FOCUS
From November to February my attention has been focused on Nazaré. I noticed that good size swells hit there regularly throughout the winter months but getting the right wind direction and strength narrows down the window quite considerably. Finally, after three months of waiting impatiently, a good forecast presented itself and even though the wind was borderline for windsurfing, I decided to try. The production team along with many other people connected to this project reached more than 20 people. The most important people on this team, to help make the vital decisions, were without doubt my fellow Red Bull athlete Andrew Cotton, Portuguese Big-Wave surfer Hugo Vau and local photographer Jorge Leal. Andrew and Hugo are one of the best tow teams at Nazaré, so having them as my water safety was amazing. Jorge Leal, the lead photographer, was another vital cog in this machine and without his help this project may not even have happened. Thanks Jorge.
THE CALL
Because the call was so tight on whether to go or not, I did not book my ticket until two hours before departure. I had been “semi” packed for two months with all my bags in the garage just waiting for the call. I can’t tell you how many times I packed and unpacked my clothing bags during the course of this winter season. Due to the last minute call I only arrived the evening before the swell and was happy to at last get my first real impression of Nazaré. I sat with Andrew, Hugo and Jorge at the point of Nazaré and took in the amazing view. The point of Nazaré is one of the most beautiful and dangerous spots I’ve seen. The iconic red lighthouse and building sits high above the waves and the inside building bares a reminder of the war between the French and Portuguese in the early 18th century.
I walked onto the rooftop where the lighthouse sits and made my way to the edge of the roof where the two corners drop away to the sea cliff. From more than 150 feet up, and looking straight below, I took my first glimpse of the waves hitting the cliff face. The whole northern side of the cliff is a death trap, so if you fall in front of the point and miss the jet ski pick up your life is in real danger. I spent the late afternoon talking to the safety crew about the break to help educate myself as much as possible and going through the emergency procedures if I was to get into difficulty.
“ Nazaré is just another monster entirely ”
