Inland Regional Series 2 and the legendary Rutland Marathon

All of the photos were taken by John Liddy, there's loads more of them via here.

The second event of the UKWA Inland Regional Series was hosted by the Midlands region at Whitwell on Rutland water. At times, the forecast was looking pretty awful, but in the end, we got some nice wind on both days, a lot of rain on Saturday, some sun on Sunday, and a new record for the marathon.

Rob York won the RSX fleet

Saturday morning was a bit cold and wet (I chose the wrong wetsuit), but the wind was ok, easterly 7-10 knots so marginal for most. Unfortunately a big black cloud turned up so we got sent in for an early lunch in cas of thunder.

After a lot of rain and wind shift, 3 further races were completed in a very gusty and shifty SSE wind for Techno, Raceboard and RSX. The Formula fleet were out training most afternoon, but it was too gusty for them to race.

All action in the Techno fleet: won by Andy Brown

The tactical conditions suited Guy Spreckly who spent plenty of time in front of the usual top 3 raceboards, I certainly got my tactics wrong a few times. After his first UKWA podium at Christchurch, young Lewis Barnes was also looking dangerous, especially upwind.

Mark Kay: 2nd raceboard in control of me off the startline

On Sunday, it was windier, sunnier, and generally fun! Still very gusty and shifty though, with a "P" course (upwind with a downwind slalom) giving some exciting action at the gybe marks. 

In the RSX fleet, Cameron Coghill and Lewis May had been giving the 9.5's (Matt Barton and Rob York) a hard time on Saturday, but Rob took control on Sunday to win the RSX fleet.

Youth Raceboards: Robin and Aidan

The Techno fleet was very closely fought, with mixed results for many, as it was a struggle to be consistent in both the light winds on Saturday and the strong winds on Sunday. In the end, Andy Brown just snatched the win from Matthew Carey, whilst Josh Carey convincingly won the 6.8's and Alice Read was first girl.

Chris Bond dominated the Formula fleet, winning 3 of the 4 full power races completed on Sunday. I can't find any photos though, sorry!

Marathon start

Mark Kay beat me in both the windy races, I almost held on to him upwind, but on the reaches, he just found another gear, a smaller fin helped me win the last race. Never mind, I won the event anyway. Annette Kent was first Lady, and Robin McAllister used his impressive upwind speed in the strong winds to take first youth ahead of Aidan Liddy and Emily Kent.

It was great to see the juniors having some great fun racing and training with Ali Yates.

The Marathon was great fun, and was a charity race for "Action for Children". The wind was a little light in places, but the direction meant that most of it was planing and reaching, which lead to Ross Williams 48 min record being smashed by Chris Bond in 43 minutes, with Lee Marrs taking 2nd on Slalom gear, and myself a couple of minutes behind in 3rd. Interesting to see the three different board types coming out almost even in the end!

Big shiny marathon trophies!

The next event of the Inland series is at Farmoor (Oxford) on June 7th-8th, and the next event of the National Championship series is at Bridlington on 21st-22nd June. Keep an eye out for news, and hopefully see you there!

Event results summary:

Juniors:

1st 4.5: Zoe Basset

1st 5.8 Junior: James Bulson

1st 5.8: Maya Wylie

Techno:

1st Andy Brown

2nd Matt Carey

3rd Zed Spencer-Milnes

1st 7.8 girl Alice Read (6th overall)

1st 6.8 boy Josh Carey (7th overall)

1st 6.8 girl Mollie Densley-Robins (20th overall)

RSX:

1st Robert York

2nd Cameron Coghill (first youth)

3rd Lewis May

Formula:

1st Chris Bond (Point-7 sails/Gaastra board)

Raceboard:

1st Louis Morris (Tushingham/Starboard)

2nd Mark Kay (first heavyweight, first master) (Demon/Starboard)

3rd Robert Kent (Tushingham/Starboard)

1st Veteran, Guy Spreckley (4th overall) (Demon/Starboard)

1st Super veteran, John Pete (7th overall) (Demon/Starboard)

1st Lady, Annette Kent (8th overall) (Tushingham/Starboard)

1st Youth, Robin McAllister (10th overall) (Tushingham/Starboard)

Full results here

Marathon results summary:

1st Chris Bond

2nd Lee Marrs

3rd Louis Morris

Full Results here

Blog o' Clock again!

Been a while.

I have decided to use less words and more pictures, and I have pictures this time!

Been in the mountains a lot, did my 80th Munro the other weekend.

And I got a camera for my Birthday, hence pictures below:

Cairngorms:

Ben Cruachan with mum, visited my brother Owen in Taynuilt as well

The Mamores (near Fort William)

The Grey Corries (also near Fort William)

Went on an epic trip to Islay with Antoine from Endinburgh. 4 hours driving from St Andrews and a ferry, we camped in the sand dunes and windsurfed all day in clean shoulder-overhead high cross off down the line 4.7! Very gusty but I was on the Tushingham Rock: that sail isn't bothered if it is a gust or a lull!

Antoine (by me):

Me (by Antoine):

Then the weekend after that I went to Rhosneigr for the first event of the BWA (British wavesailing) tour. Was, plenty of wind and waves, but tricky sometimes. I used everything from 3.9 and 74l to 5.2 and 86 Port tack Saturday, Starboard tack Sunday. Had a shocker in the single elimination, but came back in the double to get =9th, think there was 16 or so of us. No pics. Broke my wave fin at Rhossy, so used a big 26cm freewave fin, worked fine.

Got home, chopped up my wave fin into a freestyle fin, used blu tack instead of a fin bolt (US box, so it couldn't fall out completely), and then went and landed my first vulcans after work at West Sands St Andrews on Starboard Kode FSW 86 and Tushingham Edge 5.2 woop woop!

Next weekend I'm off to Rutland for the 2nd event of the UKWA Regional Inland series. My first time on a Raceboard since January and first time racing since the worlds last September. Should be interesting, forecast looks rainy and light winds, cant' wait!

Jazz time in St Andrews now, see ya!