tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74339807911551721932024-03-05T06:33:29.327-08:00Louis MorrisLouishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-48715403225950504792016-01-10T10:57:00.000-08:002016-01-10T10:57:06.111-08:00Autumn 2015 and onwards to 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Been a long while since I posted anything on here! Been updating my facebook page and kind of forgot about my blog a bit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not done much competition wise since the final event of the UKWA national championship, but still been windsurfing!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in October, I had a go at a BSA slalom competition for the first time in a few years. It was pretty fun to blast around on the isonic 110 and X-15 8.3. My speed and gybes were good, but my starts were a bit embarrassing! In the heat, I set my watch late, but managed to pull back to 5th and qualify for the final, where I didn't get my distance/time estimation quite right, so started late, crashed at the first mark, and finished 10th. Oh well, maybe I'll practice a bit if I do any next year.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Myself and Tushingham general manager Paul Simmons. Photo by Andy Stallman</span></span><div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">October in general was really crap for wind. I entered the BWA wave competition at Gwithian, but there was no wind.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First weekend of November was the annual Aussie Kiss SWA event, which was great fun as always. I towed a trailer full of kit for University of Bristol Windsurfing club, but opted to head wavesailing at Widemouth Bay near Bude rather than windsurf at the lake, although I did deliver an intermediate clinic which was nice. This event is amazing and quite unique for just the shear number of keen beginners and intermediates on the water at once! Saturday was rather onshore, big, messy, and hard work, but Sunday was lovely down the line conditions, the best wavesail I had for ages. Unfortunately it ended in smashing the nose of my lovely Starboard Kode 77 :(. See my video here: </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://vimeo.com/145189437">https://vimeo.com/145189437</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Waveriding at Widemouth Bay, North Cornwall. Photo by Matt Duffin</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did some coaching with Ali Yates for the South and West Wales Windsurfing squad. What a great fun and keen group of kids! So cool to see the youth windsurfing scene developing so quickly, I'm sure it'll catch up with the English squads pretty soon. Looking forward to some more coaching with those guys in 2016 :).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Then late November and December were mental windy! Got some mad 3.7 jumping and waveriding in south wales. Unfortunately back on my old board whilst my Kode was in for repairs!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">December didn't start too well, as my roof rack broke on the way to the first SWA wave event of the winter with my friends from Bristol uni. Not only did this mean we couldn't make it to the competition, but it also completely destroyed our wave boards.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Went home to Cornwall for Christmas, borrowing a board now since I broke mine and my Kode wasn't ready. I was soo keen to hit the water after working towards a project deadline at uni, and visiting my girlfriends family in Leicestershire. Unfortunately, the first day I went out at Gwithian, the wind was lighter than forecast, and the waves pretty sizeable, and I destroyed my 4.7 and 5.2! Pretty gutting, luck definitely not going my way! Got out for a fun session at Marazion on 4.2 though, head high cross shore jumping and riding. Met up with Sam Sills, and sailed pretty big Polzeath, which was fun if challenging. Until I snapped my 370 mast that is! On new years eve, I managed to score some really nice conditions at the Bluff, rigging my 3.7 on the unbroken half of my 370 and top of my 400: looked ridiculous and the sail felt horrible, but got me on the water at least!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Bluff, going off!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Incredibly, I was nominated for the 2015 UKWA windsurfer of the year! The other nominies were: Adam Sims (really top pro freestyler), Robbie Swift (british wavesailing legend, consistently in the top 10 of the world tour for years), Ross Williams (4th in PWA slalom 2015, 2015 British wave champion, and one of the best pro allrounders in the world), and Kevin Greenslade (5x british speed champion, and top UK slalom racer). Thanks to everyone who voted for me! I couldn't really believe I was nominated with all those incredible atheletes, in the end Kevin won it, so congratulations to him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Now I'm back in Cardiff, got a few exams to get out of the way. Massive ennoyance, I hate exams more than I ever have done, and really can't be asked with them, but plan is that they are the last of my life so here we go. Still managed to find time for some amazing conditions in South Wales though. Check out my video here: <a href="https://vimeo.com/151056492">https://vimeo.com/151056492</a> and the amazing photos by Marc Rowley below. I look forward to more great windsurfing in 2016, hopefully I'll be more lucky with kit breakage!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"></span></span></span>Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-41392524379104875802015-10-08T04:42:00.003-07:002015-10-08T05:09:26.283-07:00Stokes Bay: the final round<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have to admit, at one point, the forecast didn’t exactly
fill me with excitement for the last event of the UKWA National Championship
Series at Stokes Bay, Gosport. However, after about 1.5 hours of postponement,
racing got underway in about 6 knots of wind.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom Naylor</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Due to the constrictions of the shipping channel, racing
took place on a windward/leeward course set close to the shore, with wind
shifts and tide playing a very important part in tactical decisions. By the
time we started racing, the tide was fairly slack, but probably still running
in the deep water, so the winning tactic was to head right and make use of less
tide, and possibly some kind of wind bend by the shore. Tom Naylor had really
impressive light wind speed, and arrived first to the windward mark. I managed
to pass him, but had to really work to keep him behind me in the first race. In
race two, it was a similar story, but this time it was Rob Kent who had a good
race, finishing just behind myself. Mark Kay was particularly impressive upwind
all weekend, and beat Tom to take 3<sup>rd</sup>. With a late start to the
racing, we were treated to a third exhausting light wind race. Again, I won,
with Rob in second, but this time Tom just managed to keep Mark from the top
three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annette Kent (photo by Paul Wyeth)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a well-earned break, we headed out for the final race
of the day. The wind was now just strong enough to plane downwind, and with a
bit of extra power in his sail, Mark Kay found his familiar superspeed self. It
was a very close race between us on the first lap, but a good second beat gave
me a large enough lead to pump a little less on the last downwind. Tom sailed a
solid race, but was unfortunately one of four competitors to be pushed over the
line early by the strengthening tide.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Annette Kent had a solid performance, finishing ahead of
Harriet Ellis in every race, which put her in a good position going into the
final day to take the national title.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the youths, it was Alice Butts who sailed the best in the
light, tidal conditions. However it was very close, with only a couple of
points separating the 4 youths at the end of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob Kent (photo by Andy Stallman)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Sunday, the SE’ly wind was there early on, but took it’s
time to build, and the two morning races took place in similarly light wind to
Saturday, with a fast tide pushing against it. The best tactic upwind was to
head out to deep water and catch the tide and stronger wind. I managed to get
away to a strong lead and win both races, although eventually retired from the
first race following an incident on the start line, and a lack of enthusiasm
for protest hearings. Behind me, it was very close racing between Tom, Mark,
and Rob. Mark and Tom managed to get great upwind board-speed in the short
chop, whilst Rob’s strength was downwind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind built to a nice 12-14 knots in the afternoon, and
the tide started to switch direction. Myself, Tom, and Mark started to have a
little bit of a speed advantage over Rob in the stronger conditions. I didn’t
have an amazing start in the first race, but a strong downwind saw me take the
lead, only to run out of outhaul rope at the leeward mark, forcing me to tack
to pull on outhaul on the other side of the boom. This sent me into slack/wind
with tide water, whilst Mark and Tom headed into the channel and established an insurmountable lead on me, with Mark winning the race. In the final race, I
took the start a little too relaxed and was called over within the final
minute. I had to go around the end, but couldn’t find a gap, and in trying to
manoeuvre myself into a position to start on time, fell in and gave everyone a
1 minute head start as I had some fun uphauling my sail! Mark and Tom sailed
off to take first and second, whilst I played catch up. I managed to pull back
to about 5<sup>th</sup> or 6<sup>th</sup> at the windward mark, then pumped
like crazy to arrive at the leeward mark in 3<sup>rd</sup>, a position I
managed to keep to the finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis Morris (photo by Robert Hajduk)</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretty frustrated with my silly mistakes, as my speed was
certainly good enough to win both races. In the end, I could still win the
event, and unfortunately my mistakes impacted Rob more than me: with two 2<sup>nd</sup>
places, Tom was able to displace Rob from the event podium, and take 3<sup>rd</sup>
behind Mark in 2<sup>nd</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lewis Barnes was going quicker in the slightly stronger breeze,
and took a 4<sup>th</sup> and 5<sup>th</sup>. Similarly, Jenna Gibson started
chipping away at the points; with 3 top ten finishes on Sunday, she managed to
snatch the youth prize from Alice Butts, who did just enough to keep Thomas
Cave, who prefers stronger winds, behind her in the final result. However, with
the most consistent performance throughout the year, it was Thomas who was
first youth in the overall series, congratulations to him in his first year on
raceboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjx9kUDVQZsc9DmJVBXTREjHow_zcTrItUAG4TvmAvdjOZz-e8aHQfagKUbT1DI37stUZriCfeORDgduHpUHKhD4jy9dr6wXnxq3oIa_nrEVtDgviv54j9eTpAdl_moivp450qXPM0omW/s1600/thumb_IMG_1845_1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjx9kUDVQZsc9DmJVBXTREjHow_zcTrItUAG4TvmAvdjOZz-e8aHQfagKUbT1DI37stUZriCfeORDgduHpUHKhD4jy9dr6wXnxq3oIa_nrEVtDgviv54j9eTpAdl_moivp450qXPM0omW/s320/thumb_IMG_1845_1024.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice Butts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunday was the day for Harriet to get some points back from
Annette, but unfortunately for her, it
wasn’t quite enough, handing Annette both the event, and overall series win for
the womens prize.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In two weeks, the final inland event takes place at Pitsford
Reservoir near Northampton. After that, we look forward to more great racing
next year. However, there are still the LWA icebreaker events to go to if
anyone wants some more racing between now and next spring.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Event results summary:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup>, Louis Morris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2<sup>nd</sup>, 1<sup>st</sup> master, 1<sup>st</sup>
heavyweight, Mark Kay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<sup>rd</sup>, 1<sup>st</sup> veteran, Tom Naylor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> supervet, John Pete (6<sup>th</sup> overall)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> lady, Annette Kent (7<sup>th</sup> overall)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> youth, Jenna Gibson (10<sup>th</sup> overall)<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Complete results: <a href="http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/StokesBay2015.html">http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/StokesBay2015.html</a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Series results summary:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup>, Louis Morris<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2<sup>nd</sup>, 1<sup>st</sup> master, 1<sup>st</sup>
heavyweight, Mark Kay<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<sup>rd</sup>, Robert Kent<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Veteran, Tom Naylor (4<sup>th</sup> overall)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> supervet, John Pete (6<sup>th</sup> overall)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Lady, Annette Kent (7<sup>th</sup> overall)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Youth, Thomas Cave (9<sup>th</sup> overall)</span><o:p></o:p><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Complete results: <a href="http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/UKWACup2015.html">http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/UKWACup2015.html</a></span></div>
Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-14191058133372037132015-09-05T11:44:00.001-07:002015-09-05T11:44:23.155-07:00National Championships Round 5 - PwllheliIt would be hard to beat the fantastic conditions we had at Weymouth, but if anywhere can than Pwllheli can. It is possibly my favourite place to race, with great open sea racing conditions, or tactical shifty flat conditions depending on wind direction, with camping virtually on the beach and Snowdonia as a backdrop to the race course.<br />
<br />
Mark Kay and Lewis Barnes had been training for several days prior to the event, although by the sound of it more short boarding got done than race training, and those that arrived early on Friday were treated to some great windy conditions. As I found, pitching my tent at 11:30pm.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i-QRe1_4Ni3dezFur_hLW6ZUTuUUf8RlMCX3F97M-hlvGf_PfWzEE1mFGB-L2fWdOhlL6RfBW8mDM-IssCHiNHCmhUROBHho4PlEhzkfbcUO2IX74b9Qr1_jYxAIq1-m_fgZD6VKbpU6/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0i-QRe1_4Ni3dezFur_hLW6ZUTuUUf8RlMCX3F97M-hlvGf_PfWzEE1mFGB-L2fWdOhlL6RfBW8mDM-IssCHiNHCmhUROBHho4PlEhzkfbcUO2IX74b9Qr1_jYxAIq1-m_fgZD6VKbpU6/s400/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kay (photo by Andy Stallman)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The wind and waves had moderated a bit in time for racing on saturday morning, but it was still a bit on the breezy side, with 16-18 knots cross-onshore from the SW.<br />
<br />
The raceboard fleet pushed the start a tad (apparently it was my fault), and we started the weekend with a general recall. A collision with a lobster pot buoy soon after the re-start let half the fleet past me, so it was Mark Kay, Tom Naylor, and Tom Dryden who arrived first to the windward mark. All four of them had really good speed upwind on saturday. I tacked off after my collision and found that either I was very very fast, or that the right side of the course paid a lot, because I was 4th to the windward mark. Mast track issues put Tom Dryden out of the race downwind, I managed to pass Tom Naylor with superior angle, and closed the gap on Mark. On the second beat Mark and I headed to opposite sides of the course, and I had taken the lead by the final mark, and won the race.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdWTBvKchoNn1IMWJguYIMB_4hV5MWz0U2eOLHbqwoxKLXiSIeucTC0KCaw4egMk4EnQTuM2PVgAt8tXAhO7huqbY7OxHtBSvfVGySrRidp0eFayUbGcG5-Fwd6xHHIpodKYSQ_Iyrwwp/s1600/11743018_10203881885601939_2741924909080793109_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdWTBvKchoNn1IMWJguYIMB_4hV5MWz0U2eOLHbqwoxKLXiSIeucTC0KCaw4egMk4EnQTuM2PVgAt8tXAhO7huqbY7OxHtBSvfVGySrRidp0eFayUbGcG5-Fwd6xHHIpodKYSQ_Iyrwwp/s400/11743018_10203881885601939_2741924909080793109_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis Morris (photo by Karen Battye)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
In the second race, it was Mark and Tom who battled it out at the front the whole way round. I couldn't overtake with speed alone, and tacked too early upwind several times due to a strengthening tide. Mark won, Tom 2nd, myself 3rd. Lewis Barnes had a better race, but opened the door on the last reach for Rob Kent to take 4th place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bgz3FkmDWSfzkeWYz-n6yRoI7lTD7meUxDLysS1fXi82_x3LHcxTgi97Hnuu3jaR8phPEdINT0pg7RGo5K3bksDBdNGndgPIUN0BXEFM2w-7ayMF5cA7hFTQ-2tQZQ_hnwCrmJ_HGr7C/s1600/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Bgz3FkmDWSfzkeWYz-n6yRoI7lTD7meUxDLysS1fXi82_x3LHcxTgi97Hnuu3jaR8phPEdINT0pg7RGo5K3bksDBdNGndgPIUN0BXEFM2w-7ayMF5cA7hFTQ-2tQZQ_hnwCrmJ_HGr7C/s400/unnamed+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob Kent (photo by Andy Stallman)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The wind dropped to about 14-16 knots in the afternoon, with a slightly flatter sea-state. The speed difference between myself and Mark was virtually nothing, and I had him right on my tail the whole way round. Lewis and Rob didn't have their best race, but that should take nothing away from Andy Gibson, who was flying all day and took 4th, ahead of Tom Dryden who didn't break anything and took a well deserved 5th.<br />
<br />
Rob bounced back in the final race of the day, but still couldn't displace Tom N from his now customary 3rd place. Meanwhile, it was closer than ever, too close in fact, between myself and Mark. Mark arrived first to the windward mark, but I had a great downwind leg and arrived at the leeward gate first. We both opted to gybe and head left, and Mark took the inside and hit my mast with the end of his boom as I came out tighter than he expected. All good, we were both still upright, and I now had him behind me. I tacked on what I thought was the layline whilst he carried on for a little longer. In clean air, Mark is very fast upwind, and I could hear him getting closer, I tried to point as high as possible to squeeze into his lee-bow and control him again. I thought he'd got me, but as he overtook, his boom clipped my shoulder and sent him over the front. Luckily out of the way of me so no further collision took place. Mark recovered quickly enough to keep Tom at bay and take an unfortunate 2nd.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8mTS30iRNMCtZkpatdLBjBHXwDJV9EjOZFvCzw6ao3ukvfWYcxgoQJ2SJ_hOTDAGJM-RGkyxtZjD1SbCZrDHfKHr8BNT5tke-4AahvluDXfamNIVRlXf0WP9Me1x3RTvwqo9PKA76f_z/s1600/11755678_10206917129948019_4241641086972310804_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8mTS30iRNMCtZkpatdLBjBHXwDJV9EjOZFvCzw6ao3ukvfWYcxgoQJ2SJ_hOTDAGJM-RGkyxtZjD1SbCZrDHfKHr8BNT5tke-4AahvluDXfamNIVRlXf0WP9Me1x3RTvwqo9PKA76f_z/s400/11755678_10206917129948019_4241641086972310804_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annette Kent (photo by Karen Battye)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thomas Cave was the fastest youth in the breezy conditions, and had some close racing with experienced racers Annette Kent and Harriet Ellis. Harriet was unlucky, missing two races after breaking her mast, battens, and sail in the waves.<br />
<br />
