Raves & Rants . . from Penzance

Having been surfing for about 25 years, I have only once surfed with dolphins at my home break.  That was around 15 years ago, when a pod of about eight dolphins came leaping out of the wave faces as a set pushed through the lineup.  I managed to catch one of the last waves of the set, which had two dolphins in it. They sped along underneath me, one on each side, like some sort of aquatic outriders escorting me to shore. A very memorable surf for all of us in the water that day, but it never happened again. I've spotted dolphins many times over the years, but never happened to be in the water when they've arrived.  Until yesterday. And then again today.  Of course, no camera with me whilst out in the surf, but managed to snap a shot immediately before going in.  Dolphins - fin  Dolphins, just like London buses. Return to Ocean-Image.com

I was up at Perranporth investigating the history of surfing for my monthly Surf Spot column, when I chanced across this beast in the photo.  Not Tom Tremewan, but the board he's holding. Known as ‘ Chris and Bill ’ s board’, it's a hollow wooden finless board which is 12 feet long. Built in the late fifties by Bill Heath and Chris Thomson for paddle races, it was apparently physically damaging to ride.  Tom and friends used to surf it back in after a paddle,  making it potentially one of the first boards ever surfed in Cornwall. More info in the latest  Cornwall Today Surf Spot column. Return to Ocean-Image.com

An unusal sight on any beach really, the gathered forces of the King's Troop at full gallop bearing down on you. Though partially posted in Afghanistan, the troop are more often seen firing Royal salutes on state occassions, under the leadership of Captain Max Channery. These were shot earlier in the summer for the national newspapers while the horses were 'holidaying' in Cornwall.  Luckily the surf was only mediocre, so it was easy to concentrate. In other news, this blog has heard that it is not fulfilling all of the functions claimed in the title.  Plenty of photos and surfing, we're told, but not enough moaning. To redress the balance, perhaps Blogger itself should be the subject of some moaning..... I've been trying to post these photos now for about ten days, but the recent 'updated' and revamped blogging software has been consistently refusing to allow it. Stumped, with all 'Help' emails routinely ignored, thousa...

 St Michael's Mount this morning   Return to Ocean-Image.com

Hurricanes, you've got to like them really.  At the same time I was on a cliff shooting these photos of a hurricane swell hitting Cornwall, Peter Martin was on a cliff in Ireland filming the same swell. See his stylish video below. Longships lighthouse is 117ft (35 meters) high  Cornish clifftop views  Video taken at Mullaghmore Head. Mullaghmore Head 05/10/2010 from Peter Martin on Vimeo . Return to Ocean-Image.com

Likeness of a wave seen on a child's head Return to Ocean-Image.com