SURF KAYAK: Far from swell as Jersey are becalmed

SURF KAYAK: Far from swell as Jersey are becalmed

That caused yesterday’s women’s individual high performance (HP) event to be postponed, and this morning another team managers’ meeting was held and it was decided there would be no competition today.Yesterday’s waves were only a couple of feet on the face and difficult to catch as the wind was a steady force five cross-shore.The men’s competition went ahead in the morning, although the start was delayed for 45 minutes as team managers and judges discussed whether the conditions were good enough for judging a world championship.Surfing in his longboat Team Jersey’s James Robertson impressed the judges and won his heat convincingly from HP star Leo Lekas of the USA.Stuart McGlinchey was on the water next, electing to take a risk and surf his short boat.

The shorter, more radical kayaks are more manoeuvrable but tend not to perform as well as the longer craft in certain conditions.

Although McGlinchey surfed well he placed third, ending his HP competition.Robert Hearne made the most of the conditions and took some good waves, placing second to go on to the next round, but by the time Paul Perchard paddled out, two hours later, conditions had worsened considerably.Not wanting to make the wrong boat choice he went out in his short kayak with the long one on the beach just in case.

In what was a very close heat he placed third.Last Jersey man on the water was Tim Rowe who decided, correctly, to compete in his long boat.

He surfed it well but placed fourth.As the swell forecast stands at the moment it is unlikely there will be any more heats until tomorrow at the earliest which means all the categories will become straight knock out competitions.

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