Most of sunday was spent waiting for wind. We were teased with 4 knots SW, but the race committee decided to continue waiting, and eventually it swung NW (offshore) and reached 6-8 knots. By the time we started, we had a slightly gusty and shifty 8-10 knots. The fleet was quite split after the start, with neither side looking better than the other. I opted for the middle, with two tacks timed with shifts. I had really good speed and angle, a great start, and good laylines, so arrived upwind first. Rob and Mark weren't far behind, but I planed almost all the way downwind on both laps, so pulled away quite a lot and won by a comfortable margin. The next race was a similar story, although the wind was a little lighter so it was entirely non-planing. In this wind, Mark and Rob were very well matched upwind, but Rob had the slight edge downwind, and managed to take 2nd in both races, with Mark 3rd and Tom Naylor 4th. These conditions often suit Lewis, and he was very quick upwind, but didn't managed to piece together the tactics, and settled for 5th and 9th.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxX1Oo8gdcokFIUYwoxPTL8mkjqRoeLxTFBSeFI8WwECHdysVmJ_xen1Re3REAlhYGaV9dH6nqOpO1tYsEliDKeL01v_zVFMFiuKVpFBEKvfQS-g_JHcG_zqjYYLs9T0VR5uLvhoGuaT2_/s1600/10696372_10203881887521987_4321197002086063667_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxX1Oo8gdcokFIUYwoxPTL8mkjqRoeLxTFBSeFI8WwECHdysVmJ_xen1Re3REAlhYGaV9dH6nqOpO1tYsEliDKeL01v_zVFMFiuKVpFBEKvfQS-g_JHcG_zqjYYLs9T0VR5uLvhoGuaT2_/s400/10696372_10203881887521987_4321197002086063667_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis Barnes (photo by Karen Battye)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Thomas Cave likes it windy, couldn't keep up with fellow youths Alice Butts and Emily Kent. Alice sailed excellently, and even finished ahead of Annette in the final race. However, with only two light wind races, Thomas had done enough to take the youth prize by just two points. Annette Kent was first lady, with good light wind races, Harriet also sailed well, but with only one discard, couldn't recover from her kit-breaking wave.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2015/nat-champs5-pwhelli.html" target="_blank">Full results</a><br />
<br />
Results summary:<br />
1st Louis Morris<br />
2nd Mark Kay, 1st heavy, 1st master<br />
3rd Tom Naylor, 1st veteran<br />
1st Lady Annette Kent 8th overall<br />
1st supervet John Pete 9th overall<br />
1st youth Thomas Cave 11th overall<br />
<br />
With only one event remaining to decided the UKWA national champion, things are really close. With two discards now available, Louis Morris and Mark Kay both hold 4 points each, and whoever beats the other at the last event will win the series, providing they finish within one place of Rob Kent who can still win in theory. Annette Kent and Harriet Ellis are also on tied points, so it will go right down the the last event.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2015/nat-champs-ranking.html" target="_blank">Series results</a><br />
<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-37239551223110379472015-08-22T03:49:00.000-07:002015-08-23T11:22:49.959-07:00My Cornish SummerThis summer, like last summer, I'm working as a watersports instructor at Polkerris Beach on the south coast of Cornwall. It's been pretty good so far working on a beach. The weather's not been amazing, but it's been busy enough, I don't know how many people I've taught to sail and windsurf, but it's been quite a few.<br />
<br />
Last summer was very sunny, but pretty windless. This summer we've had a few sunny days, but most importantly, there have been a few days of great wavesailing to make up for not doing a season somewhere sunnier and more consistently windy. Perfect for testing my new Starboard Kode 77 aka the wave riding rocket ship!<br />
<br />
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<br />
I had a really fun session at Bigbury, cross on, 4.7, waves up to head high. Crashed a few backloops, but getting some forwards and tweaking my table tops.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk9TNbccQjjJlg22RnUEhQUfgFTK7idk4WQkqZuEFL9zp05WbaNnl1ZKhktFFoArZN9SK39wGrjWMaXM_ZfWJxDrNq7r5gT_X6rn663P87uFfTbZ0cV6xCZW-HypSzH9otYyC5TgsWei3/s1600/11699002_10153033240095920_2274655086499534969_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlk9TNbccQjjJlg22RnUEhQUfgFTK7idk4WQkqZuEFL9zp05WbaNnl1ZKhktFFoArZN9SK39wGrjWMaXM_ZfWJxDrNq7r5gT_X6rn663P87uFfTbZ0cV6xCZW-HypSzH9otYyC5TgsWei3/s640/11699002_10153033240095920_2274655086499534969_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This feels good! Photo by Simon Burgess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolPEFvuPVH6zGg1NjBkIjizrlMt6Wuvhyphenhyphen4TJXK1T48KxG2chzTWA20yHcgLz2-sMRHT7BhltNkIG0F7H255HiPhQYUmBrR6npbjriZaKfIlFOZ9kRLbs6enNzM2Fb9Qza_xygh_0uRhCq/s1600/11782455_10153033240090920_432829925667172591_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgolPEFvuPVH6zGg1NjBkIjizrlMt6Wuvhyphenhyphen4TJXK1T48KxG2chzTWA20yHcgLz2-sMRHT7BhltNkIG0F7H255HiPhQYUmBrR6npbjriZaKfIlFOZ9kRLbs6enNzM2Fb9Qza_xygh_0uRhCq/s640/11782455_10153033240090920_432829925667172591_o.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tweaking it out. Photo by Simon Burgess.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This was followed by a windier day. I opted for Daymer, it wasn't as wavy as Bigbury, but really fun for jumping, no table tops on port tack, but some nice floaty jumps, one handed jumps, and forward loops. I worked on my backloops as well and was finally rewarded by landing my first port tack backloop woop woop. I also managed to land my first stalled forward loops! The nice surprise was finding the Kent family at the beach, better known for their raceboard exploits, I had a lot of fun jumping with Rob, made a change to racing him on a long board! This was followed by a relaxing float and ride session at Marazion.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1 handed jump. Photo by Annette Kent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON8F_2EWOo08t5UhmMEYKliOWwRz06itAN4G1bhxnQLoiX3_hMw0Ras4M7HWVu2EQmyjhUCXa5nhIjWH7KCD9K2_R5ShoZSlNCOMy7hYIPtltZBwBiHvONhpVOe8d5PIOwHV8zGHYoALK/s1600/_MSK8545.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgON8F_2EWOo08t5UhmMEYKliOWwRz06itAN4G1bhxnQLoiX3_hMw0Ras4M7HWVu2EQmyjhUCXa5nhIjWH7KCD9K2_R5ShoZSlNCOMy7hYIPtltZBwBiHvONhpVOe8d5PIOwHV8zGHYoALK/s400/_MSK8545.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocket Rob. Photo by Annette Kent.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrNmo9ucoLJltfIjJkQL573yPiLPJdswBVu8R7xbFlOsnL1XkRztODL4utPCCn6zKazGJ1QmL0jbjv02p9ftetzBOrw0fZQ283q3mptxwmgy7iCD40-LL5ss-dwKI30B5Zb40m36nykku/s1600/_MSK8577.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrNmo9ucoLJltfIjJkQL573yPiLPJdswBVu8R7xbFlOsnL1XkRztODL4utPCCn6zKazGJ1QmL0jbjv02p9ftetzBOrw0fZQ283q3mptxwmgy7iCD40-LL5ss-dwKI30B5Zb40m36nykku/s400/_MSK8577.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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A week or so later, and there was a big swell and windy SW forecast + sun. I met up with friend and Tushingham team mate Sam Sills, who is a professional RSX athlete. We headed to The Bluff (Hayle) and scored some big wave rides. It was very tricky, with big hollow waves breaking over a shallow sand bar and a very gusty wind. I was on my 4.7 Rock and 77 Kode, and Sam was on 4.5 Bolt and 86 Kode freestyle wave. It was a super fun session, amazing to get waves like this in the summer as well! Unfortunately I had to spend the evening in A&E getting my chin stitched up after being eaten by a big wave and eating my mast.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZGzNiH47vu8aT8ApzgUEyEdl_ZYyzbn1jcfS2ksv4MH1Fsl-adycJHPaJ0EtX_XHtRkWC7PIZUHTKPXvcWHxX36_FaUrI_2Zsvb29Se_Canb8UEDEL8brdVWjpdLwvtjBYVHerh83_RT/s1600/11791931_866811836707055_6431082421892889528_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZGzNiH47vu8aT8ApzgUEyEdl_ZYyzbn1jcfS2ksv4MH1Fsl-adycJHPaJ0EtX_XHtRkWC7PIZUHTKPXvcWHxX36_FaUrI_2Zsvb29Se_Canb8UEDEL8brdVWjpdLwvtjBYVHerh83_RT/s320/11791931_866811836707055_6431082421892889528_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sick session!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLSzRoGRlP4mQ8Uwi2puDit-Z7lz93ShOVLLOGNXbX2wtlaAALiICr5Lxof6iv67MpY0hqf0B-i2cF8U5t61YfhNby6YmHUWBF6LYJfJ9ObibzpWjlkJKkUR96TugzGOWjw7ZJeHi__mq/s1600/11850709_866811816707057_1195573432596525258_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJLSzRoGRlP4mQ8Uwi2puDit-Z7lz93ShOVLLOGNXbX2wtlaAALiICr5Lxof6iv67MpY0hqf0B-i2cF8U5t61YfhNby6YmHUWBF6LYJfJ9ObibzpWjlkJKkUR96TugzGOWjw7ZJeHi__mq/s320/11850709_866811816707057_1195573432596525258_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I kept windsurfing for a while, my jaw hurt a bit though!</td></tr>
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Looks like we might get some more wind and waves during the next week, fingers crossed!<br />
<br />
I've also been getting plenty of race training in, both at Siblyback Lake, and after work at Polkerris. Feels a bit strange to start training <i>after</i> the World Champs instead of before, but that is the way it is. I'm getting faster and working on my technique a lot. Feeling really motivated for the next UKWA event next weekend in north Wales. Polkerris has been a great training venue, and I feel well prepared for some choppy wavy conditions in Pwllheli.<br />
<br />
If you've not already seen my Siblyback training video from last month then you should check it out!<br />
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Here are a few gopro photos. Stay tuned for some race results next weekend.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBq1IcgH231mD5yusAsLF5urojgjoSQhnSNg2BEz2bJVOGAyxooZQzV4audP5Tlq7LejvDopL6Bt3gLCwn11nJab9uno4qpsTT85OsJZnZHlv8jA2seOU077uZ0jY2ZASPDbsGs8lROma/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlBq1IcgH231mD5yusAsLF5urojgjoSQhnSNg2BEz2bJVOGAyxooZQzV4audP5Tlq7LejvDopL6Bt3gLCwn11nJab9uno4qpsTT85OsJZnZHlv8jA2seOU077uZ0jY2ZASPDbsGs8lROma/s400/Picture2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying downwind.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq3TdH2AJ4lIlOE-opNyVJ1AUoqFF0_wIk-dt_5b7l-7GWO55LKjZ4G1Ou8LRiLoFp59QLsVIAsJCOIkCjy1AnPEyE9L1k4jlEyoCksiiQs6dTxv3tmh9Y_YIrCLsMJjc9SoSaVUcNA3J/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMq3TdH2AJ4lIlOE-opNyVJ1AUoqFF0_wIk-dt_5b7l-7GWO55LKjZ4G1Ou8LRiLoFp59QLsVIAsJCOIkCjy1AnPEyE9L1k4jlEyoCksiiQs6dTxv3tmh9Y_YIrCLsMJjc9SoSaVUcNA3J/s400/Picture2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumping pumping pumping....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQowBvKvrRF3ZtgW7-2Fmw16mURkUSn-Xo4_QNfUsemI1KZGpea1LH5vA1cdHHn6M3NnL0Jjntwqxi0i5-jhXJvwh8NV-K4i8J0OIi_k61hgE3VvdNimjdmCi3AP5vaYaFU2LkbF6c2MGx/s1600/Picture3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQowBvKvrRF3ZtgW7-2Fmw16mURkUSn-Xo4_QNfUsemI1KZGpea1LH5vA1cdHHn6M3NnL0Jjntwqxi0i5-jhXJvwh8NV-K4i8J0OIi_k61hgE3VvdNimjdmCi3AP5vaYaFU2LkbF6c2MGx/s400/Picture3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Full power upwind.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNIN2ewZBBgMfdGMVXZQ1GcQA7kuz3vJlR9E-vNuSx0HOKOxQihAAn0WPwspEWhRpVSZU4xn_UgOnpntHcvQCiWnfAL5UyUfRugRjk2jYB-QyLSBamHV1h6gjphF_io4thnl5veMt3GIe/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNIN2ewZBBgMfdGMVXZQ1GcQA7kuz3vJlR9E-vNuSx0HOKOxQihAAn0WPwspEWhRpVSZU4xn_UgOnpntHcvQCiWnfAL5UyUfRugRjk2jYB-QyLSBamHV1h6gjphF_io4thnl5veMt3GIe/s400/Picture1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marginal cruising.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzGoqKrYOR5oZ17Yitz5Q1no5HteexA9CAQqBvdJYdalret2tVv9GxQT5mo9eiT7xKu5EQjqyggvcBaAEDZ5ELYBAl6KG7ODbROo0Hym2ebV9jcwYGbon3HYXe_lYHdwBTBTU9DL64YL2/s1600/Picture5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzGoqKrYOR5oZ17Yitz5Q1no5HteexA9CAQqBvdJYdalret2tVv9GxQT5mo9eiT7xKu5EQjqyggvcBaAEDZ5ELYBAl6KG7ODbROo0Hym2ebV9jcwYGbon3HYXe_lYHdwBTBTU9DL64YL2/s400/Picture5.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Practising with the uphaul.</td></tr>
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<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-22953291262283937772015-07-21T14:42:00.000-07:002015-07-21T14:42:16.602-07:00Raceboard fleet at WeymouthWeymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is definitely one of the best venues for course racing in the country, despite extortionate harbour fees. Whilst the RSX and Techno fleets were a little depleted due to clashing or upcoming international championships, the raceboard fleet was very strong. 16 Raceboards may not sound that impressive, but this is pretty good going for a coastal event, which normally put off many of the inland sailors who don't like bumpy water. The best news was that half the fleet were "young" i.e. 25 or less, which is extremely promising for the future of the british raceboard fleet. Lets hope that the fleet continues to grow in this way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_FXONXCeOslm3ruLbgdmRrN3Al57BjKTyqki8b0nit3MNmc61aDYn_HMT1mc7zylXH0w7a0YylKkLX-_Xpm6f_M79XjjvgHMmATk9MC82_j_l5ViXU6DS11y30DJRBhCCBupDTYYqgJ7/s1600/m+P1250765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_FXONXCeOslm3ruLbgdmRrN3Al57BjKTyqki8b0nit3MNmc61aDYn_HMT1mc7zylXH0w7a0YylKkLX-_Xpm6f_M79XjjvgHMmATk9MC82_j_l5ViXU6DS11y30DJRBhCCBupDTYYqgJ7/s400/m+P1250765.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look! Some young, fresh faced raceboarders! Photo by Rod Davis</td></tr>
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The wind looked pretty light on Saturday morning, and racing got underway in about 8 knots. However, it was still pretty patchy, and trying to stay in the gusts was really important. The first race was completely non-planing, and it was pretty hard work! I just managed to stay ahead of Mark Kay, with Rob Kent in 3rd. Robin McAllister, now in his second year on Raceboard, sailed excellently to take 5th. 20 year-old Andrew Robinson was really fast upwind, but suffered downwind (pumping really is hard work if you've not windsurfed for a year!), although he still managed to take 7th. Thankfully, the wind picked up a bit for the next race, and I could stay planing around the whole course and win by a comfortable margin. This time, it was really close between Mark and Rob, but Mark just stayed ahead to take 2nd place.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaWKUNx-OJUXpLW8rEGJN4ygDCSv38Wu2rGH4nB9n-0Roc2vMxDM-9IyItMydYRdRDI9gnjDKVBXUln6spM0K46kCcgQf2zxtO1pOtC9rQ6JLCqJHm_F8fr2KWfvZ8hA_0MdVYRYevDgV/s1600/11758789_1071538972857957_1154224818_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqaWKUNx-OJUXpLW8rEGJN4ygDCSv38Wu2rGH4nB9n-0Roc2vMxDM-9IyItMydYRdRDI9gnjDKVBXUln6spM0K46kCcgQf2zxtO1pOtC9rQ6JLCqJHm_F8fr2KWfvZ8hA_0MdVYRYevDgV/s400/11758789_1071538972857957_1154224818_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close racing between Mark Kay and Louis Morris. Photo by Andy Stallman.</td></tr>
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The wind didn't really build any further, but it did stabilise in the afternoon, and staying in the gusts and on the right side of the shifts was less challenging than previously. Once again, I had a really good speed and angle upwind, and could plane all the way downwind to win by a long way. This time, Rob flew down the last run to snatch 2nd place from Mark just meters from the finish line. Annette Kent and Harriet Ellis both sailed an impressive race, women are limited to an 8.5 sail, yet they finished 4th and 5th respectively, leaving no less than ten 9.5's in their wake. The final race of the day saw a very close first beat, with Mark, Rob, and Lewis Barnes leading the way downwind. I worked hard downwind to get back to the front, but had the worst mark rounding of my life (I missed it all together and had to go back round,oops!), and trailed Rob and Mark for the rest of the race.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDA9KvMOmtxfSQ_QsQXjkSwf3jRkxy72XVRRguzbpBwdfxK5PAzrpXe4sNzUkCZxku8ah2F1mmBlXL-yqlPFcJq0cbxo0jnbcaUYPtoIitUJcN6pZHOmmAarBAhdda0q6b78ecJb3Njhy5/s1600/11755678_10206917129948019_4241641086972310804_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDA9KvMOmtxfSQ_QsQXjkSwf3jRkxy72XVRRguzbpBwdfxK5PAzrpXe4sNzUkCZxku8ah2F1mmBlXL-yqlPFcJq0cbxo0jnbcaUYPtoIitUJcN6pZHOmmAarBAhdda0q6b78ecJb3Njhy5/s400/11755678_10206917129948019_4241641086972310804_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annette Kent. Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
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Only two points separated Alice Butts, Thomas Cave, and Emily Kent in the youth division after 4 races, but it was Emily who clung on to the lead overnight.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS27h3Mj8HbHbfL6xo7ea8Ed6EocgVioLEbo2413oIngeRkrVjSsXajdA6LwwvdhlgZFySpQ17rimTQsut_8NPMr-I_1PDvzsCBvYgqtikmoMYqXoXVqyeNeyhzZ7nMe3KXxL6_GEECY0/s1600/11760045_10203881900802319_462961038710906200_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkS27h3Mj8HbHbfL6xo7ea8Ed6EocgVioLEbo2413oIngeRkrVjSsXajdA6LwwvdhlgZFySpQ17rimTQsut_8NPMr-I_1PDvzsCBvYgqtikmoMYqXoXVqyeNeyhzZ7nMe3KXxL6_GEECY0/s400/11760045_10203881900802319_462961038710906200_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alice Butts flying to the finish. Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
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Sunday also looked light initially, but the wind quickly built to a steady 12 knot SW'ly. Looking back at the results it looks pretty boring! I won, Mark got 2nd, Lewis 3rd, Rob 4th in all 3 races on Sunday morning! Actually, it was really close. Mark was actually over the line in the first race and had to re-start, but incredibly managed to sail so fast that he was soon right on my tail. My starts were good in both races, and I was able to point a couple of degrees higher than Mark to put him into my dirty air and control him behind me. Even so, just a few board lengths separated us from start to finish.We were a long way ahead of the rest of the fleet, but a similar battle was going on between Rob Kent and Lewis Barnes for 3rd and 4th. Rob was better downwind, whilst Lewis's strength is upwind.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO1eMvR1mb1uCWnZ_Lg1sacB0AEr5JGFOZYBtIb4167jnodZ3sJQTdzRTcHCqjrCUtGeIy28Vxw_CbVUX3NTpV6_jK_YTr0UaVSllLehPCrv6AL2uB28hXcciVNspq4ooExKnhVwmNmKp/s1600/11755753_10203881886361958_4760765713421078981_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO1eMvR1mb1uCWnZ_Lg1sacB0AEr5JGFOZYBtIb4167jnodZ3sJQTdzRTcHCqjrCUtGeIy28Vxw_CbVUX3NTpV6_jK_YTr0UaVSllLehPCrv6AL2uB28hXcciVNspq4ooExKnhVwmNmKp/s400/11755753_10203881886361958_4760765713421078981_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis in fine form, especially upwind. Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
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In the afternoon, the wind picked up a notch, with gusts of up to 20 knots.I think we were all a little relieved that Tom Naylor wasn't in attendance, as these really were his conditions! The top 4 was occupied by the same people as before, but with that extra breeze, Mark was unstoppable upwind. I didn't let him disappear off too far, once he was ahead, I simply couldn't catch him. However, with 6 race wins, I had done enough to win the event.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVvgtdhP1Ib0odP6iFTB1twnTl3xJCwyRDzNA9KaDdkLeKs34Qcx2yeGHCkkQrS5hyphenhyphen9FOjVh7JIs7lOy7kEP_nfL9T0-VWuceRWPSwXPZXw2DsewSkE5J9L1K48jAbWb6W8f4q2KFWlqA/s1600/10696372_10203881882321857_2072190469045284276_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHVvgtdhP1Ib0odP6iFTB1twnTl3xJCwyRDzNA9KaDdkLeKs34Qcx2yeGHCkkQrS5hyphenhyphen9FOjVh7JIs7lOy7kEP_nfL9T0-VWuceRWPSwXPZXw2DsewSkE5J9L1K48jAbWb6W8f4q2KFWlqA/s400/10696372_10203881882321857_2072190469045284276_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark takes a bullet! Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Rob was glad of his 1st and 2nd places on Saturday afternoon, and finishing 4th behind Lewis in every race in Sunday was enough to give him 3rd overall in the final results.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxIzHTZMko1kbQYDS-9GOTH2kwCCqP6Jo6ImNoXDD6v1Sy7PaWiZoZS7DC6a4kpfYSRAkxOBIKbYldGhBsR9b3OBQ1YlgxS5N2a6Zx4J7_iM92MIV4UkTUXumqVZlLDq1pdxfe_-GGtCk/s1600/11209424_10203881839680791_5067741220673690518_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxIzHTZMko1kbQYDS-9GOTH2kwCCqP6Jo6ImNoXDD6v1Sy7PaWiZoZS7DC6a4kpfYSRAkxOBIKbYldGhBsR9b3OBQ1YlgxS5N2a6Zx4J7_iM92MIV4UkTUXumqVZlLDq1pdxfe_-GGtCk/s400/11209424_10203881839680791_5067741220673690518_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis and Louis head upwind in perfect conditions. Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
John Pete must have had some kind of turbo on the back of his board, because he was on fire this weekend finishing 5th overall. Robin McAllister was very impressive in the stronger wind and took 5th place in three of the races, and 6th overall in the event.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05ODB6IBMug-RmK4_CJCRC7c1Q3ed6y4O1_6P7nQ15-87AZMMK4y40ddJfbTxodKwBrht1ftJDE6KnRbpoGqPztSw4M6QYsj-eI25ska0CybfGAHYudMK2_0POHIyK2FeCKoqsVJYvTM5/s1600/11694121_10203881890442060_1619161367867000516_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj05ODB6IBMug-RmK4_CJCRC7c1Q3ed6y4O1_6P7nQ15-87AZMMK4y40ddJfbTxodKwBrht1ftJDE6KnRbpoGqPztSw4M6QYsj-eI25ska0CybfGAHYudMK2_0POHIyK2FeCKoqsVJYvTM5/s400/11694121_10203881890442060_1619161367867000516_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robin McAllister. Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It is almost always a very close race between Harriet Ellis and Annette Kent, and this time it was Harriet who was first lady, finishing one or two places ahead in most of the races.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwDfacTsgxnBbvQKFjR-XQCO_U4CQPkfq2P8WOb4oDSttJGcEFet9KNWpJMkCq1xfJVmCYgbM6l7Wc7-4JZdbwUb9_6x06445A5GHJ1wFWkT0plNRBZIQtHGPeh0DqlvZY_iM5IYsrJga/s1600/11750703_10203881896242205_1115357861247808937_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihwDfacTsgxnBbvQKFjR-XQCO_U4CQPkfq2P8WOb4oDSttJGcEFet9KNWpJMkCq1xfJVmCYgbM6l7Wc7-4JZdbwUb9_6x06445A5GHJ1wFWkT0plNRBZIQtHGPeh0DqlvZY_iM5IYsrJga/s400/11750703_10203881896242205_1115357861247808937_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harriet Ellis wins the ladies. Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Alice Butts looked comfortable in the stronger wind, but it was Thomas Cave who really excelled and finished first youth by an impressive 10 point margin.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllkzlghfc5g-WNBmQlGxGp4Cl8ZN3gZ_t7Bdayz_9K-MFiJ_bliD_jzjgqozPQ2RjDDCErtZwu1gDhT2s9nMFjTxwkBv8-lhyyv2INHsukWSPEbwFx8NtrUo1rZNDadPrDrUvEXTp-puE/s1600/11218715_10203881900122302_7128922303036515010_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgllkzlghfc5g-WNBmQlGxGp4Cl8ZN3gZ_t7Bdayz_9K-MFiJ_bliD_jzjgqozPQ2RjDDCErtZwu1gDhT2s9nMFjTxwkBv8-lhyyv2INHsukWSPEbwFx8NtrUo1rZNDadPrDrUvEXTp-puE/s400/11218715_10203881900122302_7128922303036515010_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First youth: Thomas Cave. Photo by Karen Battye</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Full results: <a href="http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/Weymouth2015.html">http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/Weymouth2015.html</a><br />
