, it took Henry 2 hours 50minutes, that’s just an hour less than the MS Oldenberg takes! I had visions of him landing on the Landing Beach but no, only an extreme windsurfer would land in Devils Kitchen!

You can watch Henry’s sail to Lundy on his Youtube channel. it is a great watch.

I believe Lundy has been reached before by a windsurfer, but Henry only stopped off as he was actually going to Wales. After one night, intending to sleep under the stars, Henry set sail to his final destination, Tenby in South Wales.

Little did I know that our short conversation would unlock a whole collection of memories, some of which I’d almost forgotten.

A familiar town

The first connection was his departure beach – Westward Ho! He left here on a mission to windsurf to Wales.

Living in North Devon, I know Westward Ho! well. It’s the only place in the UK, that has an exclamation mark in its name. I sometimes swim in the sea pool there and you can take long beach walks. But, if I’m honest, it has one of the best cream tea shops in North Devon – Tea on the Green.

I’d never imagined someone setting off from Westward Ho’s! pebble ridge, with nothing but a board, a sail and the Bristol channel, between them and Lundy.

Then Harry mentioned where he lived – Hayling Island.

Back to the 1980s

Suddenly I was transported back to the late 1980’s. At the time I was working for IBM in Portsmouth (I was reminded of this job, in one of my previous post). I rented a room, in a shared house. My Landlord was passionate about windsurfing and before long, he had persuaded me to give windsurfing a go. So launching from Hayling Island beach (known as the birthplace of Windsurfing), I clung to a pole whilst the wind filled the sail. I can remember managing to catch some wind, but I don’t remember being very good at it.

It wasn’t something I’d thought about for years, yet all it took was one conversation in the Marisco Tavern, for those memories to come flooding back.

Cowes, racing yachts and shattered expectations

As we chatted, I noticed he was wearing a Navy coloured Cowes sailing T-shirt.

That opened another thought. back In the 80’s working for IBM, I was invited to take part in a sailing event during Cowes Regatta Week. I’d imagined a gentle day gliding around the Solent with plenty of time to admire the scenery. How wrong I was.

It turned out to be a proper large racing yacht. There was constant shouting, frantic sail changes and far more tacking and gybing than relaxing. My vision of a leisurely sail with a gin and tonic in hand disappeared within minutes!

It was exhilarating, but definitely not the peaceful day afloat I’d expected.

The voyage that never reached France

Water seems to feature a lot in my life. Much later in 2016, I found myself back on the water again, this time aboard a ship with a group of students from Petroc college (another previous workplace). It was part of the Rhona Sailing Project – a brilliant project, giving young people the experiences of a lifetime. I was to be an adult in charge.

Based on previous trips by the college, I thought we would be sailing to France. I was so convinced that this would be our destination, I’d even been to the bank and bought Euros before we left. We were driven on a coach from North Devon to the Hamble river, near Southampton, where we boarded the sailing yachts.

The reality turned out rather differently. Instead of crossing the Channel, the fact that we only had one Captain, meant that our yacht, could only hug the South West coastline. After several days at sea we finally arrived… back in Devon at Brixham Harbour! We then sailed the return journey, back to Southampton to board the coach back to Devon! Two circular trips in one week.

The students were rather seasick. I, however, discovered that I rather enjoyed life at sea. Perhaps it was that voyage where I first found my sea legs, something that has certainly proved useful on the many crossings to Lundy aboard the Oldenburg.

I even came home with a yachting certificate!

The conversations that stay with you

It’s funny how one chance encounter can reconnect you with parts of your own life.

So the man who had windsurfed from Westward Ho! reminded me of Hayling Island, IBM, Cowes Week, Petroc students, unexpected adventures and the many ways the sea has woven itself through my life. Including coming to live on the Island

Perhaps that’s one of the reasons I enjoy living and working on Lundy. People arrive here every day with their own stories.

Sometimes, without even realising it, they help you remember your own.

Acknowledgement

Thanks to Henry Cartwright for the photos. Henry is currently editing a video of his trip which will be aired on his Youtube Channel