The week that was...

© Bruce Viaene

Coupla beautiful days of waves in the Eastern Cape last week. Friday and into the weekend was just peachy. The egg beaters timed it well and had their SA Champs at Magna's. Shot to East London surf photag Bruce Viaene for taking the win.

Friday was a really fun day in the bay - winds behaved themselves mostly and early birds got bit fat juicy worms, the lunch time crew got skunked, and then the early arvo takers struck it lucky before the inevitable Friday circus arrived. The weekend continued to deliver some good one's, so everyone should be starting the week surfed out.

You could play...

...but sometimes you had to pay © Robbie Irlam

You mighta been forgiven if you thought your eyes were deceiving you if were down at Hobie and you saw a windsurfer looking like it was floating on air. It was! Paul Wagstaff and the crew from Hi-Fli foils were having a demo day in PE. Pretty cool lil craft they have.

And the ou's were nice enough to snap a few shots of Millers whilst they were at the beach.

© Paul Wagstaff

With there being more south in the swell earlier in the week, a few brave souls decided to have a go at Smelly Creek cos it was dishing up some peaks in the light NW's. The devil winds blow straight offshore here. Merv and Deno get awarded bravery medals for taking on the suspect water quality.

© Mervyn Goddard

Turns out the dip in the sketchy water may well have had some consequences - Dennis was seen running around the Boardroom with a hoodie on all of the next day - so make your own call about the water quality and it's effect on your health!

With the cold water doing the rounds it's a good idea to go grab yourself a pip lid, so if you are wanting to get a hoodie, then go grab one from Dennis at the Boardroom - they selling em off cheap - cos the ou's are worried that Deno has taken a liking to wearing em at work!

The usual array of awesome sunrises and sunsets, and a fail. Turns out Monday morning moron-head got me last week and I led into the blog post with a shot titlds "Monday Morning" showing the sun setting behind the pier. So most definitely the evening not the morning - thanks to the ou's who politely pointed out the fail. 

© Thelma Nel

© Heather Nel

© Andrew Garai

Certain things inspire one to paddle faster than normal. Like sitting out alone in the line-up and suddenly spotting the flash of a big silver belly as it turns about 20m to your right. Quick scan reveals no other fins (which is what you want to see cos then it'll be a dolphin and some mates). Seeing nothing means hightail it outta there. Rather safe than sorry. Luckily after a few minutes standing on the beach scanning the water a single dolphin fin popped up. So straight back in the water.

The other thing that gets you paddling faster than you ever thought possible is having Big Dave (aka Dave Lippie) bearing down on you at a rate of notes! There's just a whole lot of momentum heading your way and it would be really kak luck to to be an involuntary speedbump!

Lippie © Petronel Posthumus

If you're planning on a some surf travel missions soon then grab yourself a Jiqs - the quickest easiest leash fix solution around - and better yet - invented by a Saffa. You can check out how it works here - Fix ya leash in a flash

If JBay has a special place in your heart then how about giving it pride of place on your wall. Local artists Martin Bakker has got a sale on some of his iconic JBay paintings, so a great time to pick up a piece of awesome artwork of your favourite spot. You can check out his paintings here - ​https://www.facebook.com/MartinBakkerArt/

PE local James Jones is scoring some tropical perfection over in Indo at the moment. Lucky man has timed his trip well and is hooking some epic surf.

Had enough of winter and wetsuits? Wanna score some tropical perfection of your own? Cooking swell gonna hit Maldives this coming weekend, so if you can literally drop-all-and-go-last-minute- mission then drop me a mail and can get you on the yacht for a super good price. Must be able to get to Maldives this Sat or Sunday. Guaranteed surf. 
kerry@sailshantaram.com

The rain forecast is more exciting than the swell forecast for this week - so let's hold thumbs it rains where it needs to. Just watch those ears in the water if you gonna surf during the downpours - expect some sketchy water quality as all the stormwater drains get flushed.

© Morne Cordon