<br />
Results summary:<br />
1st Louis Morris, 1st Lightweight<br />
2nd Mark Kay, 1st Master, 1st Heavyweight<br />
3rd Robert Kent<br />
1st Super Veteran, John Pete (5th overall)<br />
1st Lady, Harriet Ellis (7th overall)<br />
1st Veteran, Chris Gibson (9th overall)<br />
1st Youth, Thomas Cave (11th overall)<br />
<br />
See you all at the next event in Pwllheli!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3foeCUgDHweFGg5psxlFioNg-dVMmHI5ozz5CDLk6IsGPPdBFNxl1IluMxdQQ-LXYyoHff1Pf_YJGfb0yDHl8doUNak5DKH5CbuPJF4QR_8_Grx4f3aQBwxYX2EeLDVBAbuWn49DqePP/s1600/11758902_1071543292857525_227266702_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx3foeCUgDHweFGg5psxlFioNg-dVMmHI5ozz5CDLk6IsGPPdBFNxl1IluMxdQQ-LXYyoHff1Pf_YJGfb0yDHl8doUNak5DKH5CbuPJF4QR_8_Grx4f3aQBwxYX2EeLDVBAbuWn49DqePP/s320/11758902_1071543292857525_227266702_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Andy Stallman</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-71411890510981354452015-06-25T05:12:00.001-07:002015-06-25T05:12:10.943-07:00Datchet: UKWA Regional Inland SeriesThe UKWA Regional Inland Series is a great series of events, serving as both: high quality, high level racing for experienced competitors, often offering a different challenge to the sea events (flat water, fluky winds), and also the perfect introduction to national level course racing.<br />
<br />
Datchet was an excellent example of this, and saw a sizable junior fleet, making the step up from Team 15 with some close racing and great coaching from Chloe Bennett. There was also a decent techno fleet, and it was a great opportunity for a couple of the older techno sailors to get some experience on the RSX.<br />
<br />
The Raceboard fleet had a good entry of 22 competitors, including some local LWA windsurfers, and 4 youths, including Thomas Cave and Alice Butts, both of whom are new to Raceboard this year.<br />
<br />
Saturday good as the terrible forecast! Grey, a bit drizzly, and very light wind. It did pick up to up to 10 knots in the late afternoon, but died away to nothing once everyone was on the start line! Eventually, once race was completed in 5-8 knots in the afternoon. With the rather low water level, the wind was very gusty and shifty, and it was hard to not get stuck in a patch of no wind, or get on the wrong side of the shift. I had a good start, but didn't get the beat spot on. I got it good enough though, and with a bit of pumping, rounded first, just ahead of Andy Gibson, who was absolutely flying upwind at an outrageous angle. Mark Kay fought back downwind, and was in a great position for the second beat. Rob Kent can never be discounted, especially in these winds, and took second place behind myself, with Mark working hard for a well earnt 3rd.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1KMvprXdF6HEgT_hhsgnJvLKC_-Biz0KEzsv7_norqY4AAywGpwI6a4cIPovU7MkRsCAmM6FcawRQEvvKcYVUTkY4EB9L3f61E1pn_g2Qfg7Xer5VwzGXd3uGQW4hPcviKSxVISXmlny/s1600/1597363_605426172930657_4978578240571640574_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq1KMvprXdF6HEgT_hhsgnJvLKC_-Biz0KEzsv7_norqY4AAywGpwI6a4cIPovU7MkRsCAmM6FcawRQEvvKcYVUTkY4EB9L3f61E1pn_g2Qfg7Xer5VwzGXd3uGQW4hPcviKSxVISXmlny/s320/1597363_605426172930657_4978578240571640574_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breezy Sunday</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After an evening of musical entertainment and food in the clubhouse, Sunday's forecast was eagerly anticipated. We woke to a building westerly breeze, and by the time we launched, it was a pretty solid 15-20 knots. However, the wind shifted a little to the right, and having to share the lake with the club racers, the course ended up being set in an incredibly gusty shifty corner, which made the days 5 short races pretty hard work.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsSXiZYnq30yJmg5IalkORZQGLDwwhQf7iPfm_77AnRdHzsd4ziaYKjp9T3Abrp-9dVEevPB27sPyVChFag6tumolrvKOIoTHQB5B-TglNF1qq6EIebXvvrC5ha1KZHrMVqubomLdhYuw/s1600/Picture3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglsSXiZYnq30yJmg5IalkORZQGLDwwhQf7iPfm_77AnRdHzsd4ziaYKjp9T3Abrp-9dVEevPB27sPyVChFag6tumolrvKOIoTHQB5B-TglNF1qq6EIebXvvrC5ha1KZHrMVqubomLdhYuw/s400/Picture3.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like blasting between the races!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was an interesting mix of tactics on the short upwind leg, with some opting to go right and get the shift off the shore, and others heading left into the (possibly) more consistent breeze in the middle of the lake. I tended to head left off the port biased line, and it worked, combined with hunting the gusts downwind, I won the first two races by a big margin. Tim Colles had an awesome one in race 3, but consistency was what mattered, and it was Mark Kay and Lewis Barnes who managed to make their awesome speed work in the tricky conditions best. In race 4, Mark went the same way as me upwind and it was a pretty close battle most of the way round, I just managed to overtake him downwind, then followed a gust round the last downwind leg to just take the win. With two races scheduled for the afternoon, Mark was in 2nd behind myself, but with Rob Kent and Lewis Barnes not far behind. Race 5 didn't go so well for Mark, finishing 4th, but Lewis Barnes sailed brilliantly to close the gap on Rob. The battle for the podium went down to the last race, where the wind swung round so much, that almost the whole fleet started on port. I went quite early but remarkably wasn't over, but hesitated a little, then felt totally out of control as a gust came from nowhere. By the time I'd adjusted my sail, Mark, Lewis, and Andy sailed right over the top of the rest of the fleet and stayed way out in front for the rest of the race, allowing Lewis to snatch 3rd place away from Rob. I pulled myself back into fourth downwind, but there was no way I'd catch the top 3!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SHX2uVwHIgeGeZdUHxsNUZJZjKzYuYrldCOhTCavSTZr9u3moIDcWJgEEiLQHRchUyVOtHKqXxom8zFqZ5nrlEHMpuTInJG-BWA_fMe5HScrj5-KHMpws8dANT0mM_3XnYJbU4M9bbxH/s1600/Picture4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1SHX2uVwHIgeGeZdUHxsNUZJZjKzYuYrldCOhTCavSTZr9u3moIDcWJgEEiLQHRchUyVOtHKqXxom8zFqZ5nrlEHMpuTInJG-BWA_fMe5HScrj5-KHMpws8dANT0mM_3XnYJbU4M9bbxH/s400/Picture4.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kay chasing Paul Leone to the finish</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Annette Kent got a series of good top 10 results to finish first lady and 9th overall, quite a few points ahead of Jenna Gibson in 10th. Jenna took the first youth prize convincingly, but it was a pretty close match between Thomas, Alice, and Emily Kent. They were trading places the whole weekend, but in the end Thomas took 2nd, with Alice just edging into 3rd ahead of Emily.<br />
<br />
The next inland event isn't until September for the RYA/UKWA Inland Nationals and Youth and Masters Championship, but in the meantime, there is plenty of coastal action lined up at Herne Bay, Weymouth, and Pwllheli.<br />
<br />
Results:<br />
1st Louis Morris<br />
2nd Mark Kay, 1st Master, 1st Heavyweight<br />
3rd Lewis Barnes<br />
<br />
1st Veteran, Bob Ingram, 7th overall<br />
1st Super Veteran, John Pete, 8th overall<br />
1st Lady, Annette Kent, 9th overall<br />
1st Youth Jenna Gibson, 10th overall<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NRG_W9pXALcJZWl3MPRx_bEC4O4kReBkDA_3iKXdgYecT2Jyh0qvTe7EFzo3B2KPYSm_GY1IEO8q3_KjJNzpugU93kZx7MS2oy5xVJmM4XPs4rqS3K6WZEkGEQqFKgLE-GYebLrYYsMZ/s1600/Picture1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4NRG_W9pXALcJZWl3MPRx_bEC4O4kReBkDA_3iKXdgYecT2Jyh0qvTe7EFzo3B2KPYSm_GY1IEO8q3_KjJNzpugU93kZx7MS2oy5xVJmM4XPs4rqS3K6WZEkGEQqFKgLE-GYebLrYYsMZ/s400/Picture1.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Raceboard winners!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-0UJ2QNfTPtBMJcj4nwMR7dyRlPeY2Jyra_l9IbVl-k8CNGPVu_rDBDJWXfs3hNjA-IyJjIO24fSa8MCd1pGt23uuaMJ0T0X41r0Sz13EJvXjYARUt93XOBihWAWMJtGWQcOvP1DB3YI/s1600/Picture2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_-0UJ2QNfTPtBMJcj4nwMR7dyRlPeY2Jyra_l9IbVl-k8CNGPVu_rDBDJWXfs3hNjA-IyJjIO24fSa8MCd1pGt23uuaMJ0T0X41r0Sz13EJvXjYARUt93XOBihWAWMJtGWQcOvP1DB3YI/s400/Picture2.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top 3 youths</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-4930355217578428542015-06-19T02:48:00.000-07:002015-06-19T02:48:05.739-07:004th place at the 2015 Ergo Hestia Raceboard World Championships<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was really
looking forward to the Raceboard worlds this year. Last year I was not able to
compete in either the Worlds or Europeans due to work/university commitments so
instead I committed to doing the full UK tour for the first time. Fortunately,
the worlds this year didn’t clash with any other commitments. Unfortunately, it
started 4 days after my final exam, which came at the end of a really busy
final year at university, particularly late March-late June was pretty full
with writing my masters thesis and studying for my final exams. The result was
driving off to Poland with virtually no training! Luckily I had managed to find
time to enter the Round Hayling Island Race, and the first UKWA event of the
season, which was good preparation. I just had to stay calm, not put too much
pressure on myself, and enjoy the event in the knowledge that my technique and kit
was well ready after 2 seasons of getting faster and more tuned up. To be
honest, I would have been disappointed with anything outside the top 10, and
set the same ultimate goal as I did for the 2013 worlds: a top 5 finish.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ9t6-oIxpZRk9B1l_B4naSlGP7XXyAryq0CMKKaLjqjJDwaZ1d7t-j3CVsnIwNetrfusyZdLNgIX9IkUjIlbBUnt6EKzLds3lNEAwFj7hP9CdsRZUElftH22jZ-PH7FoNprU2cxCPufQ/s1600/Lined+up+on+the+start+line.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJ9t6-oIxpZRk9B1l_B4naSlGP7XXyAryq0CMKKaLjqjJDwaZ1d7t-j3CVsnIwNetrfusyZdLNgIX9IkUjIlbBUnt6EKzLds3lNEAwFj7hP9CdsRZUElftH22jZ-PH7FoNprU2cxCPufQ/s400/Lined+up+on+the+start+line.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">On the startline at my last worlds in 2013 (photo by Martin
Hales)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I walked out of
my final exam, and after a brief celebration for completing my degree, got
straight on with packing. I was to drive to Sopot, Poland with Lewis Barnes and
Chris Willetts the next morning. I received a text from Chris saying that he’d
injured his leg and couldn’t really walk on it, uh oh! That meant I’d have to
drive all of the 1200 miles (1900 km) myself, as Lewis doesn’t have a driving
license. I just had to get on with it I guess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lewis in training<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We weren’t in a
rush, camping near Gent and Berlin on the way, and with a huge stack of CD’s
and Lewis’s ability to talk for a few hours at a time, the miles ticked away
and we finally arrived at my friend Jan’s house in Gdansk on Sunday evening. It
was really nice to be able to stay at his house by the forest at the edge of
the city, and 20 minutes from the sailing club: close enough to be easy to get
to every morning, but nice to escape the sailing club every day and relax away
from the racing area.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Monday was
registration day, and me and Lewis got out for a bit of training. It was and
onshore breeze, 6-9 knots and fairly choppy, really useful training, as we did
quite a lot of racing in these kind of conditions, and I hadn’t sailed my
raceboard for a while, especially in light wind conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL_AUSy__OJMrI2qzeVxykGV7YFsVGuLwDjn0p-4Fv39s880tVIIt6BR5SYCRh6eYPjJDCjqZ8Y2k5mgNSIhfR9nifhWDuwAsmG5erGs-ZkFmo35UOYARjgRuYVQ6vyeHFoOzwiqIyb1a/s1600/DSC02683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsL_AUSy__OJMrI2qzeVxykGV7YFsVGuLwDjn0p-4Fv39s880tVIIt6BR5SYCRh6eYPjJDCjqZ8Y2k5mgNSIhfR9nifhWDuwAsmG5erGs-ZkFmo35UOYARjgRuYVQ6vyeHFoOzwiqIyb1a/s400/DSC02683.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Starboard Phantoms registered and ready to go.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a
healthy entry, with 70 men (unfortunately a little lower than the 103
competitors in 2014), and 11 women. 6 from Argentina, 2 Australians, 11 Czechs,
1 from Denmark, 7 from Finland, 3 from France, 2 from the UK, 17 Germans, 5
Latvians, 20 from Poland, 1 from Portugal, 1 Swiss, 4 Slovakians. As is usual
for an international event, most competitors registered a light wind 9.5 and a
strong wind 9.5, I registered, as usual, my Tushingham XR Race 9.5, and
Lightning 8.5. I use the XR Race in all wind conditions, and with the forecast
looking pretty terrible, I didn’t see myself needing the 8.5! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lewis and Louis rigged and ready (photo by Lewis Barnes)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first day of racing looked
like it would have the best wind of the week, with a 10 knot forecast (yes the
rest of the week really did look that bad!). By the end of the day the wind had
built nicely, and we got 3 races in, two of them planing. I started my event
with a conservative start in the middle of the line, and finished 11<sup>th</sup>,
quickly realising that playing it too safe wouldn’t be enough if I was going to
challenge for the top. With everyone going so fast, and a relatively clean and
consistent wind strength and direction, getting a good start was really vital
to get in front and stay in front. I put this right in the second race, and
pushed for the pin end. I had decent speed and finished a solid 4<sup>th</sup>.
Nothing really went wrong in the last race, but I just felt tired and unable to
get the speed that I wanted upwind, but finished 8<sup>th</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Max Wojcik and Piotr Nowacki,
showed that they were the ones to beat in the event, getting 3 firsts and 3
seconds respectively. Fabian Grundmann of Germany was also really fast in the
planing conditions, as was Juha Blinnikka of Finland.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended the first day in 9<sup>th</sup>,
but the top 10 were really tightly packed with just a few points separating us,
so it was a good start to the regatta, I just had to keep getting consistent top
10 and top 5 results.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55EdejRlv-FEQSgm9nK5M6lf_BjmSzmlkENi45Hd-P0bNdKRrXNPsMBSscvgjvOizulA8gm9VeMOL06ulm9IItaDDy6g03k5zbaj7TEnsqZ-iKwWo6-56iLBrx7s9h89Ha2UNSi5G3WbP/s1600/5577373c3c807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh55EdejRlv-FEQSgm9nK5M6lf_BjmSzmlkENi45Hd-P0bNdKRrXNPsMBSscvgjvOizulA8gm9VeMOL06ulm9IItaDDy6g03k5zbaj7TEnsqZ-iKwWo6-56iLBrx7s9h89Ha2UNSi5G3WbP/s400/5577373c3c807.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Reaching to the finish (Robert Hajduk, shuttersail.com)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind was
more or less the same direction for the second day, but lighter, mainly non-planing
conditions of 6-10 knots. I initially struggled to get a good angle upwind, but
changed my setup a little, and then felt really competitive both upwind, and
downwind, where keeping the board surfing down the swell/chop was really
important. After a bad first beat, I was fighting my way back up the fleet in
race 4, but finished a great 5<sup>th</sup> place. In race 5, it was the
opposite, I started the second beat in a good position, but played it too safe
up the middle of the course, and lost some places because of that. Without much
in the way of gusts and shifts, you really had to have good speed and commit to
one side in clean air without loosing distance by tacking too much. I got a
perfect start, great speed, and good tactics in race 6, and finished an awesome
2<sup>nd</sup>, I was really happy with that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Max stayed
dominant at the front, and Piotr was still comfortable in 2<sup>nd</sup>, but
the rest of the top 10 had a little shuffle as Fabian and Juha, who were flying
on day 1, struggled a little in the light wind. Meanwhile, Daniel Blinnikka,
myself, and Jan Maszkiewicz had a solid day, ranked 3<sup>rd</sup>, 4<sup>th</sup>,
and 5<sup>th</sup> respectively at the end of the day, with just two points
separating the three of us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK63u3ZkkrPmmCmRmpcaG6ssypdFxrr7lhnN7kNkrrWFjWcsbtCR9nc98RgBfCwQKFCkEFUJEwiAsPzyYuE36nahyphenhyphenhI6PkTFASnrc5tTPJ9e4ojXjyeHF0ZbEe_dnVxHu9SvDMzo3VPVA/s1600/557736d99b51f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyK63u3ZkkrPmmCmRmpcaG6ssypdFxrr7lhnN7kNkrrWFjWcsbtCR9nc98RgBfCwQKFCkEFUJEwiAsPzyYuE36nahyphenhyphenhI6PkTFASnrc5tTPJ9e4ojXjyeHF0ZbEe_dnVxHu9SvDMzo3VPVA/s320/557736d99b51f.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Tight mark rounding (Robert Hajduk, shuttersail.com)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 3 looked a little different,
with flat water and a cross-offshore westerly breeze, which lead to two races
in almost unbelievably gusty (5-14 knots in the same race!) and shifty
conditions. This made it really tough: tactically because you had to manage
risk and try and stay on the right side of the shifts and in stay in the gusts
as much as possible, and physically because you had to pump like crazy downwind
in the lulls, and hang on to a lot of power upwind in the gusts. I was glad
that my sail is so versatile and tunable, and I was adjusting my downhaul and
outhaul continuously during the race (even sailing upwind with the outhaul rope
in my hand).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was hard to be consistent, but
Daniel and Fabian were super solid in these conditions with two 6ths, and a 2<sup>nd</sup>
and 4<sup>th</sup> respectively. Piotr wasn’t so in tune and finished outside
the top 10 in both races. I was consistent enough, felt quite fast but found it
really hard to get the gusts and shifts right. There were times when I’d look
in an awesome position, but the round the windward mark around 10<sup>th</sup>,
then jump up to the top 5 again, only to go down the last downwind stuck in no
wind whilst a group of windsurfers were flying down the course in a gust by the
shore.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lewis was loving the conditions,
I think it reminded him of lake sailing in the midlands! He was challenging for
the top 10, and even the top 5 at times, and just lacked a little downwind
speed compared to the top guys, but got awesome 13<sup>th</sup> and 9<sup>th</sup>,
which was a great help after not finding his form in the choppier opening days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We were sent in for lunch, and a nice 12 knot
sea breeze appeared from the east. The race officer decided to run a long
distance race. However, by the time we got to the start line and had a general
recall, the wind was more like 9 knots, and by the time we finished it was
about 4. I arrived to the windward mark in a good position, just behind Daniel.
Max flew downwind, and Jan and Piotr also overtook us both, I arrived to the
leeward mark in 4<sup>th</sup>, just ahead of Daniel. The last upwind leg back
to the start line was very light and tricky, but I managed to round the final
mark in 2<sup>nd</sup>, with Piotr and Jan breathing down my neck. I couldn’t
really find a comfortable or fast way of reaching in these conditions, and lost
my place to Piotr and Jan just meters from the finish line! 4<sup>th</sup> is
still good, but 2<sup>nd</sup> would have been better!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I ended the day in 5<sup>th</sup>, tied with
Daniel, and one point off Jan in 3<sup>rd</sup>. It seemed like there was very
little between us, so the pressure was on for the final two days.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEozAbisW74V2ToREcFTuAbmFKc_TX_a4zbt1l41kKhPXvcMGR6tS6_QRdJ7b9C-UV_Hr08u_gNe2NV1IGU6qEu5Q36F42FfGlyjpB_WlqL6pi89PFbq0heFuF7q9aE0qSEIsJ656sEi2/s1600/5579ce62bd007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEozAbisW74V2ToREcFTuAbmFKc_TX_a4zbt1l41kKhPXvcMGR6tS6_QRdJ7b9C-UV_Hr08u_gNe2NV1IGU6qEu5Q36F42FfGlyjpB_WlqL6pi89PFbq0heFuF7q9aE0qSEIsJ656sEi2/s400/5579ce62bd007.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Shifty conditions made for a super tight reach to the finish.
