ITS GOTTA START SOME WHERE

Thursday 25th October 2001

There were 6 daring and courageous team members assembled for this little trip they were as follows:Lt CDR Colin Pryde CPO Sean Maloney PO Shay BowenPO Vinne Vincent Colour SGT Keano Keaneen And myself PO Matt Lawless Colin, Shay, Vinne and myself had to endure the full journey from RNAS Culdrose to the first camp in Arbroath. The journey began at 1530 on Thursday the 25th of October, with the first stop at Taunton where we met our fifth member, Sean Maloney. From here the journey was slow, with the team travelling through the night with only stops to eat and urinate, eventually arriving some twelve and a half hours later at the Royal Marine base Condor. We were met by our final member Keano. It was decided that 4 o’clock on Friday morning was no time to make sensible decisions with regards to our week ahead so a meeting was pencilled for 10 in the morning allowing the weary travellers some much needed rest.

The dirty half dozen? Sean, Keano,Colin, Shay, Vinnie &Matt

LOCAL WATERING HOLES Friday 26th The first thoughts upon waking were of the sudden lack of heat on the East coast of Scotland, it was the kind of cold that sinks deep into your bones and inflicts severe pain into your joints, the thought of paddling around in the north Atlantic was now looking like a daunting prospect. The crew decided we were refreshed enough to commence our hunt for waves among the numerous local surf spots. Our first stop was a grand arc shaped bay backed by huge sand dunes called Lunan bay, unfortunately the tide was too low allowing the now exposed waves, to be destroyed by the cross shore winds. The waiting game was going to have to be played, so there was only one thing for it, McDonalds!! As we were leaving Lunan Bay for the glorious golden arches, we were confronted by a family who proceeded to inform us “There are really good waves in Newquay you want to go there.”After the energy levels had been replenished by vast quantities of burgers and coffee, we returned to Lunan bay however the tide was still too low so the exped moved to check several other surf spots Nigg Bay, Aberdeen main, Stone Haven, Inverbevie, St Cyrus and Montrose and at every spot we encountered the same problem, cross shore winds which made the waves almost impossible to ride and with the water temperature not in excess of 8 degrees the group decision was obvious, vast quantities of beer and crisps with the ever so friendly locals!

The author snags a solid one

THE MORNING AFTER Saturday 27th An early rise was in order for half of the team, who managed to make breakfast only to be confronted by what seemed like two hundred screaming sea cadets. The remaining personnel wisely had a lie in. After checking Lunan bay once more and finding only worsening conditions it was decided that the journey north to Thurso (only 10 mile short of Jonh-O-Groats) should begin sooner rather than later. On route we stopped for lunch and were once again told “You guys are heading the wrong way you should be heading for Newquay.” We were hoping this wasn’t some kind of sign. The journey north took longer than expected due to the quality of the roads with the van pulling into Thurso at eight o’clock in the evening. Once there we had to acquire accommodation, however both Hostels were full and our exped looked as though it was starting to take a turn for the worse. We did eventually find a bed and breakfast which surprisingly enough was located above a public house, rather convenient! The evening was then completed with more beer and stories of the waves that we were hoping to find the following day.

With only the three of us out we were taking it in turns, Shay's turn

BIG SUNDAY Sunday 28th As we proceeded to breakfast we were surprised to see 16 locals suppin’ pints of ale before the sun had even broken through “had they been there all night or only just started?” Once breakfast had been consumed it was time to head for Thurso East a classic right-hander, with long tubes that breaks onto a kelp-covered reef. We needed this spot to be working to prevent the exped becoming a nightmare! Thurso East didn’t disappoint we turned into the parking area next to the reef to be confronted by a 6 foot ‘bomb’ of a wave thundering down the reef and only 6 people out. The monster drive and vast quantities of junk food had now all become irrelevant, Thurso was firing on all cylinders and we pretty much had it to ourselves. We were suited up, with boards waxed and running across the reef before you could say ‘sod Newquay’. The water temperature had also improved on the freezing conditions encountered on the East coast (due to the Gulf stream hitting the Northern coasts and completely missing the East coast). The surf session lifted everyone’s spirits and an excellent session was had by all. After a good couple of hours the team decided food and a different spot was in order, so after more unhealthy ‘scran’ we moved to a spot called ‘Shit Pipe’ were we surfed 2-3 feet clean beach breaking waves. Before the light totally vanished we headed back to Thurso East hoping for some more of the waves encountered earlier. Today was our day, not only were there still waves, but due to the pushing tide the swell had increased to a solid 8-10 feet. So it was back on with the cold and wet wetsuits, but this time it was time to wax up the Guns (big wave boards). A great session was had with some very entertaining wipeouts being dished out to all the Matelots involved. Once all the light had disappeared and no more surfing was possible it was time to locate new accommodation. We eventually got into a Hostel above a nice fish and chip shop, handy!! HERE TODAY GONE TOMORROW Monday 29th The forecast for the swell was not great however an early rise was still in order just in case. The morning went of with a BANG unfortunately it wasn’t surf related. Sean (a Chief electronics engineer I would like to add) managed to melt the toaster onto the cooker with devastating efficiency by switching on, the cooker instead of the toaster. The surf check was carried out at a ridiculous hour and the outcome was pants. The day mainly consisted of checking different surf spots, eating and the telling of many exaggerated stories, from the previous days surfing, there was testosterone everywhere. The surf report did not look promising for the next couple of days, but Thursday showed signs of potential. WAITING GAME Tuesday 30th The swell had increased from flat to a couple of feet, so there were a few waves to be had with no one in. The swell did not last long though, it disappeared as quick as it had arrived. At least there was a bowling alley in Thurso and that was the next stop. I’m not onE for boasting but Keano and myself were pretty impressive at knocking down those pins, and Sean, well there must be something he can do right, Surely!!!!!!! GROUND HOG DAY Wednesday 31st No luck on the surf front so as we were in the northern most parts of Scotland, a trip to John –O-Groats was in order. We also discovered that Sean did have a talent in producing very interesting smells from his southern regions. The weather charts looked very promising for Thursday’s waves, so we decided to have an early night to prepare for what we hoped would be a good days surfing THUSRO PERFECTION Thursday 1st The early rise was rewarded with a 5-foot swell wrapping around Thurso reef. The waves were absolutely perfect the light off shore winds were producing 5-6 foot long walling rights, and with no one to be seen, it was heaven. The waves were being ripped apart by the boys, ensuring plenty of enhanced stories could be told at a later date, in a pub not to far away! We remained in the water until hypothermia was only a stones throw away and our shoulders could take no more paddling. With this perfect surf session under our belts the crew decided it was time to start heading south to Arbroath to break up the drive home. CONDOR REVISITED Friday 2nd The East coast was unable to receive any of the swell from the North, which was probably a blessing in disguise due to the water temperature. The long drive home was beckoning so it was time to head to the local shops for gizzets and treats, to keep the families happy allowing us relatively pain free travelling in the future! The team decided that we would head south at around 10 o’clock Saturday morning, therefore we had to say goodbye in style with beer and junk food, just the way we started. THEY THINK ITS ALL OVER Saturday 3rd We arrived at Culdrose gone midnight having completed a massive 2227 miles which was £295 worth of petrol, eaten our way through at least one cow in McDonalds burgers and surfed the best waves that Scotland if not England, had to offer. Not only did we mange to surf these waves we scored Thurso perfection to ourselves, life doesn’t get much better.

They think its all over…………….its not yet, "We’ll be back".