I skipped the dawn patrol. I got up at 6 and checked the wind, super gusty and straigth north, not a a tiny bit of west in it. Brighton in a northerly is risky enough but alone in the dark would have been insane.
I went to work instead, bailed early and was on the water around 13.30. Still super gusty (felt more like bullriding) and just 2 others on the water, at least it was not crowded. :-)
Still got an ok 1.5h session in, withdrawal syndrome is less severe now...