(Robert Hajduk, shuttersail.com)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The forecast for day 4 looked
really bad, maybe peaking at about 6 knots if we were lucky! Luckily, we were
extra lucky and race 10 got underway in a clean 11-13 knot sea breeze. I didn’t
have a great start, struggled to get a good angle and speed upwind, and
couldn’t make up for it downwind, so finished 10<sup>th</sup>, Daniel had a
great race, and finished 2<sup>nd</sup>, Jan didn’t finish the race, I think
something broke.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The sea breeze started to get
very patchy indeed, with some big shifts as well. It was really difficult to
see any pattern in where the holes were, but I got good starts and managed to
stay in the gusts well and got two 6<sup>th</sup> places. Jan and Daniel did
pretty badly, which lead to Daniel ending the day in 3<sup>rd</sup> just one
point ahead of me, and Jan now out of podium contention.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBZKe5NAgG126ZQnoJLlbSqeOj62E_K5vQIOtNnoUb2glhxs7ZXBdrxsCyZH8ylGjtj0DgvrZuDTVchIE-QDrHxg-ep6CqJsruW-DrqxyrQJi-MFq0TWSf2sa7pQuWAHrJxucNuaW2rdh/s1600/557736958328c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFBZKe5NAgG126ZQnoJLlbSqeOj62E_K5vQIOtNnoUb2glhxs7ZXBdrxsCyZH8ylGjtj0DgvrZuDTVchIE-QDrHxg-ep6CqJsruW-DrqxyrQJi-MFq0TWSf2sa7pQuWAHrJxucNuaW2rdh/s400/557736958328c.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In the mix off the start (Robert Hajduk, shuttersail.com)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The top two places were well out
of reach, so I was ready for a battle for 3<sup>rd</sup> on the final day
between myself and Daniel. However, it wasn’t that simple, as if we did badly,
3<sup>rd</sup> place could be snatched away by former world champion Patrick
Pollack, who had been chipping away at the points, with a series of consistent
top 10 results just held back by a couple of not so good discards, and
Portugal’s Pedro Corte Moura who was really flying upwind in all conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We waited for 2 hours for the
wind to pick up to 6 knots, then had two races in really light conditions,
right on the limit of what was race-able. The fleet pushed the start very hard,
and we had a general recall with a black flagged second start. My start was
quite good and I was in a good position, with Daniel buried in the fleet. He
tacked off to the right hand side of the course, but I didn’t see and continued
to the left. Daniel rounded in a good position, and I had a lot of work to do.
I worked hard, and had a good second beat, then just managed to overtake Pedro
at the finish line, finishing one place behind Daniel.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This meant that to take 3rd place overall, I
would have to beat Daniel by at least two places in the final race, and ideally
in the top 10. I started near to him and had a great start, then tacked with
him, sailed to the layline and rounded with windward mark with several sailors
between us. I again covered him up the second beat, but lost some places at the
leeward mark. I almost managed to overtake Petr Kucera on the final downwind,
but it wasn’t enough, and all I could do was rely on somebody finishing between
me and Daniel. He was really pushing hard downwind and reeling in some places.
In the end he finished just ahead of Patrick, only one place behind me, handing
him 3rd place, one point ahead of myself in 4th.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSo1qz_taJBeHm2TyJNVHJFKRZ1UIIjAerjb5vFV9f7StWWsoRH1sks3Pt_qU2B_nc1Sxbv1V1vbauTAIHNS1rrwEZavR2g_5NfdRU1aLb7sKXkJmCW9RqLXRt_8njhW_rwSKO8hwOc5A/s1600/55786a1b43d99.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLSo1qz_taJBeHm2TyJNVHJFKRZ1UIIjAerjb5vFV9f7StWWsoRH1sks3Pt_qU2B_nc1Sxbv1V1vbauTAIHNS1rrwEZavR2g_5NfdRU1aLb7sKXkJmCW9RqLXRt_8njhW_rwSKO8hwOc5A/s400/55786a1b43d99.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Ready for the start (Robert Hajduk, shuttersail.com)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m happy with how I sailed, I
didn’t make too many mistakes, managed to be fairly consistent, and was
fighting really close for the podium right until the last seconds of the
championship. We managed 14 races, which was pretty impressive given the
forecast, and I felt quite fast most of the time in the wind between 4 and 15
knots that we had during the competition. I knew before entering that it could
be a tough battle between myself and Daniel; he finished 3<sup>rd</sup> in
2012, I finished 3<sup>rd</sup> in 2013. It was an enjoyable and testing event,
and I feel really motivated and ready for the rest of the national events this
summer. I was not planning on heading to the Europeans in Cadiz this September,
but now I’m a bit tempted, we’ll see. Anyway, the 2016 worlds are in Brisbane,
Australia. I’m not sure I can make it to that, but I’m fully up for the 2016
Europeans in Brest, France, and I’ll train hard and push for the podium.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I should also say that my
training and travel buddy Lewis found another gear and posted some more great
top 20 results, even in his least favoured light, choppy conditions to finish
in 21<sup>st</sup>, an awesome result for the 17 year-old in a senior fleet of
his first international competition.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations to Max, Piotr and
Daniel for their awesome performance in the championship. Thanks to the race
officer Ewa Jodlowska, and all of the on and off water crews who made the event
happen. And of course, Robert Hajduk for taking all the incredible photos<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1qREvt5QVPVkjw6UtOFARyW_gU04KlRFJThuDq-atJG56hygW9Y3SaHhHf3a9QXnkvkJBzr6RCU21NbVOhp04_XwsMqYrSGvtqThrOxwi6t0z8wJmI9O1TK4ZvsakGJc5VPNkhSCIYvy/s1600/557ca4af6f1bc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1qREvt5QVPVkjw6UtOFARyW_gU04KlRFJThuDq-atJG56hygW9Y3SaHhHf3a9QXnkvkJBzr6RCU21NbVOhp04_XwsMqYrSGvtqThrOxwi6t0z8wJmI9O1TK4ZvsakGJc5VPNkhSCIYvy/s400/557ca4af6f1bc.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Mens top 3: Max Wojcik, Piotr Nowacki, Daniel Blinnikka. (Robert
Hajduk, shuttersail.com)</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5lzbebleK46BjXEQicC4h6OmttdSsKUnTJmF3TA3wf2PEdhdhakXy4FKB2ucGaar26UJ08tn2IxJTWa_xkk1r5GS5MuXflU2cEHvS772XZyYhKWHgAEwd4lBqbL90IGxdlgyWXGyWQqo/s1600/5579ce70227b5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP5lzbebleK46BjXEQicC4h6OmttdSsKUnTJmF3TA3wf2PEdhdhakXy4FKB2ucGaar26UJ08tn2IxJTWa_xkk1r5GS5MuXflU2cEHvS772XZyYhKWHgAEwd4lBqbL90IGxdlgyWXGyWQqo/s400/5579ce70227b5.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Louis Morris GBR 730 – 4<sup>th</sup> (Robert Hajduk,
shuttersail.com)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZifyIBK0eVhPwBZTQHiOUwJHpz6N9ZpqV_5NFFUwvV-EZM9D4PpEb7rcM0E5Jl7XEDW40IR1W17rS_kAdZzVSj3kDL3OY8lStiAzyCGl5PiW7Kgj-4J4nP1rCd1jFDWrBtNI-O4iFmNq/s1600/557ca4b1dad3b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="344" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZifyIBK0eVhPwBZTQHiOUwJHpz6N9ZpqV_5NFFUwvV-EZM9D4PpEb7rcM0E5Jl7XEDW40IR1W17rS_kAdZzVSj3kDL3OY8lStiAzyCGl5PiW7Kgj-4J4nP1rCd1jFDWrBtNI-O4iFmNq/s640/557ca4b1dad3b.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #141823;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The competitors (Robert Hajduk, shuttersail.com)</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 9pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-39383219376734666142015-05-04T11:14:00.002-07:002015-05-04T11:15:43.080-07:00UKWA Christchurch - Raceboard report<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first event of the UKWA National Championship series kicked off on the waters of Christchurch bay last weekend. Here is a run-down of the happenings of the Raceboard fleet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday saw winds of about 11-20 knots, with plenty of
bumpy swell and chop to go with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first race was probably the lightest, with some of the
fleet not planing all the way downwind. Mark Kay and Tom Naylor got off to a
flying start, and overtook Louis, who timed his acceleration slightly wrong and
didn’t have the speed to put it right. However, Louis tacked off and found some
good breeze out to sea, pulling back and rounding the windward mark just a few
board lengths behind Mark. Good downwind speed from Louis and a slightly ropey
mark rounding from Mark saw Louis take the lead, but by the windward mark Mark
had regained it, with the left of the course appearing to pay this time. Mark
flew off down the reach, leaving Louis to settle for 2<sup>nd</sup> with Tom in
3<sup>rd</sup> and Rob Kent not far behind in 4<sup>th</sup>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflH-pETvoRwtqobIRVqYWwZhbeRoTZRUE8AGb5xzMidCZE33cFrfylIVSOE3yc0qCep26m4wSB-Bn-wvk9JtyFJxI87ayoer6d99DxADfNkFx8n1BthMSqo1Etv5eZ47HPDJIqpqj-v5R/s1600/14295439413_ac638b3f57_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiflH-pETvoRwtqobIRVqYWwZhbeRoTZRUE8AGb5xzMidCZE33cFrfylIVSOE3yc0qCep26m4wSB-Bn-wvk9JtyFJxI87ayoer6d99DxADfNkFx8n1BthMSqo1Etv5eZ47HPDJIqpqj-v5R/s320/14295439413_ac638b3f57_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis Morris. Photo by John Liddy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind was similar in the second race, but the wind was a
little less inconsistent. Louis got the best start and lead for much of the
first beat, but once again, Mark and Tom showed some serious upwind pace to
just edge in front at the windward mark. Louis’ excellent downwind speed and
angle saw him pass Tom, and gain on Mark. Mark then pulled away upwind,
although it turned out that he crossed the start line early, disqualifying him
from the race. Tom was looking annoyingly comfortable on his old 9.4 Tushingham
Lightning, and sailed past Louis upwind, but a poor layline let Louis back past
and he lead Tom down the reach. A quick look over his shoulder almost cost
Louis the race as his board slammed into a wave and stopped dead, sending Louis
over the front. Luckily for him, the wind was rather light down the final
reach, and he just managed to pump his way past Tom, winning by just a couple
of board lengths.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind built considerably by the last race, which seemed
to spread the fleet out a little more. The little extra wind worked in Marks
favour, and he simply flew off the start and lead all the way to the finish of
the extra-long 3 lap race. Whilst Louis usually pulled back a few meters
downwind, Mark just kept extending his lead upwind. Similarly, Louis lead Tom
the whole way round, with better downwind speed, and although Tom reeled him in
a bit every upwind, Louis took 2<sup>nd</sup> place by sizeable margin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHNAftDftjmLdGR0Lf6r4Ugb8tl-tbAVbep4PrUcROvImPrI6h-CvXT_AwYAQRDGe31ezXMFG0XecLCaQT0OOwccMnX7BWY_eThnXivZAfXl7AWiVk8IZf9FHxgkjE9tqkvS3PohAN1By/s1600/10365308_596824150423835_5037414953803061160_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfHNAftDftjmLdGR0Lf6r4Ugb8tl-tbAVbep4PrUcROvImPrI6h-CvXT_AwYAQRDGe31ezXMFG0XecLCaQT0OOwccMnX7BWY_eThnXivZAfXl7AWiVk8IZf9FHxgkjE9tqkvS3PohAN1By/s320/10365308_596824150423835_5037414953803061160_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kay. Photo by Matthew Burridge</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It looked really windy on Sunday morning, but by the time we
were racing, the wind dropped significantly. Conditions were less choppy, but
very gusty with a sizable cross-swell. The tide wasn’t really running in the
first race, and both sides of the course appeared to pay equally well. The race
between Louis and Mark was very close, and there was than a board-length in it
down the top reach. Louis was leading on the last downwind, but gybed a little
too early and left the door open for Mark, handing him the victory. The wind
picked up, and another race was started, but it was abandoned due to a threat
of fog.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a lunch break, visibility was good enough for another
race, and this time it really was windy, with gusts over 20 knots sweeping down
the course. Tom Naylor lead upwind, with Mark Kay and Andy Gibson not far
behind. However, Tom dropped his tack, opening the door for Mark, Andy, and
Louis. After an exciting downwind Louis had overtaken Andy, and was within
striking distance of Mark. Mark opted to stay close to shore, but Louis tacked
back out to sea and took advantage of the stronger tide to take the lead and
win the final race.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Final results: Mark deservedly won the event, just one point
ahead of Louis. Tom took 3<sup>rd</sup> place with an excellent and consistent
performance, clearly ahead of the rest of the fleet. Rob Kent never seemed to
put a foot wrong, but didn't quite have the speed to make it into the top three.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8-N7nNfGh0VticYWwgD6u9oMWluxaa3GC3kcGp79GG2pO8xtB40qjmix7YiEAe06DjiYSYzvmSW-K_El085ZO7ZWxZl8a7ut-vHSSquTHoJG7I55G9XKpuCxOZ2QTYFoZC31dkQPvo-W/s1600/IMG_5049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8-N7nNfGh0VticYWwgD6u9oMWluxaa3GC3kcGp79GG2pO8xtB40qjmix7YiEAe06DjiYSYzvmSW-K_El085ZO7ZWxZl8a7ut-vHSSquTHoJG7I55G9XKpuCxOZ2QTYFoZC31dkQPvo-W/s320/IMG_5049.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob Kent. Photo by Andy Watkinson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Annette Kent is pretty renowned for flying around when it’s
windy and showing most of the 9.5’s the way round, but she didn't have it all
her way, and an on form Harriet Ellis was the first lady, in 6<sup>th</sup>
overall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This event also saw newcomers Alice Butts and Thomas Cave
enter the youth division along with Emily Kent. They gave an impressive
performance on their 6.8 and 7.8 sails in conditions that were certainly not an
easy introduction to the class, and in the end, it was Thomas who won the youth
prize, in 9<sup>th</sup> overall.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Full results here: <a href="http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2015/nat-champs1-christchurch.html">http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2015/nat-champs1-christchurch.html</a></span></div>
Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-40007322418107957952015-04-22T06:03:00.003-07:002015-04-22T06:03:37.577-07:00Springtime!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a busy couple of months for me. But mainly a studying kind of busy rather than a windsurfing kind of busy. With the end of my degree on the horizon, I've had to sacrifice some on the water time, but that doesn't mean I've not been windsurfing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I almost forgot! I never wrote anything about the last SWA event I went to!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was Pondlife in Nottingham = all the fun for everyone! We had decent medium wind on Saturday which was perfect for all the beginners and inters to brush up their skills, and for me to enjoy some fun blasting on the 7.8 Bolt. I can't even remember what the sail feels like, that's probably a good thing, it just let me forget about it and have fun!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKB3bke8eySS3yCloqlJA83ELZvHjCxqJbzM-LKfI0Cv3xElAqWWOTV8UORJmHWrxmW-KKqO_2UVya4LvqUsZK-7FsaPASJBUIbvtQ9cIt07_DAfULE0XlnW9ACoE9UmPqgTrbexjwvFa/s1600/11004646_10203636852945877_5178831375952325699_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitKB3bke8eySS3yCloqlJA83ELZvHjCxqJbzM-LKfI0Cv3xElAqWWOTV8UORJmHWrxmW-KKqO_2UVya4LvqUsZK-7FsaPASJBUIbvtQ9cIt07_DAfULE0XlnW9ACoE9UmPqgTrbexjwvFa/s1600/11004646_10203636852945877_5178831375952325699_o.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cruisin' on the Bolt 7.8 twin cam freeriding machine.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">With the wind building (although still pretty gusty), there was some fun slalom racing to be had. And I won, yay! :)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIKxokelVLCqZDg-UsZbtKjyyK3lvD5dObFohUYffivBNnt0nC_d7vHJ-g7-ughjvYDYTBATFL8SN9UminS3J7OiHKSIdHECUnL4iS9bxHyQnhFkvhHFq9L55UPFpZ7BS9gKKkJ3kYCya/s1600/429665_3461025970034_618555199_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQIKxokelVLCqZDg-UsZbtKjyyK3lvD5dObFohUYffivBNnt0nC_d7vHJ-g7-ughjvYDYTBATFL8SN9UminS3J7OiHKSIdHECUnL4iS9bxHyQnhFkvhHFq9L55UPFpZ7BS9gKKkJ3kYCya/s1600/429665_3461025970034_618555199_n.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cameron Coghill gatecrashed the racing on his RSX! Photo by David Eberlin.</td></tr>
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With just enough time and wind for a bit of freestyle on 5.2 and 86 Kode to end the day :).<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuvPkMn5PdeUnIUT-w1Y1Jk3Q9sYjG-_52KmmIW3VXunC-kAjhfY5Sd2IRltAnsRUWT4SxKMlNjqtrzNCSSDfQlQmRMNkYiKyeXOmRgoV1cwaltkWaUWgyd5j7s2vTkukAm9TPUZ8CIpk/s1600/Pondlife-Feb-15-2182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiuvPkMn5PdeUnIUT-w1Y1Jk3Q9sYjG-_52KmmIW3VXunC-kAjhfY5Sd2IRltAnsRUWT4SxKMlNjqtrzNCSSDfQlQmRMNkYiKyeXOmRgoV1cwaltkWaUWgyd5j7s2vTkukAm9TPUZ8CIpk/s1600/Pondlife-Feb-15-2182.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freeeeshtyle! Photo by David Eberlin</td></tr>
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Sunday started mega windy and sunny. But in classic SWA style, it was early afternoon before the freestyle competition got underway, by which time, everyone was somewhat underpowered on their small sails rigged from earlier. It was hard, super gusty, and in a very confined space. Alex Mitchell deservedly took the win with a clean e-slider and kono, and amazingly, I took 2nd, with a forward, an almost-spock, and a vulcan.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KpBAQVEqQ8Ry4o0IrU10M8KnpjgM3ClDlcfSeMkfUhlm65gvDEQOkMDAoTZyBx1yQAuNHYU38Lh5zEr2SPsYk6jrWu4-NrnA__4u3Y2BiUxckxZ6iMZZXSTSfUiJNYZgzMRNa6B7ieSZ/s1600/10993134_10203636877306486_6903492833617548109_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KpBAQVEqQ8Ry4o0IrU10M8KnpjgM3ClDlcfSeMkfUhlm65gvDEQOkMDAoTZyBx1yQAuNHYU38Lh5zEr2SPsYk6jrWu4-NrnA__4u3Y2BiUxckxZ6iMZZXSTSfUiJNYZgzMRNa6B7ieSZ/s1600/10993134_10203636877306486_6903492833617548109_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forwarding the 86 Kode and 4.2 Rock to 2nd place in the freestyle comp.</td></tr>
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Then a few fun wave day trips: super fun logo high 4.7 Gwithian with all the (x)swa crew. Also a fun session in South wales, ending in a sore ankle after being a bit too optimistic on the size of wave required for a table-top. Full power Bigbury, the best I've had it, cross shore, up to head high.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniEZuibGwy8QxEL5IejfVW3ZrNu0qcvMpQThbiGHgHBnfc54G5ogim1dpSE-Rzo9MWTuwgzOsfDDiQ_ZxD3bm6TNaFN9hw6-3oUtn1B_iIvbVfrZancFnhRaD-fbbhfcYTMcmG5lGP02x/s1600/10633547_10155355101020497_3565603233003634110_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniEZuibGwy8QxEL5IejfVW3ZrNu0qcvMpQThbiGHgHBnfc54G5ogim1dpSE-Rzo9MWTuwgzOsfDDiQ_ZxD3bm6TNaFN9hw6-3oUtn1B_iIvbVfrZancFnhRaD-fbbhfcYTMcmG5lGP02x/s1600/10633547_10155355101020497_3565603233003634110_o.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm somewhere in the middle of that sunny Bigbury scene. Photo by Chris Mortimer.</td></tr>
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Scored a rare easterly day at Pendower. Soooooo good, 3.7, decent waves, crashed backloops, a couple of long-ish wave rides, a crashed arial, and a good crowd of windsurfers out.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUld9wdYMDM2cd9Txr8lgwnCdNYDmAnKSi3xUZjBrkghJ4gOPrctzPBwrjWiixdTcQj4NS4DTT-rb4P-gNbf2jffMimSZt3hH0LvtgFdfs7xQEmvadDP8JocuKaKmcHTub0_FUlP8vMwO/s1600/DSCF9019+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpUld9wdYMDM2cd9Txr8lgwnCdNYDmAnKSi3xUZjBrkghJ4gOPrctzPBwrjWiixdTcQj4NS4DTT-rb4P-gNbf2jffMimSZt3hH0LvtgFdfs7xQEmvadDP8JocuKaKmcHTub0_FUlP8vMwO/s1600/DSCF9019+(2).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loop at Pendower. There were bigger waves than that, honest!<br />It's just my mum couldn't hold the camera straight for long it was so windy ;)<br />Photo by Emma Dales</td></tr>
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And then racing. Yes, racing. I trained a few times this winter, but to be honest, not as much as I should have done. I'm also feeling much less fit than last year, because I have been studying and only exercise has really been occasional wave sessions. The first event was the Round Hayling Island Race. I've always wanted to take part in the legendary event, but this was the first time I got round to it. With contradictory forecasts, fog, and of course all that tide, it was pretty interesting! I took off with a knackering non-planing downwinder to the bridge, leading ahead of Rob Kent. Then I got a bit of a wake up as Rob slowly reeled me in upwind. He and Alan Jackson overtook me by the ferry point, and whilst I got past Alan pretty quickly, Rob disappeared off into the distance as I struggled to keep my speed upwind along the seafront into a short chop in about 3-5 knots. Anyway, I got 2nd, which isn't bad, it's just I've either got slower, or Rob got faster upwind compared to last year!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aJkiAo656_vv68sNyLybv0IRAIGdko95rHvgFdxc2IoWghYVHdOd-Lai8MMvMTvAo2X3o27tVUd-cKtyKQa3DQpx59IzFb7lAQosyfL8Wcb4dRJZZQ6s0cq9rFTu1OWNzLR0dmkjGwoq/s1600/16400945703_ae3b195a8c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-aJkiAo656_vv68sNyLybv0IRAIGdko95rHvgFdxc2IoWghYVHdOd-Lai8MMvMTvAo2X3o27tVUd-cKtyKQa3DQpx59IzFb7lAQosyfL8Wcb4dRJZZQ6s0cq9rFTu1OWNzLR0dmkjGwoq/s1600/16400945703_ae3b195a8c_o.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Round Hayling Island.</td></tr>
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So there we are.</div>
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This weekend is the SWA/BUCS Nationals. Which is the last SWA event of the year, wind looks ok, although a teeny bit more would be nice. I'll be competing in racing (slalom), and freestyle, and I have a chance to finish on the podium for both of those, and probably the overall prize as well. We'll see how that goes. Then weekend after that is UKWA National Championship series event 1: the first course racing event of the year. Really looking forward to getting back into it. It's also pretty important, because it is the only preparation event I have before the worlds in Poland, which happen the week after my exams in June. I'm not going to be nearly as prepared as I was two years ago, but I'll just have to stay focussed and remember how to set my kit up!</div>
