Tatt Report

Forget Brexit, the real debate is on body art! Tattoos, love ‘em, hate ‘em or ‘not bovvered’ either way, there’s no denying they are a ‘thing’ right now in windsurfing and in the ‘gun shows’ on display at PWA competitions there’s plenty of ink on forearms. Over 30% of the UK population between 16 and 44 have them and their appeal seems to rise by the day for the ‘selfie’ generation. It’s a fact of life though that as the popularity of tattoos grows, so too does the market for tattoo removal. So tattoos, rad or fad? We questioned a selection of sailors on their views of needles and ink, sending our very un-trendy reporter, John Carter, on a mission to discover who is in and who is out amongst the trend for tattoos in the windsurfing fraternity. Tatty journalism at its finest, this is the results of our first and last ‘Tatt Report’.

GOLLITO ESTREDO

All my tattoos are important to me. I have the name of my mother and some other ones like a turtle from Hawaii. My first one was in 2012, which has a wave, clouds and the words ‘good vibes’! I like tattoos but I don’t want to overdo it. I think I will have them just on one arm only. Some of them hurt quite a bit when I had them done. Two hours of that needle stabbing you gets quite painful. I think next year in Hawaii I will get another one, all of my tattoos I have had done there. When they are done you have to stay out of the water for a week so I have to check the forecast first! Salt water is not good for the tattoo!

ROBBY SWIFT

I have always kind of liked the look of tattoos, I guess they fit on some people. I don’t think I’m cool enough to pull one off myself personally though ha-ha. They are also pretty permanent, so I imagine myself changing my mind over time and wishing I hadn’t done it. My dad had lots of tattoos on his arms and legs and had most of them painfully removed, but you can still see the scars and I guess that has stayed in my mind since I was little.

TATY FRANS