04/09/2026
Good evening and welcome, to a brand new and improved Friday night and Weekend to come! Actually, I am lying regarding improved, should you be wanting the strong winds this weekend, as after a week of hi-winds it’s not looking quite as good for the next two days, but if you want dry and settled weather, then I might not be lying, unless they change the forecast. It’s just so friggin hard to know nowadays. Place your bets!
Today started off with a nasty incident down at Widewater. Not 100% sure exactly what happened but one of the kitesurfers (from Worthing) got into trouble with his kite and ended up on the rock groynes. The air ambulance was called but I believe they decided to take him off the beach by ambulance. Not that he was lucky but one poor chap that suffered a kite accident a few years back was precariously loaded onto an inshore lifeboat and taken back to the lifeboat station for his transfer to the ambulance, as it was deemed ‘too dangerous’ to carry him up the shingle! I’ve not heard anymore but sincerely hope that his injuries are not serious and easily fixable. The wind was not super high but it was incredibly gusty, as it had been all night (it did the turn off at around 10am).
We get around.. or rather we don’t, which is why we are retiring! We have that wish to ‘do it one more time’ before Grimmy the Reaper calls ‘Time’. Some of our customers are already out there ‘doing it’ and you wouldn’t believe one what chap found, whilst on his visit to Mauritius. Yes, a Surfladle sticker on one of the tourist signs! I can’t mention his name and pretty sure no one will recognise him, just in case the Mauritius Tourist Board should think that perhaps HE stuck it there.. which I’m sure he didn’t. Anyhow, I wonder how long ‘Surfladle’ will stay there for before someone notices it. Nice one Dan! (oh bu**er..)
What a complete change to our weather since the Bank Holiday. The strong winds that brought down the sign at the Big Church gathering last Friday have stuck around (we had so many overseas visitors drop into the shop over the three day weekend, who’d come to the UK especially for the event.. very sad) bringing very different weather. It’s gone from sublimely summer to angry autumn and it seems the poor old weather people are struggling, once again, to forecast what the weather will be for tomorrow (dry or wet would be useful) let alone a week ahead. Even the farmers, who seemingly have a direct line to the weather gods, are saying it’s difficult to plan anything, it’s more a case of ‘react’ on the day. The forecasters Guru’s are saying that the Super El Nino is responsible (it’s allegedly similar to the 1877 event that created a world famine, which apparently we, the British, exploited and caused the deaths of countless millions. I wonder who will exploit this one.. ) and this is likely to continue until at least February 2027, with very unsettled periods of weather heading our way, which I guess means storms. The last BIG storm, the hurricane of 1987, took place during a ‘double dip’ rare 3-year cycle of El Nino, so keep your fingers crossed it’s not that bad.. or worse. If you fancy a slightly depressing read have a look at this.. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp931m8n3p5o
The Government is currently suggesting that every household should be stockpiling food, so we at least have something to eat while they try to rescue us. The reassuring thing is.. they are going to gather the relevant information and have a think about it. Well, I’ve just thought about it and think it must be time for the weekends weather outlook..
Saturday, the wind will be Nor’West’West 7-12kt during the morning and then at around 13.00hrs or 1.00pm if you prefer, possibly on a sea breeze-based forecast, it will back Sou’West 13-17kt re. Guru or 9kt re. the Met, for the rest of the day. No rain is expected to drop by and air temps should be around 20°C, which is just 1°C above the current sea temperature. Tide is High at 17.55hrs on a 5m neap (Low is at 11.44am). Not much sand for the dogwalkers (would like to catch the person who is not cleaning up their dogs ‘droppings’ at my favourite rigging up spot.. it’s dreadful) and it does not help with paddling tidal rivers, which all of our local ones are. I’m sure you will be able to find something to do.
Sunday, all change please, as the wind is going about to the Sou’East 11-15kt (that’s Guru , Met say 9kt) and is currently forecast to stay blowing that way for the whole day. Could be good for foils of all types and also SUP fun. Again, no rain shown and it will be slightly warmer with 21°C air temp on offer. High is at 7.00hrs on a 4.5m (some people might be up at that time..) or 19.47hrs in the evening, if not. This is all here’ say of course, so please check the forecast on the day.
And I think that about covers it for tonight, apart from mentioning that it's the Adur River Run Half Marathon this coming Sunday, so if you were thinking of heading inland on your bike using the river path or heading up onto the Downs towards Chanctonbury or Findon.. expect heavy footfall!
We’re still doing our damnedest to clear the stock and get out of your lives.. promise I won’t be bugging you for too much longer!
Have a great Friday evening and weekend everyone.