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Keep an eye out for my report from SWA nationals.</div>
Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-15444681544703189692015-02-23T17:30:00.005-08:002015-02-23T17:30:40.226-08:00Student wave champion!<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">
I'm really happy to win the student wave series. It was a shame to not have conditions at the final event at Cardiff, but we had wind and waves at the first two events where I finished 1st and 4th, so can't really complain too much.</div>
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The SWA has been a really good introduction not only to wave competition, but wavesailing in general. When I started attending these events as a fresher 3 years ago, I couldn't bottom turn, but the friendly atmosphere of the events and high level of the top guys really motivated me to improve, and so my obsession with wavesailing happened!</div>
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<br /><i>"Training" at Marazion. Photo by Mel Splashography</i></div>
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I didn't expect to win. In fact, I think it is the same in racing, sometimes my best results come from when I have no self expectation, then I'm more relaxed and can focus on just windsurfing!</div>
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The conditions at both events were pretty hard, for different reasons. At the first event at The Bluff, it was lighter than it looked on the inside, so I spent a lot of the competition underpowered, which wasn't ideal, because it was almost bolt onshore with some big lumps of whitewater to get through. I felt lucky to get as far as the semis, but then found me feet, and landed some big jumps, table tops, and forwards with some back and frontside waverides. I knew I'd sailed quite well, but I had no idea if I'd won, it's a bit different to what I'm used to for racing. In racing you can always see if you are winning or not, in a wave heat, usually I never see most of what my competitors do!</div>
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<br /><i>In competition at Rhosneigr. Photo by Jim Brooks-Dowsett</i></div>
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At the second event at Rhosneigr, it was a little less onshore, but a similar wind strength, perfect for my 4.7 Rock. The thing I found hard at Rhossy was finding decent ramps and wave-rides from the relatively soft gentle waves there. I had a decent semi-final, but in the final I struggled to find a good second wave.</div>
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The level at the top of the fleet is really tight and pretty high, with all the top 4 at Rhossy getting consistent forward loops and fluid wave rides even in the tricky onshore conditions we had on the tour. Yet these events are also perfect for anyone new to wavesailing. As long as you can waterstart, you can give it a go, Tushingham and Starboard provided 4 sets of 2015 gear at the first event, so you might not even need your own wave kit.</div>
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<i><br />What could have been at the Cardiff SWA event if there had been wind and waves! Photo by Ben Bulson.</i></div>
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I definitely want to compete more in the BWA amature fleet, I did Rhosneigr and Gwithian last year and they both a really good experience with great conditions. I'd definitely recommend any of the SWA wavesailors who are at a level where they can get out, do a jump and catch a wave to come along. Unfortunately, the Rhosneigr event this year clashes with the SWA/BUCS National championships, but I'll definitely be at Gwithian, I'd love to get to Tiree as well, but I'll have to see how that fits in with my uni work. A few things are for sure though! You will see me at all the SWA wave events next year, and at a few UKWA events and the Raceboard world championships this summer (yes I can still race, I think...).</div>
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At both events I used my trusty old 74 liter waveboard with 4.7 Tushingham Rock (except in one heat at The Bluff, where I used a 4.2), which is a combo that rocks in all conditions!</div>
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Thanks to the SWA and especially Jim Brooks-Dowsett from Puravida for running a great wave series, and also to Tushingham Sails for supporting my windsurfing. I can't wait for my next session, it looks like the wind is returning soon, there must be time for windsurfing alongside writing my masters thesis surely!</div>
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Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-86210711520680761212014-12-26T02:31:00.001-08:002015-01-05T04:50:22.550-08:00University: year 4, term 1It's been a while, maybe I'll summarize it with photos, rather than my usual rambling words!<br />
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I'm president of the University of Bristol windsurfing club this year, so spent a bit of time running that with the rest of the committee, we've got lots of keen members so that's good.<br />
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Went to Stokes Bay for the last event of the UKWA National Championship series and got crowned Raceboard National Champion. Thanks to Tushingham Sails and Starboard boards for supporting me, and making the best allround raceboard kit. The only sail I used this season was the Tushingham XR Race 9.5, in winds of 4-20 knots.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2014 UKWA National Raceboard Champion and Inland Champion! Photo by Ross Morris</td></tr>
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Fun wednesday afternoon wave session at Lyme Regis, full power 4.7, practicing table tops.<br />
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Went to Aussie Kiss XIII (Student Windsurfing festival), and had lots of fun! Bristol got 3rd in the Team racing, I got 2nd in the Freestyle with a bit of flat water looping.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">University of Bristol Windsurfing club at AK13. Photo by Adam Shoreland</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vulcan in the Freestyle final at Aussie Kiss. Photo by Claire Glasby</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Antonis Kyparissis</td></tr>
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Competed in the BWA Cornwall Classic wave competition at Gwithian.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Mel Splashography.</td></tr>
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Did pretty badly in the competition but had my best ever session downwind of the competition area, logo high down the line, perfect on my 4.7 Rock :)</div>
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Done a bit of race coaching with the Cornish Techno team. They're getting faster, watch out world!</div>
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Bristol and UWE hosted an SWA event: took a bit of organising, but worth it, amazing weekend and everyone had fun, it wasn't that windy though. I got 3rd in Freestyle, 1st in Racing, and Bristol got 1st and 3rd in the team racing.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light-wind freestyle with the Tushingham Bolt 4.5. Photo by Lizzie Walsh</td></tr>
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Won the first event of the SWA wave series!! Really happy to win my first wave contest in really tricky onshore conditions. Landed a forward in the final, got a few nice backside and frontside waves, a few floaty jumps and almost killed myself with a one-footed tabletop.</div>
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Then there were two windy lecture free wednesdays in a row, had some amazing starboard tack down the line conditions in South Wales.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photos by Ben Bulson</td></tr>
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Then the week after, the forecasted wind didn't turn up to Bigbury, but still had some fun.<br />
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Played Saxophone at a "wake-up" early morning rave in Bristol.<br />
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Had a really fun 4.7 freestyle session at Weymouth, getting my vulcans pretty consistent on both sides, looping of flatter water, landed my first spock. Decided I like freestyle, the Starboard Kode FSW 86 is a great board for learning these kind of moves: fast and compact but funner for blasting and easier in chop and better at carving than a real freestyle board.<br />
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Then came home, windsurfed a lot. Freestyle at Torpoint, landed my first grubby and got close to some spocks, looped off even flatter water. Cross on starboard tack jumping and riding at Bigbury. Port tack wobble and ride sideshore logo high Gwithian. And finally got out on my raceboard, feeling so motivated for the 2015 racing season, I might even take it to uni with me and do some training!<br />
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Tomorrow looks like perfect Siblyback conditions for freestyle and high wind race training, can't wait!<br />
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Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-23704015081692370312014-11-05T13:03:00.001-08:002014-11-05T13:03:19.263-08:00There is more to life than racing longboards...Thought I'd put a few photos up from my recent wave and freestyle fun times (that kind of makes sense right?).<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0rjG34PuZ5BPdqjPsqrFUyRGE9oOUej83MJJSN_EHq68udAlItjzTKhXkl8At4Q9-J3noQyZ4iCv_Lm9cTbqhKNelGvOMLm8LpcifN5NjBsOsifWo4Fb6m9Kkg7U723zLl2rAaNXtMT7/s1600/01-11-2014-20141101-_D2X0211.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0rjG34PuZ5BPdqjPsqrFUyRGE9oOUej83MJJSN_EHq68udAlItjzTKhXkl8At4Q9-J3noQyZ4iCv_Lm9cTbqhKNelGvOMLm8LpcifN5NjBsOsifWo4Fb6m9Kkg7U723zLl2rAaNXtMT7/s1600/01-11-2014-20141101-_D2X0211.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Photos by Mel Splashography</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzUQ3UOkIP7azPLzmGp9OBEw_0K_VlVyPmAvyAVBsyXGYqVT8ZWR4jhYKJBr28AIOhSej79T6Dc4BWBzttT7hnU8y_L6kKcGTT2CIXe0QOkuud1wlWOIrE9cOvhYLtGQViEqKfU4IeTFu/s1600/10533121_854371461264371_438041971575832664_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmzUQ3UOkIP7azPLzmGp9OBEw_0K_VlVyPmAvyAVBsyXGYqVT8ZWR4jhYKJBr28AIOhSej79T6Dc4BWBzttT7hnU8y_L6kKcGTT2CIXe0QOkuud1wlWOIrE9cOvhYLtGQViEqKfU4IeTFu/s1600/10533121_854371461264371_438041971575832664_n.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Photos by Antonis Kyparissis</div>
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Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-6823995270472228202014-10-09T11:10:00.002-07:002014-10-09T11:13:03.966-07:00Stokes Bay – Raceboard report.<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The UKWA National course racing championship is a series of
5 events, the final one was at Stokes Bay (Gosport, on the Solent) last
weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYA78sWfOLxbUudURyRt0FbyrE9V7RjZTiqcdHT_dt1MLXRoex7fqgZHKdCB00kWsOUtEDnpN8F5PzafgyGqr4ECKruYXVYOojPVBfTaq5Rv9Dt_MCdl5PT36-TuHP0GF-YRIzDwub6z1/s1600/IMG_0847_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhYA78sWfOLxbUudURyRt0FbyrE9V7RjZTiqcdHT_dt1MLXRoex7fqgZHKdCB00kWsOUtEDnpN8F5PzafgyGqr4ECKruYXVYOojPVBfTaq5Rv9Dt_MCdl5PT36-TuHP0GF-YRIzDwub6z1/s1600/IMG_0847_edited-1.jpg" height="258" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by John Liddy</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rcr3SKgOKj23v9qpjAT1gKnqyAFFaPVCFdbrnFEt-HUY7ZkZpvtk9iZ7Ug7fi5bf9EBYUc3wNcC31_voxM-6i6btkVji8mVXPpUpf_iOMDYD5F9jBBvY7QTjXS66WOTMWlkBI6i4R2Ee/s1600/copy+9827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rcr3SKgOKj23v9qpjAT1gKnqyAFFaPVCFdbrnFEt-HUY7ZkZpvtk9iZ7Ug7fi5bf9EBYUc3wNcC31_voxM-6i6btkVji8mVXPpUpf_iOMDYD5F9jBBvY7QTjXS66WOTMWlkBI6i4R2Ee/s1600/copy+9827.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Louise Mills</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The forecast looked pretty windy for Saturday, and sure
enough, it was very windy whilst we were rigging, but after a lot of rain and a
90° wind shift, we had about 12-14 knots. To avoid the shipping channel, the
course was set quite close into the beach, which was great for spectators, but
also meant that the inner loop of the course had very fluky wind, with a big
hole by the windward mark. Add some strong tide, and you have some interesting
racing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">During the morning, the tide was going opposite directions
(or at least, much stronger inshore), which meant that left paid best. The wind
was strong enough to plane all the way round, and I had good speed and was
tactically strong enough to win by a comfy margin whilst Mark Kay, Rob Kent,
and Lewis Barnes were in close combat. One of the leeward gate marks drifted
leading to some confusion and disqualification those who went through the gate
the wrong way (including Lewis).</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiQeSlja2am9ECX125QVwc28IqBikz-vIYfvg0fFFkh0Cz6jtcKKXRiWgKSi1pG650hTD1zyI8SgHtNG9TrnHjwqxH71cM0p9gWC9rFfS4AjueYy2sJUKKJoMJpQhAboJiDxalOuyMBmk/s1600/14089351379_84e3172f37_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBiQeSlja2am9ECX125QVwc28IqBikz-vIYfvg0fFFkh0Cz6jtcKKXRiWgKSi1pG650hTD1zyI8SgHtNG9TrnHjwqxH71cM0p9gWC9rFfS4AjueYy2sJUKKJoMJpQhAboJiDxalOuyMBmk/s1600/14089351379_84e3172f37_o.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewis Barnes by John Liddy</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wind dropped a bit for the second race, demanding a bit
more downwind pumping. And this time the racing was very close with a few lead
changes as people got the right gusts and shifts and played the tide correctly
or not. I was leading, but after the last upwind, Rob was hot on my tail, and had
a better downwind to win the race (I had a stinking cold and just ran out of
energy, that’s my excuse anyway!).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpe4sKrnNRwnv8NptvshdY41lrqEdMlS3fsPWmvJuLoRlSIL5lPWZ4ZS1grCbPrTVdq7sdb47X27hvreQZhTKjnp09gP2rdurV11U7hOlIeLIcju6QJEGZZ7qe2dBZTTDRfPYWVE25zyu/s1600/nwc14d2-1037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBpe4sKrnNRwnv8NptvshdY41lrqEdMlS3fsPWmvJuLoRlSIL5lPWZ4ZS1grCbPrTVdq7sdb47X27hvreQZhTKjnp09gP2rdurV11U7hOlIeLIcju6QJEGZZ7qe2dBZTTDRfPYWVE25zyu/s1600/nwc14d2-1037.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kay, by Paul Wyeth</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Race 3 was no less exciting and very very gusty as the wind
started to swing a little more offshore. The tide was very strong now, and even
stronger on the left, so it was a case of trying to get the shifts right without
heading out into the channel. Mark had a flying start and a perfect first beat,
but then tacked on a header at the leeward mark, sending him out into the
strongest tide and allowing 4 people to overtake! Myself and Rob got a good
shift by the shore that allowed us to leebow the tide and get a crazy layline
to the windward mark, so again I won with Rob 2<sup>nd</sup> and Lewis in 3<sup>rd</sup>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The race officer tried to change the course to a
windward/leeward further out in cleaner wind, but the wind dropped by the time
we started and it had to be abandoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was no wind until about 1pm on Sunday, and even then
it was about 2 knots, some people just went home, and lots of people started
packing up, but then at 3, we had a great finishing race in 8-10 knots. The
tide wash pushing upwind very quickly, but miraculously nobody was OCS on the
start. I had a good start but gave myself some work to do by heading too much
up the middle of the course; luckily I got the craziest long distance with tide
layline ever and won the race ahead of Rob and Lewis again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9oIpOecYGN8brdfjPRkygPJK1zE9tplGFC8O1P5yyXAv_WKjAT7ZIvvALpPlUB3DGbNB5b7TlcI36lvE3GiniOYLomCN5rCxTgMXknR9yQfQUBvnVD8xSe1D7bmn9wKZWC6y18shxU8F/s1600/copy+0P3B1813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG9oIpOecYGN8brdfjPRkygPJK1zE9tplGFC8O1P5yyXAv_WKjAT7ZIvvALpPlUB3DGbNB5b7TlcI36lvE3GiniOYLomCN5rCxTgMXknR9yQfQUBvnVD8xSe1D7bmn9wKZWC6y18shxU8F/s1600/copy+0P3B1813.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Louise Mills</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I won the event, with Rob Kent 2</span><sup style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">nd</sup><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and Lewis
Barnes finally converted his crazy speed into a super consistent set of 3</span><sup style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">rd</sup><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
places. Mark Kay was as fast as ever, but just didn’t manage to put together a
good enough set of races to displace Lewis from the podium. Annette Kent had a
really good event and finished 5</span><sup style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> overall, first lady by a long
way. Jenna Gibson was also very impressive, managing to finish ahead of Harriet
Ellis, proving that a skilfully used old Mega cat is still as good as anything!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://ukwindsurfing.com/results/">Full Event
results</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2014/national-championship-rankings.html" target="_blank">National Championship series results:</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Louis Morris (Tushingham/Starboard 377)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2<sup>nd</sup> Robert Kent (Tushingham/Starboard 377)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3<sup>rd</sup> Mark Kay (Demon/Starboard 377)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Veteran (4<sup>th</sup> overall) Tom Naylor
(Tushingham/Starboard 380)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Lady (6<sup>th</sup> overall) Annette Kent
(Tushingham/Starboard 377)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Supervet (7<sup>th</sup> overall) John Pete
(Demon/Starboard 377)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1<sup>st</sup> Youth (10<sup>th</sup> overall) Rebecca Kent
(Bic OD/Mistral Equipe)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-40934091038138946192014-09-19T12:56:00.003-07:002014-09-19T12:56:34.595-07:002014 RYA/UKWA National windsurfing Championships (Inland Nationals, Junior Youth and Masters championship, Team 15 Champions Cup): Raceboard report.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
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For 2014, the RYA Youth and Masters were combined with the
National Junior Championships, Team 15 champions cup, and UKWA Inland nationals
to form one massive event at Rutland Sailing club. There were 220 windsurfers
and it was pretty busy on the beach and on the water, but thanks to some good
organising, the event went very smoothly! There were 27 raceboards entered, of
which 6 were youth: the highest youth entry for a long time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Myself: focussed mid gybe (photo by
John Liddy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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On Saturday, the wind was quite light and very shifty, which
lead to lots of shuffling up and lead changes during the race which was pretty
exciting stuff. It was the kind of conditions which Rob Kent and Guy Spreckley
excel in. Rob got it wrong in the first race (and Mark Kay got it even more
wrong) allowing me to win with Guy in 2<sup>nd</sup>, but in the next 2 races,
he sailed brilliantly to take the win, whilst I was playing catch up having
ended up on the wrong side of some shifts. By the last race, the wind had
picked up to about 10 knots or so: enough for me to plane all the way downwind
and be faster than most upwind, with a good start and a tactically sound
upwind, once ahead I just had to play it safe in the middle of the course and
won comfortably. Myself and Rob ended the day on tied points, with Guy in 3<sup>rd</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71QOo5n7yfZ8lYzA7Fn-S4FqqK-iNlFlv7QOXkR0-GZb05i294oo8oHV1R_dUniWm79gl0bwSN-6_vgAdp1EfD1c9XgAxonzxQAlklgHP680wJCj8axFaIU97b3WrG0c_7-rFZWnjC11E/s1600/15247162876_aeb319654b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg71QOo5n7yfZ8lYzA7Fn-S4FqqK-iNlFlv7QOXkR0-GZb05i294oo8oHV1R_dUniWm79gl0bwSN-6_vgAdp1EfD1c9XgAxonzxQAlklgHP680wJCj8axFaIU97b3WrG0c_7-rFZWnjC11E/s1600/15247162876_aeb319654b_o.jpg" height="204" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Guy Spreckley (photo by John Liddy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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On Sunday, there were some gusts up to 15 knots but still
lulls of 8 knots or less. It was still shifty, but with the wind slightly more
easterly than Saturday, there was <i>usually</i>
a big gain on the right side of the course. However there were a few shifts and
gusts that undid this gain, and there were a few times when I had to dig myself
out of a bit of a hole. Having a sail with the power to keep pointing and
railing through the lulls yet convert gusts into acceleration rather than drag
really helped me to keep my speed up through the gusty conditions and
capitalise on shifts to recover some sticky positions. Like the last race on
Sunday, my downwind speed was best than most, and I managed to win all of the
races. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Tom Naylor giving it some power
downwind (photo by John Liddy)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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Mark Kay found another gear and was fighting back with 3
2nds and a 3<sup>rd</sup>, he was certainly a lot quicker than on Saturday, and
it sometimes felt like he was attached to the back of my board by a 50m bit of
