July 2004, force 10 easterlies, 13 degrees C, not exactly Summer! But great for Paignton pier. Beach Devastation - There was a forlorn beach business owner wandering up and down the sand collecting pieces from his former fleet of pedalos, his inflatable dinghy was a ripped-up into a flaccid heap. 10.00am - First surf, the south side of the pier had some protection from (the now) force 3 Northerlies, there was a short period 2-4 foot swell running and some consistent rights peeling into the pier. With only 4 people out there were more than enough waves for all. 12.30pm PanFried Squid and White Wine in Hoopers at Torquay. 2.00pm The "reef" north of the pier under the railway, the high tide beach peaks had given way to a single finger of reef. 1-3 foot swell was pitching on the shallow reef in way I can only describe as a Riviera Teahpoo, there was no wind, the cliff giving protection from the residual northerlies. I opted for the outside peak that gave you a A-frame ramp take-off before reforming for the inside, which quite frankly you wouldn't want to go near. 4.30pm back to Ma May's for tea. A nice summer's day out!

Paignton Pier, Railway, Reef .... photos by PAC