Prone – Big Dippa, Whitley Bay, England
August 2024
Chasing lighthouses.
In 1991/92 I lived, worked, and occasionally partied (hard) in Whitley Bay. So, when I heard there was going to be a race day there, and Northern SUP Race Club were involved, (along with Northerly Swell), it was a no-brainer.
There were many events to choose from throughout the day, but the first one for Rhona and I was the distance race.
Due to the wind and waves, Rho and I were soon out of comms reach, so I had to do my best to follow other paddlers. This went well, apart from the time I headed off to follow a distant SUPer, which turned out to be a 
lighthouse. It took me a couple of minutes to find my way back to the racecourse, through a combination of paddling and shouting. (Thanks to the guy who shouted back). After that I was a bit more cautious, and didn’t overtake 
anyone until I was 100% sure that I could see another SUP in front. Also, on several occasions, some very kind paddlers helped me by shouting directions for me when they saw I was going off course.
Apart from the lighthouse incident, I was happy with my finish time of 40 mins and 37 seconds. (There was a mix up in the timings, but when I spoke to the organisers, they realised I’d actually come 19th and not 31st – last place.)
Rho went on to do the sprint, and considering she’d not paddled for a few weeks due to ill health, she did incredibly well. (Very proud husband!!)
My 2nd and final race of the day was the important one for me. For the World Championships, I will be doing the technical race. Normally I would have a guide, or some sort of comms assistance, but for Copenhagen this won’t be allowed. The Big Dippa technical race would be my practise run. Watch out other paddlers, blind idiot on the water!!!
For those who don’t know what a “technical” race is. Several buoys are placed on the water, and the paddlers must paddle out and around them. The usual course design is in either an “M” or a “W” shape. We were all told the course before hand,and which direction to go. The race would start with us running into the water carrying our boards, we would then complete a circuit, run onto the shore, carrying our boards, around a flag, and then back out for a 2nd circuit, dropping our boards at the waters edge and sprint across the finish line.
The race was started in waves, and I would be going in with 4 other paddlers.
As the “go” was given, we sprinted into the water, and got onto our boards. I followed my group to the first red buoy and got around it without any problems. I wasn’t far behind a SUP, so I put a sprint to overtake him. I’d passed him and was doing well, when I looked over my shoulder to see where he was. He was paddling away from me. I’d completely missed the 2nd, (yellow), buoy, and paddled too far. I quickly turned around and headed after him again. After turning the 3rd, (red), buoy, I had the paddler in my sights. Then a wave picked me up, and with just a few strokes I not only surf past the 1st guy, but I also overtook a 2nd.
When I felt my fingers touch the sand beneath me, I jumped off my board, picked it up and ran towards the sound of everyone, looking for the flag. I found it and was back on my 2nd circuit. Now I had done one circuit, the second was much easier to navigate. (It didn’t hurt that there were also still a load of SUPs on the water to try to follow.)
For my first “unassisted” technical race, I was pretty chuffed with the outcome, coming 18th out of 26, with a time of 11 minutes.
As expected, the day was an absolute hoot, with racing for the kids, and a load of fun events. I reckon we’ll be back next year!
Thanks to everyone – officials, volunteers, sponsors, and those other paddlers who very kindly helped get me back on course when I’d gone adrift!
And thanks to Northern SUP Race Club for the pics and Allistair Swinsco for the vid.