string! Rob Kent did just enough to keep his 2<sup>nd</sup> overall, Guy
Spreckley didn’t quite have the speed to keep up his amazing performance from
the first day so slipped into 5<sup>th</sup> overall behind an outrageously
consistent Tom Naylor. Tom was flying upwind as usual, and put some effort in
downwind to get 9 4<sup>th</sup> places and a 5<sup>th</sup>: enough to get him
1<sup>st</sup> veteran and 4<sup>th</sup> overall.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjZhITU4XVNg_RooKuVik0hqCuDzHu4k-IfhWG411KpHNNJ3olPo7-abxzLkZOrdId4qF2TrYohG5gTX_nIjVxPxM9dSQOmfpGuDP0cfqOlgQwL-lf0iaC6a2_HaQS9o8RL5XLUgvZtV9/s1600/annette+black+and+white.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFjZhITU4XVNg_RooKuVik0hqCuDzHu4k-IfhWG411KpHNNJ3olPo7-abxzLkZOrdId4qF2TrYohG5gTX_nIjVxPxM9dSQOmfpGuDP0cfqOlgQwL-lf0iaC6a2_HaQS9o8RL5XLUgvZtV9/s1600/annette+black+and+white.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Annette Kent (photo by Andy Watkinson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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With 8 sailors racing on 8.5 (youth + ladies) there was some
noteworthy battles there as well. Lewis Barnes usually races as a heavyweight
9.5, but borrowed an 8.5 to win the Youth national title by an impressive
margin. Annette Kent was first lady: only two points ahead of Lewis and 3 ahead
of Harriet Ellis. 2<sup>nd</sup> and 3<sup>rd</sup> youth was too close to
call, with Jenna Gibson having the edge on her XR-Race 8.5 over Robin Mcallister
on Saturday. Robin fought back in the stronger winds on Sunday to finish on
tied points, but ended up in 3<sup>rd</sup> on the tie break rule.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNxEyosd7CgPyKpbn4BSwJYPEzV2bfUdQ1uEex_fQe5FiCKBIRFc8IvKmZ5iHAlad7ZTmZqxXl_aVATxnTR3oNnY2LPBBKqzAl65tBljfx_JI_bJ1nl1Czw6mHg41_yatSw7gPIzg8vh9/s1600/robin+mcallistair.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHNxEyosd7CgPyKpbn4BSwJYPEzV2bfUdQ1uEex_fQe5FiCKBIRFc8IvKmZ5iHAlad7ZTmZqxXl_aVATxnTR3oNnY2LPBBKqzAl65tBljfx_JI_bJ1nl1Czw6mHg41_yatSw7gPIzg8vh9/s1600/robin+mcallistair.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Robin McAllister (photo by Andy
Watkinson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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I have to mention Phil Hards, who had some of the best
starts in the business as well as some serious upwind speed, all he needs now
is a Starboard Phantom and he’d keep up downwind too! Also well done to my
brother Ross who borrowed my 8.5 Lightning and ancient Megacat in his first
National contest since Team 15 cup in 2011 (on 5.8) he was very quick upwind,
especially when it got windy.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53wq9a4JJSCrFBLm1Qfrvk7YcYaN-859NUZl_Oepd8D072UzOZ0sVaIoubp7cZRecKBxZT-1-c7jXlOAnHmGo-9k97iBhodFUokG71NPRlWfEN9pVV3Y8NzUKXgkQjwWxxq-Y8M_Xy7ZV/s1600/ross2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53wq9a4JJSCrFBLm1Qfrvk7YcYaN-859NUZl_Oepd8D072UzOZ0sVaIoubp7cZRecKBxZT-1-c7jXlOAnHmGo-9k97iBhodFUokG71NPRlWfEN9pVV3Y8NzUKXgkQjwWxxq-Y8M_Xy7ZV/s1600/ross2.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Ross Morris (photo by Andy Watkinson)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Full results <a href="http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2014/nat-champs5-rutland.html">here</a><o:p></o:p></div>
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Raceboard Results summary:<o:p></o:p></div>
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1<sup>st</sup> Overall - Louis Morris, 1<sup>st</sup>
Lightweight (Tushingham/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> Overall – Rob Kent, 1<sup>st</sup> Master
(Tushingham/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
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3<sup>rd</sup> Overall – Mark Kay, 1<sup>st</sup>
Heavyweight (Demon/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
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4<sup>th</sup> Overall – Tom Naylor, 1<sup>st</sup> Veteran
(Tushingham/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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1<sup>st</sup> Lady – Annette Kent, 6<sup>th</sup> Overall
(Tushingham/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> Lady – Harriet Ellis, 8<sup>th</sup> Overall
(Demon/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
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3<sup>rd</sup> Lady – Jenna Gibson, 12<sup>th</sup> Overall
(Tushingham/Fanatic)<o:p></o:p></div>
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1<sup>st</sup> Youth – Lewis Barnes, 7<sup>th</sup> Overall
(Demon/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> Youth – Jenna Gibson, 12<sup>th</sup> Overall
(Tushingham/Fanatic)<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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3<sup>rd</sup> Youth – Robin McAllister, 13<sup>th</sup>
Overall (Tushingham/Starboard)<o:p></o:p></div>
Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-27495734742729377852014-08-28T14:39:00.002-07:002014-08-28T14:48:43.432-07:00Pwllheli race reportAugust bank holiday weekend this year, like last year, meant venturing to the Lleyn peninsular in north Wales for two days of racing in the fantastic venue that is Pwllheli. I've written mostly about the Raceboard fleet because I know a bit more about what happened than in the other fleets. Unfortunately, there were only 9 raceboards, why don't all these inland sailors come to race with us on the sea? It is so much fun!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZiZYojB_KjWjt3X0A_3f44dov0XtaMFQEvUOXaDQz_iMzMKk1VL7CCpSAb3HAvIwuH6U7wBQA5E_SuMPQTaH2WCIZaDZbwMeM0YySvCfDEqS9KSm92AWCMyvt77nKrElIFO77mKcnvKp/s1600/DSC01341.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVZiZYojB_KjWjt3X0A_3f44dov0XtaMFQEvUOXaDQz_iMzMKk1VL7CCpSAb3HAvIwuH6U7wBQA5E_SuMPQTaH2WCIZaDZbwMeM0YySvCfDEqS9KSm92AWCMyvt77nKrElIFO77mKcnvKp/s1600/DSC01341.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The UKWA camp at Abererch Sands Holiday Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Moderate NW winds were forecast for Saturday, and we ended up with a rather gusty and shifty 11-18 knots all day (and sunshine, which makes all the difference!). This made for some really fun high speed planing races, with lots of tactical decision making as the shifty gusts came down the race course from the beach.<br />
<br />
As usual, Mark Kay and Tom Naylor were flying upwind in the Raceboard fleet, but my upwind speed seemed to have improved since Weymouth, so I managed to hold them off most of the time. One person that nobody stood a chance of holding off upwind was Tom Dryden whose devastating speed, combined with solid tactics and good starts made him the one to beat upwind. However, we also have to race back downwind, and it was myself and Mark Kay who had the best overall speed around the course, taking 1st and 2nd in each race respecively, except for the first race, where Tom Naylor took 2nd (+ a 2 point penalty for forgetting his tally). Rob Kent was fast and consistent as always, but not quite fast enough to finish higher than 3rd in these planing conditions. Every time I saw Lewis Barnes on the first beat, he was flying, and his downwind sailing is improving all of the time, all he needs to do now is string some solid races together. It was difficult to get tactics right, sometimes a nice gust would come the course by the beach accompanied with wind shift that could be advantageous both upwind and downwind. I pulled tonnes of distance off Mark on one downwind by going there, yet on another upwind, Lewis almost overtook me with a broken harness line because I went that way! The shifts also made laylines difficult, in one race, me and Tom had to get the daggerboard up and reach to the windward mark!<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R__7D5zufY-1cW3fspq7Tp7yyAtdFsQ6s92VAv7N6mjFe_DLlSCGG8PyCLTcMvxwrk-uOfDjAfMfFakdFtmzJHTQoiTMOt095jBGIa6mgJuPAodu-BI6sRaUft2lAil4ZJypmKdBwjhR/s1600/Mark+2012+mumbles+andy+watkinson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5R__7D5zufY-1cW3fspq7Tp7yyAtdFsQ6s92VAv7N6mjFe_DLlSCGG8PyCLTcMvxwrk-uOfDjAfMfFakdFtmzJHTQoiTMOt095jBGIa6mgJuPAodu-BI6sRaUft2lAil4ZJypmKdBwjhR/s1600/Mark+2012+mumbles+andy+watkinson.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kay, by Andy Watkinson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sunday morning was rather relaxed, as we waited for the light easterly breeze to become race-able. After a load of rain, the wind swung to the south and quickly built to 11-14 knots: perfect, if choppy. It was still a bit shifty, and the start line turned very port bias during the last minute, allowing Tom Naylor to make a killer port flyer, with the rest of the fleet who started by the boat sat behind me on starboard. I won the first race, then Mark Kay then put his boom a bit higher and sailed a perfect race to win the next, before the wind dropped in the last race allowing me to win again. Rob was looking forward to a lightwind race, but didn't do enough to get ahead of Mark, crucially allowing Tom Naylor to take 3rd overall in the Raceboard fleet by just 1 point.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkKE9ThN5oHxSof4lrCIlSPXVsat5Dgf3uIVknrihRD-_eAV6zCP2bk9Lcu-63JrzW9P1IjVVw0D8o4MafbN182RlkMfhfCGw6tWlsfyPpKY9Ty9_nQSIELWYgSv5bWblmDPhq-NJbgYm/s1600/14295439413_ac638b3f57_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigkKE9ThN5oHxSof4lrCIlSPXVsat5Dgf3uIVknrihRD-_eAV6zCP2bk9Lcu-63JrzW9P1IjVVw0D8o4MafbN182RlkMfhfCGw6tWlsfyPpKY9Ty9_nQSIELWYgSv5bWblmDPhq-NJbgYm/s1600/14295439413_ac638b3f57_o.jpg" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic by John Liddy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the RSX fleet, Matthew Barton was the only 9.5 and won all the races, but not without a fight, as the 8.5's snapped at his heals, especially in the gusty shifty conditions that make upwind legs really tricky when trying to go off the fin formula style. Lewis May convincingly won 1st youth, only letting James Hatcher and Henry Bloodworth past him in a couple of races.<br />
<br />
It was a close battle at the front of the Techno Fleet, and in the end, it was Andrew Brown who edged ahead of Josh Carey, who was racing on 7.8 for the first time. James and Ben Barnwell were racing in the new "Techno+" 8.5 open class, and took 3rd and 4th, whilst 5th placed Adam Phipps was 3rd 7.8. Isaac Lines was 1st 6.8. It was impressive to see such consistent results from the top techno sailors: not easy in such gusty shifty conditions.<br />
<br />
Jason Clarke sailed an impressive series of races to win the formula fleet ahead of Jamie Ingram (former RSX and Raceboard star), who was impressively fast despite rarely racing at all these days. It looked like a fantastic weekend for formula racing, and Gustavo Takiguchi was 1st youth in this his second formula event.<br />
<br />
This event also saw a masterblaster fleet enjoying 11 races off the beach, with Mike Blackgrove taking the win by just 1 point from Ted Kay.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYVUI82l03P_PmI79aMPBlzf6MfsOe8m0UQ-YWROtzcZJqoouYNprTqqMGYuV2JAPXW1JRajBQs9vlIYkRzKcSTxy_Ngm7UmSeZ4-NfsgVbPIliiJsk06zGJPWviOl5V1qD9Xd8Uayos6/s1600/DSC01336.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWYVUI82l03P_PmI79aMPBlzf6MfsOe8m0UQ-YWROtzcZJqoouYNprTqqMGYuV2JAPXW1JRajBQs9vlIYkRzKcSTxy_Ngm7UmSeZ4-NfsgVbPIliiJsk06zGJPWviOl5V1qD9Xd8Uayos6/s1600/DSC01336.JPG" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2014/nat-champs4-Pwllheli.html" target="_blank">Full results</a><br />
UKWA National Championships, <a href="http://results.ukwindsurfing.com/2014/national-championship-rankings.html" target="_blank">ranking so far...</a><br />
<br />
Results summary:<br />
<br />
Raceboard<br />
<br />
1 Louis Morris (1st lightweight) Tushingham/Starboard<br />
2 Mark Kay (1st heavyweight and 1st master) Demon/Starboard<br />
3 Tom Naylor (1st veteran) Tushingham/Starboard<br />
7 Harriet Ellis (1st lady) Demon/Starboard<br />
8 John Pete (1st super veteran) Demon/Starboard<br />
<br />
Formula<br />
<br />
1 Jason Clarke Patrik/Severne<br />
2 Jamie Ingram (1st National 11m) Gaastra/Starboard<br />
3 Dave Coles (1st veteran) Starboard/Severne<br />
4 Chris Bond (1st master) Point-7 sails/Gaastra board<br />
7 Gustavo Takiguchi (1st Youth) North/Starboard<br />
<br />
Techno<br />
<br />
1 Andrew Brown (1st 7.8)<br />
2 Josh Carey (2nd 7.8)<br />
3 James Barnwell (1st 8.5)<br />
8 Erin Watson (1st 7.8 girl)<br />
16 Isaac Lines (1st 6.8)<br />
18 Mollie Densley-Robins (1st 6.8 girl, 3rd 6.8 overall)<br />
<br />
RSX<br />
<br />
1 Matthew Barton<br />
2 Lewis May (1st youth 8.5)<br />
3 James Hatcher<br />
8 Natalie McWilliams (1st lady)<br />
<br />
Master Blaster<br />
<br />
1 Mike Blackgrove<br />
2 Ted Kay<br />
3 Marcus RoundLouishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-52253062870044684822014-07-21T14:02:00.001-07:002014-07-21T14:09:10.252-07:00Mountains, Bridlington, Polkerris and WeymouthI've not been so good at updating my blog lately, but a lot has happened.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lthmeEFbAXbfDMR9hBS9j5KuG8FtMykMoo_Csnm3bBuWbYEQdveGLz6kSqv_eNPZIqe08vwfzxg7lv36pbnJ_ccenFKQH8EmeTSRDAA2E3ohBeMB3QrFu-1AWoc4AU_kLoBTqpwvRCTP/s1600/DSC01197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lthmeEFbAXbfDMR9hBS9j5KuG8FtMykMoo_Csnm3bBuWbYEQdveGLz6kSqv_eNPZIqe08vwfzxg7lv36pbnJ_ccenFKQH8EmeTSRDAA2E3ohBeMB3QrFu-1AWoc4AU_kLoBTqpwvRCTP/s1600/DSC01197.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a>For a start there was the second round of the UKWA national championship series at Bridlington. The forecast was looking pretty awful to be honest, but we got two good races in on Saturday morning; one in fairly strong wind, and one in marginal wind. I'd been doing a little bit of training before the event, and I felt a lot faster upwind than I did at Whitwell. Combined with some good downwind speed, I won both races by quite a margin. Another race was started, but the wind disappeared completely and although it teased us on Sunday, it was never consistent or steady enough for racing, although good light wind training.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAg7y3iM12IZbCSdxbm51G8LNMf0hcJMUHRqWszAbskdfyVDUbiLUOh_ud-jJYwnd1i4VNlPaby1bGCF5MGRjeS5jIvzznRPkN7hotHXgnkjXNNVi4z-K8XvBnfktjhguTnEuyFFSlKfB/s1600/DSC01149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAg7y3iM12IZbCSdxbm51G8LNMf0hcJMUHRqWszAbskdfyVDUbiLUOh_ud-jJYwnd1i4VNlPaby1bGCF5MGRjeS5jIvzznRPkN7hotHXgnkjXNNVi4z-K8XvBnfktjhguTnEuyFFSlKfB/s1600/DSC01149.JPG" height="159" width="320" /></a>Bridlington results:<br />
1. Louis Morris (Tushingham)<br />
2. Robert Kent (Tushingham)<br />
3. Mark Kay (Demon)<br />
4. Tom Naylor (Tushingham)<br />
<br />
After that I finished off my placement in St Andrews, and went on holiday for a week, hiking in the west of Scotland (Knoydart, Skye and Glen Coe).<br />
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Then I came home to Cornwall and resumed work as a watersports instructor, now at Polkerris Beach instead of Siblyback. Got out for some fun freeride and freestyle.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiODt9MIC17LhbAriiEi7YmJ_VNDdsCG9HjpS_ZKwamoWbnZjB8VNObW9BddpObPlrCIcavGmtpjqc9l0xIwSSVBN8avvFxt0OsK0UrzbNyVOrzGAD_AHkDVzyz-QTLH7fYBANoAgWJsp/s1600/10346359_654476137975928_776455321528480957_n+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhiODt9MIC17LhbAriiEi7YmJ_VNDdsCG9HjpS_ZKwamoWbnZjB8VNObW9BddpObPlrCIcavGmtpjqc9l0xIwSSVBN8avvFxt0OsK0UrzbNyVOrzGAD_AHkDVzyz-QTLH7fYBANoAgWJsp/s1600/10346359_654476137975928_776455321528480957_n+(2).jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by Bob Shillito</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hJyCLwRbNlsf3iAAui33YJIjuvzSB0mayWJkXzqE_P0BWEXb0Vo1s9RCXEy3LnoNSVSKhZp1yZAbagnB1gcNu_aFtZyGfA_d484YzGOFNJz8X992aOkB53iszzwDaV1fkv84ScwL2sUf/s1600/Polkerris+chop+hop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0hJyCLwRbNlsf3iAAui33YJIjuvzSB0mayWJkXzqE_P0BWEXb0Vo1s9RCXEy3LnoNSVSKhZp1yZAbagnB1gcNu_aFtZyGfA_d484YzGOFNJz8X992aOkB53iszzwDaV1fkv84ScwL2sUf/s1600/Polkerris+chop+hop.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo taken by Chris Bilkey</td></tr>
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Then I went to Weymouth for the 3rd event of the UKWA national championship series. The conditions were almost perfect all weekend, with sunshine and 8 races in 10-20 knots. I hadn't been training since Bridlington, and felt slow upwind in the gusts, but fast downwind, and occasionally fast upwind (in the lulls). However Mark Kay and Tom Naylor really put the pressure on and frequently sailed straight past me upwind. In my efforts to regain the lead, I made lots of silly mistakes: got my laylines all wrong, dropped a gybe, crashed into Mark and broke his batten at the windward mark etc. The event win went right down to the last race, with me and Mark on tied points. I got a good start, but tacked a bit too early then caught <br />
some weed, then tacked too early again, then my hand slipped off the boom gybing downwind and I couldn't catch up! I settled for 2nd (the first time I've lost a national event since June 2012), but I have plenty of time before the next event to do some training and get my racing head back on. I also plan to rig my sail correctly if it is windy next time (I'd forgotten how long my boom should be and didn't have enough outhaul).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwjBPpkcs-SRs80iNyyCbjb1G2bbwfWQW_p31osHGhD2SmH_9cKcGRupT3TetpWO8wMPAkSFr8AtU-Jk8y7iCKmqN2biQKAmK6r4vdsA9KR7CYnAcL0Jm7PsD0XwKxYrVi0n4TqvjY1Ni/s1600/louis-sib-16-2-13-004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFwjBPpkcs-SRs80iNyyCbjb1G2bbwfWQW_p31osHGhD2SmH_9cKcGRupT3TetpWO8wMPAkSFr8AtU-Jk8y7iCKmqN2biQKAmK6r4vdsA9KR7CYnAcL0Jm7PsD0XwKxYrVi0n4TqvjY1Ni/s1600/louis-sib-16-2-13-004.jpg" height="264" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo by Paul Wright</td></tr>
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Tom Naylor was super quick upwind on his Tushingham XR-Race, Rob Kent was super quick downwind on his, and I was quick enough on mine to almost make up for my mistakes! Well done to Mark for winning, I'll be back on top next time!</div>
<br />
Weymouth results:<br />
1. Mark Kay (Demon)<br />
2. Louis Morris (Tushingham)<br />
3. Tom Naylor (Tushingham)<br />
4. Rob Kent (Tushingham)Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-32757019670246363252014-05-27T13:48:00.002-07:002014-05-28T14:25:00.498-07:00Inland Regional Series 2 and the legendary Rutland Marathon<div>
All of the photos were taken by John Liddy, there's loads more of them via <a href="https://ukwindsurfing.com/results/" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ_vMVqErMyyoq_pFR0SXNop9u-oiphzw5xvknw0lLRX_kcMgFAuXVczdz8RVYlTYMTssX9zu2yX8MYDdUs4xb1CHQNbpM0lv3FQnGTyrhtfTYGnJnPg4h4x6JG-wD2ku4uVaehlbGFsk/s1600/14088603579_4ea47dcc74_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZ_vMVqErMyyoq_pFR0SXNop9u-oiphzw5xvknw0lLRX_kcMgFAuXVczdz8RVYlTYMTssX9zu2yX8MYDdUs4xb1CHQNbpM0lv3FQnGTyrhtfTYGnJnPg4h4x6JG-wD2ku4uVaehlbGFsk/s1600/14088603579_4ea47dcc74_z.jpg" height="198" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob York won the RSX fleet</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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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.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcntARMVS4VZukRspO0u1gKxi3PvmAvMohSEthOltJ6s9z8i6mE9bH3i71wdfpE4U9sgn1RcfXZSSqtvnfnVGgaUEXrAKrj5EvGhzzBg8rgvubiLD5hnJ7urKKjLm5zuLXOm3JQn4iKn8/s1600/14295546093_528fd69664_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQcntARMVS4VZukRspO0u1gKxi3PvmAvMohSEthOltJ6s9z8i6mE9bH3i71wdfpE4U9sgn1RcfXZSSqtvnfnVGgaUEXrAKrj5EvGhzzBg8rgvubiLD5hnJ7urKKjLm5zuLXOm3JQn4iKn8/s1600/14295546093_528fd69664_z.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All action in the Techno fleet: won by Andy Brown</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
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.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO6YKECUG7_h0kUcoCsOCBqRkrpH3bHAKAvqPMaUBi156v6wzlEluPa-Mx2H3201WULN8HfwCZWTJAI1faEvfj_1QeVgvI3ahEVEqAjk7UncIngu16VsxlRhP6PbIGnGv1VEvBtKIpYDs/s1600/14252862506_27ebc97056_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLO6YKECUG7_h0kUcoCsOCBqRkrpH3bHAKAvqPMaUBi156v6wzlEluPa-Mx2H3201WULN8HfwCZWTJAI1faEvfj_1QeVgvI3ahEVEqAjk7UncIngu16VsxlRhP6PbIGnGv1VEvBtKIpYDs/s1600/14252862506_27ebc97056_o.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Kay: 2nd raceboard in control of me off the startline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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. </div>
<div>
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<div>
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.</div>
<div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsNW-2g0DhqhFQVghw_F8WtOLwBarHQ3VWt5X4DhUalmj8QZwW4xnUOak_YRcxCzbsNDREc-m5G_xcrvVdFwM3OnAzi6rdzoYi4XkGsh7rww0om4lxs25nA57Ur2WfAPmhOxcXLYOv2FZ/s1600/robin+and+aiden.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBsNW-2g0DhqhFQVghw_F8WtOLwBarHQ3VWt5X4DhUalmj8QZwW4xnUOak_YRcxCzbsNDREc-m5G_xcrvVdFwM3OnAzi6rdzoYi4XkGsh7rww0om4lxs25nA57Ur2WfAPmhOxcXLYOv2FZ/s1600/robin+and+aiden.png" height="161" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Youth Raceboards: Robin and Aidan</td></tr>
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<div>
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.</div>
<div>
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<div>
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!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNzVxm28HTFaG4keNQqNdrPU4bUiSt8zTPDj_Qly3rrrgTgZDRFG3P9Hde4TVBN3E8iF5Ht-Gw4LeBO33c4CQcndc0CejkFSsTuEhordIzy82WM65qulvDHshD1eaXZjNbON4Xtn6lalQ/s1600/14273216352_1df2459764_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBNzVxm28HTFaG4keNQqNdrPU4bUiSt8zTPDj_Qly3rrrgTgZDRFG3P9Hde4TVBN3E8iF5Ht-Gw4LeBO33c4CQcndc0CejkFSsTuEhordIzy82WM65qulvDHshD1eaXZjNbON4Xtn6lalQ/s1600/14273216352_1df2459764_z.jpg" height="210" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marathon start</td></tr>
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<div>
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.<br />
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<div>
