Sponsor's Report by Paul Simmons, Tushingham.
Hosted by OTC UK, Tushingham Sails and Starboard, round two of the BSA Slalom series touched down at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy (WPNSA). The event was based by the OTC’s superb new location overlooking the sheltered waters of the harbour and competitors were greeted on Saturday morning with sunny skies and a decent morning breeze. With around thirteen knots blowing, racers were blasting out to the course, planing comfortably. Within a few minutes however, the wind dropped off and left racers wobbling back across the harbour. It had become so light that Steve Thorp’s dog, swimming in the water, was able to overtake me on the way back to the slipway!
The afternoon saw riders on larger kit able to plane so the race crew organised a fun “master blaster” across the harbour. Sam Latham took an early lead and held it until the last moment when Pearse Geaney (Irish slalom champion) nipped in front in an exciting finish.
With the wind even lighter in the afternoon we took advantage of the good weather to get some team racing in. The Starboard Serenity is built for these conditions and with two boards ready to race, the willing participants were split into teams of six for relay racing. Against a backdrop of cheering spectators on the slipway, the racing commenced, bringing some skilful sailing mixed with numerous wobbly gybes, dodgy pumping, wipeouts and all manner of acts of sabotage as the “fun racing” became rather competitive! Not quite the high-octane, high-speed slalom action most of the racers had come for but nevertheless, everyone enjoyed the light wind alternative, helped by the sunny weather!
Following an excellent performance by the live band Audio Bomber at Saturday night’s party and a bunch of thirsty windsurfers in attendance, there were a few hangovers amongst the competitors on Sunday morning. Despite the gloomy weather, the wind appeared to be enough to race. Once again though, it fell light before competition could commence, leaving the riders somewhat frustrated back on the shore. Photographer Roger Turner arrived from Poole with the news “It’s windy everywhere else,” bringing hope for an improvement. By lunchtime the clouds had cleared and the wind was creeping up towards race-able conditions.
Under sunny skies, during the afternoon all fleets enjoyed a series of five races of downwind slalom on sails generally between 8.0m and 9.0m. With rounds being raced as a straight final, a good start and clean gybes were imperative. Slalom newcomers Saskia and Imogen Sills were flying in the Master Blaster fleet (ahead of many of the Amateurs at times!). A very healthy 18 competitors raced in the Amateur fleet, with Michael George a consistent leader. Marie Buchanan led the way for the ladies ahead of Amy Carter, making a return to slalom racing. In the Pro fleet Mat Pearch made up for a below-par showing in the first race with a string of firsts, to take a solid event win. Scottish legend Alan Jackson won round two and was constantly near the front of the fleet, taking him to second overall ahead of Simon Cofield, another experienced racer returning to the scene.
Standing on the shoreline in nearly calm, overcast conditions on Sunday morning I had been scratching my head trying to work out how to motivate the windsurfers to get on the water. What a contrast in the afternoon after several rounds of competitive racing in superb weather! I’m really pleased to see the BSA Slalom is attracting some experienced faces back to racing plus newcomers from both younger and older generations.
Many thanks to the OTC staff for supporting the event and sourcing some rather nice prizes; the UKWA for running fantastic racing and the WPNSA for providing world class facilities! The next round takes place at Branksome Dene Chine between Bournemouth and Poole on 8th & 9th May. It should be another great event – so get down there!
Host's Report
by Tris Best, OTC.
Despite not having the OTC UK centre quite up and running in time (still waiting for final planning consent), the arrival of the BSA on our doorstep posed a fantastic opportunity to exhibit the WPNSA's credentials in all its glory. It truly is a world class venue and we were proud to play our part in ensuring slalom racing's successful return to Portland harbour.
Saturday dawned, bringing warm sunny weather and a south easterly breeze with more gusto than forecast - it was on! 46 competitors quickly signed up, stowed their goodie bags, and hit the water. The mix of old and new faces in the fleets was great to see, and whilst the wind showed its true 'sucker's gust' colours, halting the proceedings for the time being, it wasn't before a 'master blaster' race was completed. The friendly atmosphere between all the competitors was tangible, made all the more so by the resourcefulness of Paul Simmons, who instigated the Starboard Serenity relay race, mixing the fleets into teams of six. Now, if you haven't got on one of these windsurf-come-kayak non-planing displacement phenomenons, then you are missing out! The true beauty of them is that they are unlike anything else and proved a perfect levelling ground amongst the teams, with pros struggling to gybe them as amateurs turned inside them at the mark! A great spectacle and a priceless camaraderie building exercise ... never knew exchanging a wet rash vest could be so difficult! The day was rounded off with a party in the Academy's Spinnakers Bar, listening to the sensational local band - Audio Bombers, who (bar a couple of dancing numpties) stunned the appreciative crowd into mouth-agape stances.
Sunday's forecast looked promising, and despite a slow cloud-covered start (and that was just the competitors) the prediction of clear skies and wind came to fruition. Some of the old crowd proved they still have the mettle to mix it with the Pros, whilst the standouts for many were the performances of Saskia and Imogen Sills, the younger sisters of Sam Sills (UK's Windsurfer of the Year 2009). It was their first ever slalom competition, and their results speak for themselves - a couple of stars in the making for sure.
This was our first event as hosts, and we're over the moon with how it went - we hope there will be many more to come! We would just like to express our thanks first and foremost to Paul and Tushingham, without whom the event would not have been possible. To the prize sponsors - Fat Face, O'Neill Wetsuits and Marlow Ropes. But most of all, thanks to everyone who came along to be part of it. We hope you enjoyed the event and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Oh, and we just received the go-ahead from the planners yesterday, so we'll have a shiny new centre waiting to welcome you for the final event of the year, here on the 23rd / 24th October! But for now, get down to Poole on the 8th / 9th May for the next event - the turn-out and atmosphere is only going to get better as the series gains momentum.
Below: All photos by Roger Turner. He will be posting more on his website on Wednesday.
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