Seachain an duine a bhíonn ina thost

I'm just back from an extended weekend Chez Redfearn on Anglesey where we did lots of watersporty things.

I got to sail my lovely blue boat which was exhilerating on the first day, impossible on the second (too much wind) and not so exciting on the third (too little wind).

I also made a valiant effort at windsurfing. I did manage to actually move on the first day, thankfully on a very odd two-person learner board thing because when I got a certain distance I found I couldn't turn it to get back to shore, so Frodo sailed us back in. I couldn't do it at all yesterday but I'm assured that the problems I was having (the fact that the board kept pointing upwind as soon as I sheeted in) can be blamed on the lack of wind.

I tried to re-master rolling in one of the kayaks too. I nearly managed but I think I need to learn on a lake or in a swimming pool, not on a choppy sea. Apparently it doesn't make a difference, but I think I'd be more up for turning upside down in a calmer, clearer bit of water. I used to be able to do this rolling thing when we did that kayaking course in transition year but that was six years ago and I haven't tried since so unsurprisingly I can't do it anymore.

I also went on the 'Sideways', a big two-man inflatable thingy that gets towed behind the speedboat. It has a fin on either side so you can steer it by leaning towards one side or the other. I felt like my arms were being wrenched off but it was pretty fun. I'm aching all over this morning and my face is still stinging a bit from all the sunburn and the windburn but I'm feeling quite relaxed. Just got this damn handbook to finish now ...