It was great to see the juniors having some great fun racing and training with Ali Yates.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
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!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiL_fWZp4rde_GZTCQK4L_0inn45qDXaqbNLPRlLhAS9xrWS1vYGPaVnY0ukE4s7W1148BuJHnuzfVfMk9qx_qBhzE4y-X0ML5jfuluinyPSZ4AC4KHYvuYoQ3-lJk2m4GX_ie8gBE9Xs/s1600/14273703744_425d040cb6_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYiL_fWZp4rde_GZTCQK4L_0inn45qDXaqbNLPRlLhAS9xrWS1vYGPaVnY0ukE4s7W1148BuJHnuzfVfMk9qx_qBhzE4y-X0ML5jfuluinyPSZ4AC4KHYvuYoQ3-lJk2m4GX_ie8gBE9Xs/s1600/14273703744_425d040cb6_z.jpg" height="255" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big shiny marathon trophies!</td></tr>
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<div>
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!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Event results summary:</div>
<div>
Juniors:</div>
<div>
1st 4.5: Zoe Basset</div>
<div>
1st 5.8 Junior: James Bulson</div>
<div>
1st 5.8: Maya Wylie</div>
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<div>
Techno:</div>
<div>
1st Andy Brown</div>
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2nd Matt Carey</div>
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3rd Zed Spencer-Milnes</div>
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1st 7.8 girl Alice Read (6th overall)</div>
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1st 6.8 boy Josh Carey (7th overall)</div>
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1st 6.8 girl Mollie Densley-Robins (20th overall)</div>
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<div>
RSX:</div>
<div>
1st Robert York</div>
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2nd Cameron Coghill (first youth)</div>
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3rd Lewis May</div>
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<div>
Formula:</div>
<div>
1st Chris Bond (Point-7 sails/Gaastra board)</div>
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Raceboard:</div>
<div>
1st Louis Morris (Tushingham/Starboard)</div>
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2nd Mark Kay (first heavyweight, first master) (Demon/Starboard)</div>
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3rd Robert Kent (Tushingham/Starboard)</div>
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1st Veteran, Guy Spreckley (4th overall) (Demon/Starboard)</div>
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1st Super veteran, John Pete (7th overall) (Demon/Starboard)</div>
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1st Lady, Annette Kent (8th overall) (Tushingham/Starboard)</div>
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1st Youth, Robin McAllister (10th overall) (Tushingham/Starboard)</div>
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<div>
Full results <a href="http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/Whitwell2014.html" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Marathon results summary:</div>
<div>
1st Chris Bond</div>
<div>
2nd Lee Marrs</div>
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3rd Louis Morris</div>
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Full Results <a href="http://www.windsurfingresults.co.uk/Marathon2014.html" target="_blank">here</a></div>
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Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-36053850992930750442014-05-20T13:27:00.004-07:002014-05-20T13:27:43.864-07:00Blog o' Clock again!Been a while.<br />
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I have decided to use less words and more pictures, and I have pictures this time!<br />
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Been in the mountains a lot, did my 80th Munro the other weekend.<br />
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And I got a camera for my Birthday, hence pictures below:<br />
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Cairngorms:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7IvYAwjrpsom5vwCnu_0pInFFRUgjDGEJ6P7tH7W26aEfDpD4ZTv3HBTZdnGBukVUyNYXf0vNhUZpmdl3us4qx_h2DZY6v_ICz9Pb0h1yF7DaAlRstpglcSNUEY0LjYbzmJF5hT5xwgy/s1600/DSC00372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt7IvYAwjrpsom5vwCnu_0pInFFRUgjDGEJ6P7tH7W26aEfDpD4ZTv3HBTZdnGBukVUyNYXf0vNhUZpmdl3us4qx_h2DZY6v_ICz9Pb0h1yF7DaAlRstpglcSNUEY0LjYbzmJF5hT5xwgy/s1600/DSC00372.JPG" height="358" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8CFrZC26Q3mYq84NhYriuLWJQxSJRI1-XKgm90gBW4gdM4O58ctyvpxsq3F5aE3_4OLFE6MCBWUHaDyt1HDeYeGZzQuy5-p7TocUlqiQPRn9PsLba0xaME3fLfGCstFcuNijsKZnXDaq/s1600/DSC00376.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO8CFrZC26Q3mYq84NhYriuLWJQxSJRI1-XKgm90gBW4gdM4O58ctyvpxsq3F5aE3_4OLFE6MCBWUHaDyt1HDeYeGZzQuy5-p7TocUlqiQPRn9PsLba0xaME3fLfGCstFcuNijsKZnXDaq/s1600/DSC00376.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Ben Cruachan with mum, visited my brother Owen in Taynuilt as well</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHi-EQPFDHughK1RQiBloIUDDj3UbN2FljQymdUxe9M9VGmm-p3l8aFe3rRA8-2TQunR5W02oVY7tKDqBoPFdn1YBMfyL85Gx-2n6vSLQQdJKqZxeqhZPVGehYd1gvJE1O0_7juZDm3H-/s1600/DSC00310.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwHi-EQPFDHughK1RQiBloIUDDj3UbN2FljQymdUxe9M9VGmm-p3l8aFe3rRA8-2TQunR5W02oVY7tKDqBoPFdn1YBMfyL85Gx-2n6vSLQQdJKqZxeqhZPVGehYd1gvJE1O0_7juZDm3H-/s1600/DSC00310.JPG" height="140" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl4QOkvHqcTwmXWTdF36UW-W3eGxHq50SEIEeQEWL6DfuI-YqGmmKUfHryIm6N-Jc8lUnMsMHbhRVBoXcfwff8dpqSAA1hhLE76JDBNadkJwX_46075GpFiqCVnIvzMTcpJJYM1b0W_TR/s1600/North.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl4QOkvHqcTwmXWTdF36UW-W3eGxHq50SEIEeQEWL6DfuI-YqGmmKUfHryIm6N-Jc8lUnMsMHbhRVBoXcfwff8dpqSAA1hhLE76JDBNadkJwX_46075GpFiqCVnIvzMTcpJJYM1b0W_TR/s1600/North.JPG" height="297" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Mamores (near Fort William)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAeqy9o7YwPGxRkXiFNTvN8X2vH3en_hvTcSV3XhxebVaV3tquXeTWcFNDTX_QgWj4R0GXU57OMWuwYOplnF7KyDnODii_VFggGrNBGMagHHcjUMd5j8Aok_KDyS3TUdDuRYJ9gszyYrB/s1600/Across+Loch+Leven+again.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilAeqy9o7YwPGxRkXiFNTvN8X2vH3en_hvTcSV3XhxebVaV3tquXeTWcFNDTX_QgWj4R0GXU57OMWuwYOplnF7KyDnODii_VFggGrNBGMagHHcjUMd5j8Aok_KDyS3TUdDuRYJ9gszyYrB/s1600/Across+Loch+Leven+again.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Grey Corries (also near Fort William)</div>
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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!</div>
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Antoine (by me):</div>
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Me (by Antoine):</div>
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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.</div>
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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!</div>
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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!</div>
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Jazz time in St Andrews now, see ya!</div>
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<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-48729099063936159242014-03-08T03:54:00.001-08:002014-03-08T03:54:30.852-08:00Why I love windsurfing...Thanks to Austin Davies for sending me this photo of a (crashed) loop attempt at Daymer bay in December.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS3hC4oIGPmdcgxwuV_72IxkWPcTNp5JZaQl4PGt94zZ7co_lM04XRSdm7t2rHKbMzV-oPPhTH8CHrlmpi3c7953CHUsanBfrBD_CqOtKuwsYTisHxVYyqdkGz2qScmlOQnbAFv29lJx6/s1600/Daymer+a+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbS3hC4oIGPmdcgxwuV_72IxkWPcTNp5JZaQl4PGt94zZ7co_lM04XRSdm7t2rHKbMzV-oPPhTH8CHrlmpi3c7953CHUsanBfrBD_CqOtKuwsYTisHxVYyqdkGz2qScmlOQnbAFv29lJx6/s1600/Daymer+a+%25282%2529.jpg" height="231" width="400" /></a></div>
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This short video clip doesn't contain any amazing action, but pretty well encompasses two things I love about windsurfing: going fast and jumping! (also by Austin Davies)</div>
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<object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://i1.ytimg.com/vi/VW7RBSAi_5g/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/VW7RBSAi_5g?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/VW7RBSAi_5g?version=3&f=user_uploads&c=google-webdrive-0&app=youtube_gdata" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-92015129533217748922014-02-11T11:17:00.001-08:002014-02-11T11:17:20.791-08:00Tuning the Tushingham XR RaceI have made a tuning guide for the Tushingham XR Race. Watch <a href="http://vimeo.com/85915681" target="_blank">this video</a> to help you get the best performance out of this sail!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Top tip: let your outhaul off and pump downwind! (pic Paul Wright)</td></tr>
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<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-29172539220406837812014-01-13T13:43:00.000-08:002014-01-13T13:50:57.523-08:00I wished for a windy Christmas...I couldn't really believe my luck! I flew south from Scotland on the 20th of December, the conditions had been looking pretty sweet in Cornwall for a couple of weeks, surely the wind would disappear as soon as I arrived?<br />
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Actually, no, the wind disappeared the day <i>after</i> I flew back to Scotland haha!<br />
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It was really nice to be back home with my family and everything, not just windsurfing but also enjoying the outdoors near my house and playing a lot of music with my parents and siblings (it seems I am the official accompanist, so lots of sight reading for me!).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUkMHoH5rxdxVyFzukX4wLFflOr-U4aN_mQ6YV0oPiKjyWd01aGvHvuoMBCAZN_aZURCr2ARGu962Vx5kF8NPZpqDe7AWvHqQNKgKduT5rlscAqXvN86nTyF135zxe-vEFRDHnXN9D8mv/s1600/IMG_1745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSUkMHoH5rxdxVyFzukX4wLFflOr-U4aN_mQ6YV0oPiKjyWd01aGvHvuoMBCAZN_aZURCr2ARGu962Vx5kF8NPZpqDe7AWvHqQNKgKduT5rlscAqXvN86nTyF135zxe-vEFRDHnXN9D8mv/s320/IMG_1745.JPG" width="213" /></a>My sponsors had very kindly agreed to lend me a set of wave kit whilst I was in Cornwall - then I didn't have to drive my kit down or try and get it on the train.<br />
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So the day after I got back, I packed my wetsuit into my Overboard dry bag, drove west, and I headed out at The Bluff in cross off, float and ride. Maybe I got there a bit late for the tide, the wave wasn't massive but pretty close outy. 5 minutes later I took a wave on the head whilst trying to water start, and snapped the mast and broke the 4.7, oops! At least my car keys stayed dry in my Overboard case!<br />
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Luckily (thank you for ever!) I got a new mast, and was able to sail in 4.2 weather every session! The 4.2 Rock is a pretty grunty sail with a quite wide downhaul and outhaul range so it was fine, especially with the magic Starboard Kode wave 77, which planes in nothing, stays controlled even when I can barely hang onto the sail, goes fast upwind, and for wave riding is, well... slashy and slidey! Actually it took some getting used to because I'm used to a bit of an old(ish) single fin, and the Kode slides the top turn really easily, I just had to adjust my bottom and top turning styles (if you could call my turns a "style", I'm a bit of a shoddy waverider).<br />
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Anyway, I had some really nice sessions at Wonwell/Mothecombe in Devon. Just up the coast from Bigbury, it is a perfect storm spot in a S-SWly, being in a shallow esturary, at high tide, the waves break gently and you can go further out for bigger ones.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV8lBKx6qIoOEdvEmvIQ8ZF3TwHWWUSJ8L4skivBVRsihYPanZvL6sbudpwHvSaiXOmg4soHuCeOhaxCZjnpPCooqTlyfFuk8dMqaWVKsbBkYnt4i2DzDE-3obz2lomDuJmkdxNLTrpqh/s1600/monkey+jump+sequence+(1024x703).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrV8lBKx6qIoOEdvEmvIQ8ZF3TwHWWUSJ8L4skivBVRsihYPanZvL6sbudpwHvSaiXOmg4soHuCeOhaxCZjnpPCooqTlyfFuk8dMqaWVKsbBkYnt4i2DzDE-3obz2lomDuJmkdxNLTrpqh/s400/monkey+jump+sequence+(1024x703).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Also Marazion for Starboard tack cross on, fun, but actually harder than I expected to line up a nice ramp. I sailed for too long on that session and missed the tide for The Bluff, which looked like it had been really good when I got there. I still managed to get some waves at the rivermouth though so that was fun.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjxjtbRxt9vQeglZhXUMx7nRHo8OQnyZG2XP1o073wEX53eRAIAVzGXzUo3b5dFkEZ7-H4oNiQ9lDL2QbGZ1sMLMtMoPHAIv81C9Y1SWh8RdMzSBwYjtj3z8nqTZXn0SPHm4IcAH89az6/s1600/IMG_1690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIjxjtbRxt9vQeglZhXUMx7nRHo8OQnyZG2XP1o073wEX53eRAIAVzGXzUo3b5dFkEZ7-H4oNiQ9lDL2QbGZ1sMLMtMoPHAIv81C9Y1SWh8RdMzSBwYjtj3z8nqTZXn0SPHm4IcAH89az6/s320/IMG_1690.JPG" width="213" /></a>And Daymer! I love Daymer bay! I forgot how good it was. I had two sessions there, the first was perfect, a bit gusty, but most of the time full power 4.2, head high set waves, cross/cross on port tack, sunshine, with loads of other people out. I watched the King brothers stomping backloop after backloop, and tried some myself, rotated either too much or too little, but hey, I guess I've got to start somewhere, and actually, I'm feeling a lot more confident with my jumping now that I actually just go for it. My port tack forwards feel pretty dodgy though, think I need to bring the rig more across me, the movement feels more automatic on starboard for some reason.<br />
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Not forgetting the Raceboard! Most of the time it was a bit too windy, and when it wasn't there was nothing! I had two sessions at Torpoint: one in 0-2 knots and one in 3-9 knots, and one session at Siblyback in 5-16 knots. Raceboarding is fun, and I can still just about sail with a 9.5 sail and 377cmx67cmx260 litre board, so that is encouraging for the Race season 3 months away!<br />
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Keep an eye out for my tuning video for the Tushingham XR Race racing sail very soon.<br />
Also, I've changed my website around a bit. Click on the "Website Home" button at the top of this page, go on, you know you want to!<br />
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Pictures by Sue WalkerLouishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-86119370482650474662013-12-21T00:57:00.002-08:002013-12-21T00:57:24.355-08:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My Autumn in Scotland<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pic: Paul Wright</td></tr>
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So it’s been quite a while since I’ve updated my blog,
anyway, I’m doing it now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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As I write this, I’m in the departure lounge of Edinburgh
airport, ready to fly home for a couple of weeks. Of course, it’ll be good to
catch up with my family and everything, but I can’t help noticing that the
forecast is for awesome wind and waves, and I’m gagging to get out in some
proper wave conditions again!</div>
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I’ve been windsurfing a bit, and fife is a pretty windy
place, but also a pretty flat place, so to get proper waves you have to be
prepared to drive a fair distance. Actually I’ve been content to save money,
stay local and play in 1-2 ft onshore mush, the result: shuvits and Starboard
tack forward loops, yay!</div>
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My raceboard kit has been feeling a bit lonely in Cornwall
without me I think, but I plan to become re-acquainted with it, and also make
the Tushingham XR-Race tuning video that I’ve been thinking of doing since the
worlds.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So what have I been doing other than bump n jump/mush
shredding? Well… working, studying and mountaineering: the joys of having an
industrial placement in St Andrews.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So with weekdays spent in the lab and dark evenings spent
doing my distance learning, free time is the weekends. It’s been great to get
involved with the university mountaineering club here, and I’ve really enjoyed
getting to see the varied landscape and weather of the highlands. The short
daylight hours get to be a bit of a pain, but as long as you don’t mind part of
the decent with a torch, you can get rewarded with amazing views, quite
possibly not at the top (in the clouds), but at least halfway up. Also, the
lack of daylight does mean that what light there is during the day is pretty
nice to look at, it is effectively evening all day! Check out some photos
below: the crappy fuzzy ones are taken on my phone, the nice ones taken by my
friend Martin!<o:p></o:p></div>
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Anyway, stay tuned for:</div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->More blog updates from my time in Cornwall,
where a Starboard Kode 72 and some Tushingham Rocks wait for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->A tuning video to help you get the best out of
the super adjustable race winning Tushingham XR-race 9.5.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->An updated website<o:p></o:p></div>
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Cheers, have a good Christmas!<br />
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Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-45992997283569820242013-09-21T14:24:00.000-07:002013-11-03T13:37:51.619-08:00Worlds: looking back, looking forwardIt's been two weeks since the Raceboard world championships came to a close, and my achievement sinks in a little bit more every time I think about it. It was a pretty special experience for me, not just competing at an international championship, but also travelling across Europe and seeing new places.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southwest Lakes Trust trailer in east Germany</td></tr>
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It was a long way to drive, but we gave time to stay overnight at Hohenstadt near Nurenburg each way to relax. It's a beautiful area of Germany, with some quite steep hills coming out of nowhere, and miles and miles of forest cleared in places to make way for fields. The houses are also pretty, with very steeply sloping roofs.<br />
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One thing that you should know about driving in the Czech Republic, is that you for a 10 day permit to use the motorways. This is presumably so that they can rebuild them all! The slow lane is so, so bumpy, really bad in places, which isn't ideal for a rather old trailer stacked full of windsurfing kit! It was a bit much for it in the end, and one of the posts for the board rack sheered on the way home (it was a bit rusty): nothing a bit of string and an old mast extension couldn't solve though! I was pretty pleased that we didn't have a flat tire, the bearings didn't break, and Pauls plywood rig box didn't shake itself to bits! In fact, my car coped very well, and we didn't have any problems with it the whole 3000 odd miles, except when we tried to run our laptops off the car battery and realised that it was on its last legs! The car needed bump starting every now and again after that!<br />
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Some, well, ok, a lot of the journey was pretty boring, especially Belgium, which is lovely, with spacious feeling motorways and nice trees, but it is all the same (by the time we got to Belgium from Czech Rep we were pretty bored of driving anyway though)!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSACPE6SGDJpkDB4oCV7Br4_VoOy4VMXsAHLiANE6NzclAOrjL4BgPLfo1RhnfFKGQyHPSb7Ar0t0_IsXoFNSs5HbhtxJqEYpbMln0yzWb6GrP6wY2P_2uyt6IaUR36M2GURgUsUTbXmlh/s1600/aaa-lou-05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSACPE6SGDJpkDB4oCV7Br4_VoOy4VMXsAHLiANE6NzclAOrjL4BgPLfo1RhnfFKGQyHPSb7Ar0t0_IsXoFNSs5HbhtxJqEYpbMln0yzWb6GrP6wY2P_2uyt6IaUR36M2GURgUsUTbXmlh/s320/aaa-lou-05.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a>The south Moravian region of the Czech Republic, where the lake is, is very pretty rural area, with lots of farmland and vineyards. The aristocracy who lived in Mikulov, the nearest town had lots of fishing lakes etc. designed, but the lake that we were racing on is one of 3 lakes that were built to prevent the river Dyje from flooding the surrounding low lying farmland. The lakes are quite shallow, with a dam/embankment around much of it, but the southern bank (where the sailing club is) consists of a large steep hill with rows and rows of grapevines, and a rather imposing ruined castle on the top.<br />
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The event was very well organised indeed, and seemed to run without a hitch. There was a lot of sponsor support for the event, so a big thanks to them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team GB, ready to race</td></tr>
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At the opening ceremony, there was a band playing traditional gypsy music, and they were fantastic.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice conditions on the training day</td></tr>
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After a really fun training day in perfect, clean wind between 9 and 18 knots, the practice race was a little disappointing, with the wind blowing cross offshore and the course set in the lee of the castle, which made the wind unbelievably gusty and shifty, I got 2nd in the practice race (blue fleet) behind Curro Manchon, this gave me a good confidence booster for my speed in light-marginal winds, especially since I set my watch wrong and started about 20 seconds late!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKcAEanUevSe54JtmoF4nu6e110MAwLHuSARBuUWT03Ff9_aezdSGPpxDPupLNG9kBiD7Sg3A3uS3l8WdW-c-NEMnEtbxIdxmskOxftpBOsEvj0Mz30vwW-2Z69rG2a2hxilNxRx6KSuc/s1600/aaa-lou-08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlKcAEanUevSe54JtmoF4nu6e110MAwLHuSARBuUWT03Ff9_aezdSGPpxDPupLNG9kBiD7Sg3A3uS3l8WdW-c-NEMnEtbxIdxmskOxftpBOsEvj0Mz30vwW-2Z69rG2a2hxilNxRx6KSuc/s320/aaa-lou-08.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blasting</td></tr>
