Do you have to be a mad dog to be a touring surfer? In the case of Jono Dunnett, the answer can definitely be "yes". Anyone who spends two years travelling around Europe to cover 15,000 kilometres on a windsurfing board and then, a week after arriving at their destination in the Black Sea, sets off to cycle back to the starting point on the Norwegian-Russian border is undoubtedly out of their depth. Nevertheless, even in the case of Jono Dunnett, the answer could be "no", because even someone like him started out small: With short trips to the neighbouring beach, the other side of the lake or an offshore island in force two winds.
In this surf interview, which we conducted shortly after the end of his "Windsurf Round Europe" tour in 2019, he reveals why touring surfing opens up a whole new world of surfing, what equipment you can use for it and what you need to bear in mind from a safety perspective.
Jono Dunnett is currently on his next expedition: he is surfing around Japan. He describes how he experienced the start and the first stage here
Jono, you travelled for two years and surfed from the north of Norway around Europe to the Black Sea. Can a "normal" windsurfer even understand the appeal of touring?
I believe that everyone can understand the appeal of touring surfing. It doesn't depend on how long and where you are on tour, or how "extreme" you do it. The appeal is obvious for everyone.
What is this "attraction" for you?
(Ponders for a long time) Difficult to describe. Not knowing what's happening.
This is likely to intimidate many people...
What I'm trying to say is that touring surfing simply has an infinite number of facets. Sometimes it is simply the experience of nature that can cast a spell over you: Special scenery, light moods, the tranquillity off the coast. Other times it's the encounter with a seal, a dolphin or a sea turtle that suddenly appears next to you. And then again, you sit somewhere on the beach and meet the nicest people. Or the conditions on the water change and you are suddenly challenged. Anything can happen, that's the attraction - in the end, every tour has that moment that captivates you.
You learn very quickly at the beginning!"
Do you still remember your beginnings?
Sure. I've always wanted to do a trip around the UK, but until that was within reach, I started with small things. Just a few miles up and down the coast in summer or out to the offshore wind farm. Eventually I started doing trips lasting several days, for which I took a small tent and sleeping bag with me. The first big thing was a circumnavigation of Menorca with some friends. You learn so quickly at the beginning. With funboard surfing, everything takes forever.
Are you alluding to the great dependence on gliding wind?
Exactly. Many windsurfers have a few weeks of holiday a year and spend most of this precious time sitting on the beach, waiting for a gliding wind and talking about surfing. But they could experience something great every day if they shifted their focus. With touring equipment there is no idle time, unless it is too windy. But then everything is fine anyway (laughs).
The right equipment for touring surfing
What equipment do you need to realise small tours?
Of course, you can also use a normal fun board, e.g. a freeride or slalom board, if there is a constant gliding wind, the right wind direction and an accessible coastline, but then you run the risk of getting into trouble more quickly when the wind drops and especially when you have to cross. It is therefore ideal to use a board with a daggerboard. Classic longboards, long and stretched, work quite well, but a raceboard is ideal. It doesn't matter how old the board is, because the shapes have remained unchanged for ages: With a large daggerboard, stretched outline and low weight, they pull quickly through the water even in two wind forces.
Classic longboards, long and stretched, work quite well, but a raceboard is ideal for touring surfing."
What is there to say about the sail?
Classic 2-cam sails are particularly recommended, as they are not too heavy, are already very stable at the centre of pressure and do not immediately become fidgety when the wind picks up a little. However, it is very helpful if you take certain precautions to tune your equipment during the tour.
Can you give a few examples?
Trim systems extend the range of use enormously. One for the outhaul is no big deal and easy to use. I also used a trim system for the luff on my circumnavigation of Europe. However, this requires some modifications to the sail. For hobby surfers who want to start with short trips, this would probably be going a bit too far. Vario harness lines, on the other hand, make sense for everyone. This allows you to change the geometry a little on long strokes and take the strain off certain areas of the body. As far as clothing is concerned, a normal wetsuit will do in any case. If in doubt, wear something warmer. Anyone who has ever watched sailors knows what I mean: on land they look totally "overdressed", but on the water it often gets chilly over time. Then make sure you have sun protection and you're ready to go.
Tips for luggage when surfing on tour
Even on tours lasting a few hours, you can't avoid carrying some luggage. How do you transport your things? On the board or in a rucksack?
I always recommend travelling with as little luggage as possible. However, as I was travelling for an extremely long time, all my equipment weighed just under 40 kilos. For short trips, I would limit myself to a waterproof rucksack and only carry a few provisions. If you are travelling for longer, it makes sense to carry your luggage on the board. Waterproof bags, e.g. from Aquapac, are useful for this. However, my experience has shown: Even with the best bag, "waterproof" doesn't always really mean "waterproof". If in doubt, it helps to put two waterproof bags inside each other.
How do you attach everything to the board?
If you are travelling on inland waterways, i.e. where the water is usually smooth, you can also transport luggage on the bow. You then have your shoulders free and can tramp around on the tail. The only disadvantage is that you would have to laminate holding points for a net or clips. As soon as it gets wavy, a loaded bow is a complete disaster, the nose brakes in every wave trough and you build catapults, plus the luggage quickly slips through the waves. That's why I would always advise carrying luggage on the tail. In light winds, you can also use the loops to secure it and the riding experience doesn't change much compared to unloaded boards. If you are planning tours with an overnight stay, you should invest in a light sleeping bag, some accessories and possibly some ready meals in an outdoor shop. A small hydration pack is also very useful, as you hardly notice it on your body.
Tour surfing is not dangerous if you take a relaxed approach."
How dangerous do you think touring surfing is?
It's the same as always: if you're unprepared and reckless, you can get into trouble. I would say that if you take a relaxed approach and limit yourself to light winds and familiar areas, it's not dangerous. You should just slowly increase the distances and wind conditions, because you need to gain experience first. You need some time to get to know your equipment and to understand how it reacts when loaded. The good thing is that you learn very quickly, because days when you can't go touring are rare.
Basic rules and mistakes in touring surfing
What are the most important basic rules for touring surfing for you?
Not to take any unnecessary risks, of course. The weather should be reasonably stable. Moderate onshore winds are ideal at the beginning, because then you can make good progress along the coast. Steep coastal sections are always difficult. The wind is fickle here due to covers or windward jams, and the waves also reflect and cause annoying cross seas. Coastal sections with flat beaches are therefore ideal. Offshore winds are not necessarily a problem - provided you have the appropriate sailing skills and are able to cross safely - as the wind is often gusty, but the water is nice and smooth. If in doubt, I would always choose the starting point so that it is downwind of the destination, i.e. you cross upwind first and can sail downwind on the way back.
What mistakes should you never make when surfing on tour?
There is one thing that must not happen: losing the board! A base plate can break and a long race board drifts away quickly. That's why I always connect the board and sail with an additional spiral leash when there's more wind. Floating around on the high seas without a board is no fun.
Nevertheless, you should have a plan B for emergencies, right?
If you are only travelling along the coast, you can surf throughout Europe within mobile phone coverage. A waterproof smartphone with a few emergency numbers - such as those of sea rescuers - is sufficient in the vast majority of cases. Sometimes the touchscreens of smartphones cannot be operated easily through the cover, so an old mobile phone with buttons is actually an advantage.
This interview first appeared in surf 8/2019
