RED AUGUST

Never one to complain about too many waves, I have recently found myself wishing it was flat. This August has seen more red flags than any other I can remember. The red flags mean that the area is too dangerous for bathers or indeed surfers. When the beach is entirely red flagged, the beach is in effect closed.
This summers poor weather is without doubt to blame for the huge swell we have experienced. A slightly smaller swell would have been welcomed by locals and visitors to Cornwall, but when the red flags line the beach and cameras are pointed out to see to capture waves the size of small buildings, you would need to be truly crazy to even attempt the paddle out.
Lets keep praying for waves but not too hard.

WHERe ARE YOU SUNSHINE?

It hasn't been seen for weeks and has been the sole reason for many unhappy campers and visitors to our beautiful coast. The sun seems to be suffering from memory loss...does it not realize it's August and is should really return to our skies from hibernation.
Wet- wetsuits I can cope with but not for the supposedly 2 warmest months of the year.
Pray with me and it will re-appear.

SAFETY FEARS OVER "COWBOY" SURF SCHOOLS

All beach surfing schools should be registered to avoid "cowboy schools" setting up says a surfing group.

The British Surfing Association (BSA) wants schools to be licensed because it fears a growth in such schools could lead to a rise in accidents.

The BSA is concerned that unqualified instructors lack vital training in first aid and life saving.

Around 70% of BSA approved surf schools are based in Devon and Cornwall with an estimated 250,000 regular surfers in the UK.

At the moment anyone can just go onto the beach and say `I'm a surf school'

Paul Wright

BSA marketing director Karen Walton said: "There are no laws or guidelines set out so anybody, whether qualified or not, can set up their own surf school."

Paul Benney, head RNLI lifeguard for Restormel in Cornwall said the problem of cowboy surf schools was making his team's job more difficult.

"We get surf schools turning up with 20 or more people per instructor at least," he said.