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I was expecting a similar wind direction on the first day of official racing, but luckily the wind was quite cross-shore, and strong! Still pretty gusty, with winds from 18-28 knots in the morning and more like 12-20 in the afternoon. The moral to take home from that day is: don't be afraid to use a smaller sail then most of the top guys! This definitely let me concentrate on just sailing fast, and not have to struggle with a massive sail upwind. Downwind, even with my Tushingham Lightning 8.5, I was able to point very broad with a bit of pumping, and took some places downwind from they guys on 9.5's. My results improved throughout the day 4, 3, 3, 2 in the Blue fleet, with Patrik Pollak winning all the races but one, which was won by Petr Kucera. Curro got 2nd in the first race using his Tushingham XR Race 9.5, and I was fighting with him in many of the other races.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumping downwind</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time for some lunch</td></tr>
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Whilst the two days of no wind and nice sunshine could have been a good chance to do some exploring, racing was postponed for 2 hours at a time, so there wasn't time to go far afield. We found time to walk to to the Castle, with some amazing views of the lake and surrounding countryside and across the border into Austria. Even with SUP racing and an inflatable climbing wall in the shape of an iso-line bottle (event drinks sponsor), I think we were all a bit bored and raring to go when the wind returned on Friday. At the competitors briefing, there was applause when the race officer reported 8-10 knots on the course!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKymwaJGOlLKyHNbWY7DirdgC3Y-QelIlfrFbMZqZXZe9a79AA87yg-q33Fy21scB7QBKVVxR1UrPJXwrkn205dDVAYIDxXa1tVwo9mdrRJFE4K_gC7OW-exYEl017xmGpQMfREoC9-iH0/s1600/aa-lou-019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKymwaJGOlLKyHNbWY7DirdgC3Y-QelIlfrFbMZqZXZe9a79AA87yg-q33Fy21scB7QBKVVxR1UrPJXwrkn205dDVAYIDxXa1tVwo9mdrRJFE4K_gC7OW-exYEl017xmGpQMfREoC9-iH0/s320/aa-lou-019.JPG" height="237" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pumping!</td></tr>
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The wind was a little gusty and very shifty on the last two days, so those who found the pressure and got the shifts right made big gains. The last day of the qualifying series saw me finish 2nd in each race behind Patrik. I tried not to be too risky at the start, and just concentrated in having space to accelerate in the middle of the line with options. This meant that although I was never first to the windward mark, I was consistently in the top 5. Frenchman Sylvain Dehouve was always close to the front, Pedro Corte Moura from Portugal was very good upwind, but I usually managed to gain on him downwind. I usually gained or sometime even overtook Patrik Pollak by getting a favourable shift and pointing higher than him upwind, but downwind, he was very fast indeed and won each of the races.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPyRxPToeX073qV_xEkHoLEASei1Y_Pi_BWefH2Wrk2yYDqkA9ZKavic7zI1RIB7COtlwrN8Xb2hMiGzaLD_ZPa-78kWKVTpxUdhwRl7p3kF7WcJjjqHZ6lBFVGHyn7yUIbISi50lU5bN/s1600/Approaching+mark+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcPyRxPToeX073qV_xEkHoLEASei1Y_Pi_BWefH2Wrk2yYDqkA9ZKavic7zI1RIB7COtlwrN8Xb2hMiGzaLD_ZPa-78kWKVTpxUdhwRl7p3kF7WcJjjqHZ6lBFVGHyn7yUIbISi50lU5bN/s320/Approaching+mark+1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and Pedro upwind (Photo Martin Hales)</td></tr>
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The final day left me in a pretty tight 3rd place, a long way off Patrik and Max in 1st and 2nd place, but with Petr Kucera, Sylvain Dehouve and Curro Manchon all snapping at my heels. The light winds meant that the most races we were going to get for the series was 10, which was big news for much of the fleet as it only allowed 1 discard. Luckily for me, Curro (who had got 2nd in every race on the penultimate day in the blue fleet whilst feeling very ill) had an OCS to discard, because on the final day, he showed me the way, counting a 3rd and two 2nds. Having to count a 7th from the first day meant that he finished two points behind me. Petr didn't have such a good day and got a 6th, 11th and 22nd, so slipped from 4th to 6th, which meant I got 3rd!!!!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rB0ccD363F6_MHaMcsB_nC1Wz0XQ1LuAz5IvYhDZ1bNcjJjSTayKRz2_SEC5dDFO7hKz6496Rk2jCyfx2_Oiq7Z1qbMGSodVqJVNA_lHSbHigmgmeIzamE4lGso7jesfdjN8YH1bh1ou/s1600/1236380_654020531288758_887792944_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rB0ccD363F6_MHaMcsB_nC1Wz0XQ1LuAz5IvYhDZ1bNcjJjSTayKRz2_SEC5dDFO7hKz6496Rk2jCyfx2_Oiq7Z1qbMGSodVqJVNA_lHSbHigmgmeIzamE4lGso7jesfdjN8YH1bh1ou/s320/1236380_654020531288758_887792944_n.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curro (Photo Martin Hales)</td></tr>
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The last race was a bit funny, because after rounding the first mark in a good position, I knew that all I had to do was finish within 3 places of Curro to take bronze. I was in 4th and managed to overtake Sylvain into 3rd whilst Curro got 2nd, so I just had to pump a bit, watching that I was safe from behind, which meant I knew 3rd place was mine more or less halfway through the race, but I couldn't celebrate until it was over. When it was over, I felt some relief, but not a sudden rush of happiness of my achievement, maybe because it wasn't a very exciting finish to the regatta?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOgUUVpBQojR8SX061g0APclrSBXV_9VXMxKGsvZnLoStP4lMv0mjWobXf9XsY5KW02An7lZ7MFeld_Sx5PxLkoYvcCiK3QQ06s7RZvYidVyMb7ytvXeGi8bWZN5i5BE7EMh8QjHkSXHZ/s1600/aaa-lou-04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhOgUUVpBQojR8SX061g0APclrSBXV_9VXMxKGsvZnLoStP4lMv0mjWobXf9XsY5KW02An7lZ7MFeld_Sx5PxLkoYvcCiK3QQ06s7RZvYidVyMb7ytvXeGi8bWZN5i5BE7EMh8QjHkSXHZ/s320/aaa-lou-04.jpg" height="320" width="226" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yep, it's real, I've just got 3rd!</td></tr>
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I still haven't quite got my head around it, having spend many years of my life sailing with, and finishing behind such people as Sam Sills and Connor Bainbridge, who dominated the UK events and achieved such amazing results at international events, I suddenly found myself winning UKWA events on Raceboard, a dream in itself, I never expected to get 3rd place at my first world championships since 2009 on Techno. Actually, maybe that's part of the reason for my success; I went there without expectation or pressure on myself to do well, and stayed focused, didn't take too many risks, and concentrated on sailing fast. So I didn't really make any mistakes, and when I did, I just focused on sorting it out and overtaking people, a few years ago I would have gone mental and started shouting at myself and my gear. I remember one race at the Techno worlds where I had a shit start, bad upwind, then when I fell off on a gybe downwind, started punching my board rather than getting up immediately and working my arse off to overtake some people!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4swjrmQM_LdIAzNvDGF6P9nArFwjwevmgpXgwvWBHdN3W1_9vFTsfdKOhXhJnAuLN59pM61quK2wD8UwBkRTxFfZwD-sChgFB3ogjj5tw7ZjrrwHQdWu0psVK8bDpoeVV1pcsI3RhW4o/s1600/aaa-lou-011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4swjrmQM_LdIAzNvDGF6P9nArFwjwevmgpXgwvWBHdN3W1_9vFTsfdKOhXhJnAuLN59pM61quK2wD8UwBkRTxFfZwD-sChgFB3ogjj5tw7ZjrrwHQdWu0psVK8bDpoeVV1pcsI3RhW4o/s320/aaa-lou-011.jpg" height="226" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lightwind carve gybe</td></tr>
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I hope that I can compete in the worlds or euros next year, but will have to see how things pan out. Unfortunately, I cannot afford any more events this year, so the raceboard will be hibernating in Cornwall until next season, hopefully I can get out on a couple of times, but I already can't wait to race again, the constant tactical, physical and technical challenge has me hooked. I came off the back of last season with 3 consecutive wins, so I had high hopes for this season with my new kit from sponsors Tushingham and Starboard, but to win every event in the UK and 3rd at the worlds is unbelievable!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGixoV_PaCM4UVYdMAw0a5zvEGhXWiggC1etZRM8hZprdmGFndaufD7-V7oDXn45TekcZLYMn_7DZGiwOT4iywgcjETl5ZdXjmLkj_1bng_31c6WpfBzC7sQyFJ5ZomSwSZhhdUcnVoR38/s1600/aa-lou-018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGixoV_PaCM4UVYdMAw0a5zvEGhXWiggC1etZRM8hZprdmGFndaufD7-V7oDXn45TekcZLYMn_7DZGiwOT4iywgcjETl5ZdXjmLkj_1bng_31c6WpfBzC7sQyFJ5ZomSwSZhhdUcnVoR38/s320/aa-lou-018.jpg" height="270" width="320" /></a>I was very pleased with my equipment, and had got the XR Race 9.5 tuned up nicely across its wind range. I cannot emphasise the importance of getting out and trying different settings in all wind strengths, and would say that an adjustable downhaul is almost as important as an adjustable outhaul on this sail. Every time the wind changes a couple of knots, the downhaul changes, and the outhaul is continually adjusted through gusts, lulls, and between upwind and downwind. I have found that the XR Race can be set very full for light winds, and proved that it has what it takes against the competition in all wind strengths. I am going to look at making a tuning guide video over the winter to help people understand how to get the best out of this sail: watch this space!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9kYLZBOJl6flFgasuiMZd9GKZ90b4wpQK6x3me-fMD1T3DhWZqGbKaP22NJuYD4iINF0MfIcT2UwjVB3X6erkhPiF39Nd0nMcwNLq4F2weOGf0_VCsP6i2xlu1P0Wn1tsgD-8RuYZDjf/s1600/heading+in+for+lunch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC9kYLZBOJl6flFgasuiMZd9GKZ90b4wpQK6x3me-fMD1T3DhWZqGbKaP22NJuYD4iINF0MfIcT2UwjVB3X6erkhPiF39Nd0nMcwNLq4F2weOGf0_VCsP6i2xlu1P0Wn1tsgD-8RuYZDjf/s400/heading+in+for+lunch.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's to 2014!</td></tr>
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Massive thanks to my sponsors: <a href="http://www.tushingham.com/" target="_blank">Tushingham</a>, <a href="http://www.star-board.com/" target="_blank">Starboard</a>, and <a href="http://www.over-board.co.uk/" target="_blank">Overboard</a>, and to Paul Wright for his help with my website, encouragement with my windsurfing for years and years, and his company during the event. Also thanks to the Raceboarders in the UK, in particular: Mark Kay, Jamie Ingram, and Rob Kent for pushing me, I wouldn't be fast without them! Can't forget my parents of course, I wouldn't be here, wouldn't be windsurfing, wouldn't have ever gone to a competition, learnt to race in open training, zone squad, and national squad or anything without them, cheers!Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-89588389832518448952013-09-10T12:09:00.003-07:002013-09-21T12:04:32.137-07:00Raceboard worlds Day 6: I got 3rd!!!!<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">The final day of the raceboard worlds had very similar conditions to </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">day 5, with light winds of 4-9 knots SE and sunshine. There was a lot to </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">play for on the final day, with a close battle for the title in both the </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">mens and womens category.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FBpouGAjZciGwEfXsZGiUp7qnFu5yLLv1MgL1cQUl3xy-b1O1oSAbp2nUrq8u18652lqkwqQ-5ILWbs6lQm2dqsQHubebBVsnPGwHAK0GO6eDPklVSeeWK8OwGGvofX4v78sXU_98FH8/s1600/971122_654048621285949_580427303_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8FBpouGAjZciGwEfXsZGiUp7qnFu5yLLv1MgL1cQUl3xy-b1O1oSAbp2nUrq8u18652lqkwqQ-5ILWbs6lQm2dqsQHubebBVsnPGwHAK0GO6eDPklVSeeWK8OwGGvofX4v78sXU_98FH8/s400/971122_654048621285949_580427303_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Go!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Overnight leader Patrik Pollak SVK-1 didn't have it his own way, and </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">found himself battling back through the fleet whilst Max Wojcik won </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, bitstream vera sans;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">all three of today's races to win the world championship in style. Spain's </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Curro Manchon was never far behind in 2nd in each race, and I recovered from </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, bitstream vera sans;"><span style="font-size: 11px;">a disappointing 7th in the first race to finish 3rd in the final two races </span></span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">and make it into 3rd place in the event.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Fellow Brits Mark and Paul found some form, with Mark coming close to winning the in the silver fleet, and beating half the gold fleet who had a 5 minute head start</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnfwlkHoYzC2-jNVRu7jAPbE226BaN6cIqhL6uC5KS9OHwaZViD08Ujyn6uFm7jnxz5x2ynPW9vok2G9XFi78ETFLlel6E9-ztSNEE_XI3dwT1UWow-LxTNeNgSOdKG-ATH8TjaIQUe64/s1600/1187083_654085617948916_1859528304_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnfwlkHoYzC2-jNVRu7jAPbE226BaN6cIqhL6uC5KS9OHwaZViD08Ujyn6uFm7jnxz5x2ynPW9vok2G9XFi78ETFLlel6E9-ztSNEE_XI3dwT1UWow-LxTNeNgSOdKG-ATH8TjaIQUe64/s320/1187083_654085617948916_1859528304_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Vita Matise and Marketa Vranova battling it out<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></td><td class="tr-caption"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">In the womens fleet, Latvia's Visa Matise won all three races, </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">enabling her to take the title away from Jan Silova from the Czech </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">republic dispite counting a did not compete from the first day.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">It was a fantastic event with a range of conditions from 4-33 knots, </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">everything was very well organised,and a big thanks to the event </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">organisers and sponsors as well as the race committee for putting on a </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">fantastic championship. There was a record number of 110 entries, showing </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">that raceboarding is a popular and healthy class around the world.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgA5InGi63ihlKvdife042qaI6BllCWUSWB8QCyoMhz9c3GwXRfvyh-uYcAPaKt1qsgc7mIFZrUjeD4LNHJyQU0kkVmiVQgxFKjz-l2k5Qgg4kabxCXD14pyeoMdsGd97yAHVZHIpm1ZX/s1600/1175129_654156207941857_2112391798_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgA5InGi63ihlKvdife042qaI6BllCWUSWB8QCyoMhz9c3GwXRfvyh-uYcAPaKt1qsgc7mIFZrUjeD4LNHJyQU0kkVmiVQgxFKjz-l2k5Qgg4kabxCXD14pyeoMdsGd97yAHVZHIpm1ZX/s320/1175129_654156207941857_2112391798_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Mens world champion is Maksymilian Wojcik</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;" /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Results:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">1. Maksymilian Wojcik - Poland, 1st lightweight </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">2. Patrik Pollak - </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Slovakia,1st master </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">3. Louis Morris - Great Britain </span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">11. Juha Blinnikka </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">- Finland, 1st grandmaster and 1st heavyweight </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">14. Kai Mannisto - </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Finland,1st veteran </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">33. Anras Nikl - Hungary, 1st youth</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Silver fleet:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">9. Mark Roberts GBR-1118</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">41. Paul Wright GBR-788</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Women:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">1. Vita Matise - Latvia, first grandmaster</span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">2. Jana Slivova - Czech </span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Republic</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">3. Martina Hruba - Czech Republic</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfonIw_yNK0F6YkMa1EATwXZMxq0I0KCpK2oI_P8JjEe2AVtgwxQroms-BLjyA_MI6SIAfTIyxL3bLKkTM8D-xMubjDh-eOQIqfdAD-1z4oF_ONUtwInoc9KDCw3Hr0FR2-2gLNdA-QaO/s1600/1175754_654155564608588_1492095655_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsfonIw_yNK0F6YkMa1EATwXZMxq0I0KCpK2oI_P8JjEe2AVtgwxQroms-BLjyA_MI6SIAfTIyxL3bLKkTM8D-xMubjDh-eOQIqfdAD-1z4oF_ONUtwInoc9KDCw3Hr0FR2-2gLNdA-QaO/s320/1175754_654155564608588_1492095655_n.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;">Visa Matise is the womens world champion</span></td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Full results here: </span><a href="http://www.wcr2013.org/en/information/" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;" target="http://www.wcr2013.org/en/information/">http://www.wcr2013.org/en/information/</a></span><br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;">Photos and more here: </span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/wcr2013" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;" target="www.facebook.com/wcr2013">www.facebook.com/wcr2013</a><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif, verdana, 'bitstream vera sans'; font-size: 11px;"><br /></span>Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7433980791155172193.post-46658322338843325682013-09-06T09:45:00.002-07:002013-09-06T09:53:35.788-07:00Raceboard worlds day 5Today, 3 races were completed for all fleets in 5-10 knots and hot sunshine.<br />
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It was hard work pumping in the hot conditions and light wind, but everyone was glad to get some races done after two days of no wind.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn2/1239812_653548671335944_843528388_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mens yellow fleet start</td></tr>
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In the blue fleet, Maksymilian Wojcik POL-7 was pushed hard by Curro Manchon ESP-9, but it was the former who won all 3 races, with Curro in 2nd each time, although an OCS (over the start line) in the last race saw him end the day in 5th place. Petr Kucera CZE-15 had consistent results, which was enough for him to hold on to 4th place.<br />
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In 3rd place is Louis Morris GBR-730. I was in the yellow fleet, where Patrik Pollak won every race, and somehow I managed 2nd in every race. I came frustratingly close to catching him a few times, but his downwind speed was too much. Sylvian Dehouve FRA-89 was never far behind, and holds 6th place now.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="259" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1231225_653582941332517_1484825665_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louis and Sylvian upwind</td></tr>
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Tomorrow is the last day, and with the mens fleet splitting into gold and silver fleets, there is going to be some very intense racing at the front of the fleet. Petr Kucera is only 1 point behind me, with Curro and Sylvian not far behind him, so there will be a tough battle for 3rd place. Max POL-7 and Patrik SVK-1 both have 6 points, so it will be winner takes all for them!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/530491_653581344666010_1150596185_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/530491_653581344666010_1150596185_n.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tough day for Paul.</td></tr>
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Mark Roberts found form in the last race today with a 19th place, but unfortunately it won't be enough to see him through to the gold fleet. Paul Wright had good speed when the gusts hit, but struggled to replicate this in the light conditions.<br />
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In the Womens fleet, Vita Matise LAT-1 has been dominating with several race wins, however, she is still counting a DNC from Tuesday, so will be hoping to discard that tomorrow to move up from 3rd place. Jana Silova CZE-26 still leads the winners fleet, with a consistent performance in todays light winds as well as Tuesdays strong conditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img height="266" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/1170782_653488744675270_2071025436_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The womens fleet starting.</td></tr>
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The wind is supposed to be a little stronger tomorrow, peaking at 6-11 knots, similar direction (SE), giving clean wind, although it was quite shifty and patchy today. It will be a close final day for all fleets in tricky conditions, <b>stay tuned at</b> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/wcr2013">www.facebook.com/wcr2013</a><br />
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Results Summary, men:<br />
1. Patrik Pollak SVK-1<br />
2. Maksymilian Wojcik POL-7<br />
3. Louis Morris GBR-730<br />
4. Petr Kucera CZE-15<br />
5. Curro Manchon ESP-9<br />
67. Mark Roberts GBR-1118<br />
90. Paul Wright GBR-788<br />
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women:<br />
1. Jana Silova CZE-26<br />
2. Hruba Martina CZE-251<br />
3. Vita Matise LAT-1<br />
<br />Louishttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11908848437664337246noreply@blogger.com0