Just turned 31…

She has been a feature of this place for some time and takes us all down the beach come rain or shine. Quality bit of British engineering, goes every time and has just turned 31 years old. Built to last and true product design - she also runs off secondary biodiesel thanks to the all the fish and chip shops round Cornwall (keep eating). So here is a shot of the boys filling the landy up (we thought it was about time she got her own blog).

It’s suffice to say that cheap champagne and caravans go hand in hand. We decided to throw a little barbecue in celebration of the Observer Ethical Award and Carlos’ visit. All the usual groupies showed up, libations poured from every bottle and the grub filled the holes.

Tommy it’s cool, it’s just champagne.

The day after we got back from the shire after winning the Observer Ethical Awards, we headed to Bristol to pick up Carlos (Burle) and his girlfriend, Ligia. The last time we had seen Carlos, we had been on the Finisterre Cold Water Frontiers trip to Ireland. We all (Ernie, Carlos, Al Mac (photos) and Greg (film)), spent three weeks living out of each others pockets, but got on like a house on fire, scored some unbelievable (heavy) waves and made the film (Beef or Salmon).

So we were pretty excited to see Carlos back over here, with summer in full swing and us still on a high of the awards. He arrived with his girlfriend, Ligia, straight from Italy where they had been on a romantic cruise. Next stop Aggie. The West Country really showed off and the sun shone for the two days they were here. He stayed with us, we ate very healthily, drank wine and talked late. There were tales of the monster swell at Ghost Trees and what it was like to be on hold for the Eddie Big Wave Classic for three months, but it was clear they had come to get away from all that. So we got them some bikes and they cruised round Aggie, loving being together. They even got in the sea on the last day – 2ft and sunny (they still wore hoods), but both Carlos and Ligia were stoked to be in, as were we to have them about.

If the conditions get big enough this winter, Carlos will be back then, and we’ll head to Ireland. There is an arsenal of big wave boards in the corner behind me - waiting for their call - and we’re all pretty excited about the possibility of getting back out there.

Posted by TK.

TP’s (our architect) and an old highschool buddy (not really), hooking up at the Observer Ethical Awards.

In the water at six this morning with Ernie, Al Mac and Ali, my housemate. Beautiful morning with some mist around that the sun eventually burnt through. Surfed in the shadow of the cliffs until the sun was high enough to warm our backs. One other guy out. Surf was 3ft and bowly - fun, but not epic. Morning was definitely made by a pod of dolphins that cruised through the line-up. About seven in total, big bottle nosed ones - they showed up, caught a few set waves, leaping right out of the water and then passed on by, leaving us hooting in their wake. (posted by TK).

Occasionally we make the trip out of Cornwall up to the big smoke. This week was one of those weeks; Tuesday night spent hanging out with the Sea-Shepherds anti-whatling group, followed by Wednesday shooting round and dressing up in some vogue gear guided by our Designer TP, all the while trying to shake off the butterflies in stomachs over the evenings event: the Observer Ethical Awards.

Every year an expert panel is brought together to shortlist products that the public has nominationed as the most ethical, inspiring and groundbreaking in sustainability. From eco designers to academics and eco architects - the judges have spent the majority of their professional lives (and probably most of their personal lives) mulling over eco footprints and development issues.

So it’s a big deal for us to get such recognition after six years of hard work, and bring home the gold in true Finisterre fashion - a trip up on stage, a stoked speach. After getting biggest cheer at the party, we’d like to say thanks to all the folks out there who help support the brand and make it possible to get where we have.

Take a look at the video: here

Al Mack and Irish Mike decided to drive-by Cornwall and pay a visit to the boys. We shared some tales, a little reminiscing, had some late nights and were blessed with a solid North Coast Swell. They left this morning, faces warmed with some summer sun and a few waves for the memory.

Epic weekend, loved seeing you boys.