Surfer's paradise

A southwest wind developed overnight, bringing with it a huge swell along the Atlantic seaboard, spreading into False Bay and providing great conditions for surfing. Sunset reef at Kommetjie was board-breaking, and the breakers at Outer and Inner Kom and Baby Pipes provided plenty of practice for keen and fearless surfers and body boarders, many of whom were young girls, I am pleased to say, showing their mettle among the finest.

One brave or foolhardy gent was without a wetsuit - I believe that is his modus operandi - and I shouldn't think the water was much above 10 degrees. Different strokes for different folks!
The photos don't do justice to the strength or size of the waves, as all the action was happening between the lowering sun and me - tricky when just using a cell phone. There was also a fine mist caused by the turmoil of the sea, but this was a welcome change from the smoky haze of the last week. Much cooler temperatures are being experienced now as autumn creeps closer and the mornings are darker - forecasts for the next three months say the mean temperatures over the Western Cape will be lower than normal - perhaps the winter woollies will come out sooner! But with autumn comes the big seas that bring invigorating air to our coastline and our very own 'smoke that thunders' - my favourite time of year.