Sailing, Surfing and other things waterbased

I spend more time at sea than I do on land (not hyperbole, I literally do). I'm back in the UK for 6 months over the winter, to save up some currency, then I'm heading to NZ to rejoin Infinity for (hopefully) a couple of years, crossing the Pacific to Chile, via most of the Islands in the Pacific rim, then hanging out around South America.
This is a photo from the last 6 month stint I did, sailing from Australia, around Papua New Guinea, out to Palau, and back in to the Philippines:

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lxh3nbWDwg1qlsvx8o1_1280.jpg

Check out pages 5 to 10 of my blog, for more pictures of the trip: http://samueldoman.tumblr.com/page/5.

Before Infinity, I was working on TMS Creole, as ship's carpenter (I did my apprenticeship as a traditional boatbuilder)

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lpvnuc4QT01qlsvx8o1_500.jpg

My job included maintenance of Avel too (same owner), and race crew (I'm the yankee trimmer to leeward):

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lqmxkp8k9Q1qlsvx8o1_1280.jpg

I only raced on Avel for one season, but it was great fun. We won les voile de St.Tropez overall, and placed top 3 in our fleet at every other regatta on the Med classics circuit.

Don't know if I've posted any of this stuff up on here before. Apologies if I have.

well jealous

http://vimeo.com/ondemand/northofthesun

Anyone have rowing knowledge, I'd like to hire a two man scull to row the Thames with a friend (over a week)? Ta

Just baught myself a mini-mal (7.2') in time for the winter season (brr)
inspiration:
http://www.zapiks.com/dans-les-bras-de-l-hiver.html

just a heads up...pipeline masters bout to start (triple crown for live feed)...will prob finish today and Slater may win 12th world title if Fanning bombs and he wins event.........gonna be a mad days surfing ....pipe was doubling in size every 2 hrs yesterday aft.......will be macking today 2nd/3rrd reef sets.........tune in Triple crown for the greatest show on Earth.............

cross post from AQA....

I'm looking for some ultra high factor sun block to put on my nose and cheeks for surfing.

I remember borrowing some sort of zinc cream once that totally blocked the sun.

I'm not too fussed about any coloured residue as long as it works. I'll be taking some P20, but that sometimes rubs off.

Any tips?

I was looking at things like this as it's not too expensive and is small:

Ocean Potion Face SPF#45 Zinc Oxide 30 ml Bonus: Amazon.co.uk: Beauty

Not spending so much time on the water recently, but just did a little delivery from Azores to La Rochelle. http://samueldoman.tumblr.com/post/85846992331/so-ive-been-home-for-about-3-weeks-and-ive

The reason I'm not sailing so much is; because I'm restoring a boat with couple of friends, and we're planning a circumnavigation starting next year. The blog needs a lot of updating (she's being put back together now!), but it'll give you an idea of what we've taken on: http://ketch-annelis.tumblr.com

In the meantime, this is my current toy:

Went out for a blast in the B14 today, and strapped the GoPro on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yKO6VYSYLQQ&feature=youtu.be

Melissa Juice.

Top.

Has anyone been surfing on the Caribbean cost of Colombia.

I know that people go on about the Pacific more but from what I've read there seem to be some spots here.

I'm mainly looking for information on renting boards. At the moment most of what I've found relates to specific spots, which I should be able to find but I'm struggling to find any info about renting boards.

The only people I've meet have been to http://costenosurf.com which looks lovely, but £10 per day for a board plus accommodation might add up a bit quickly.

Any info or help would be much appreciated.

Cheers

Is there anywhere to hire a steamer wetsuit for a month?
Also anyone have a board for sale?

I have a take off 7' big boy with a lovely (horrible) flame pattern I'm looking to shift. Epoxy board so nice and strong, has a couple of dings round the fins that have been repaired. Would need to be collected from Oxford. £75...

Does anyone live Eastbourne/Newhaven way and own a RIB or know anyone that does?
Would like to charter it + skipper for a day (8th or 9th September weather permitting) for a bit of filming.
Getting quotes starting from 600 + fuel and our budget won't stretch to that.

Ocean Film Festival - some nice shorts here

http://www.oceanfilmfestival.co.uk/

Thanks for sticking that up, the first 2 sold out before I saw them and am diving in Cornwall the first extra date in Sept they put on.

Anyone have any lifejackets (pref self-inflating) I can hire or borrow for beers this Monday?
Can collect in London/Southeast on Sunday afternoon? If you're in Brighton I'll throw in a big kiss.
Would love 4 but as many as you can get would be good.

I did this today - 31 miles in a single scull. Hands surprisingly ok - but I strongly suspect I won't be able to walk tomorrow. 10/10 - would row again.

Anyone have any lifejackets (pref self-inflating) I can hire or borrow for beers this Monday?
Can collect in London/Southeast on Sunday afternoon? If you're in Brighton I'll throw in a big kiss.
Would love 4 but as many as you can get would be good.

Anyone want to buy a pair of these?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Safety-Kru-XS-Inflation-Lifejacket/dp/B0033XJOL2

Ended up buying them just in case. Unused in bag etc. 55 each/100 for the pair (+ postage)

surfing-1000-frames-per-second

Those lifejackets are still available btw :)

I really want to buy an inflatable two-person kayak. Anyone know about this stuff? There are lots of different types.

Not inflatable ones, no, but keen to listen to any answers. I got rid of mine rigid ones due to lack of space.

I'm seriously tempted by this: http://www.decathlon.co.uk/hudson-inflatable-kayak-3-man-id_8307033.html

Not going to be whitewater rafting, but it looks great for taking trips up the Lea or the train out of town for a day.

Speaking of kayaking , anyone into race kayaking here? did a few waterside races last season and doing DW with a mate this year.

Also thinking about a boat that can be stored away, Berlin also has loads of water. Saw someone in an Ortlieb branded that looked great, but can't find that anywhere.
Generally the internet says that inflatable has more surface over water, so wind can be a problem. But anything foldable is way more expensive.
And this is neat: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1975288517/the-coast-a-16-origami-kayak-for-adventures-near-a