The United Kingdom Windsurfing Association (UKWA) have established a windsurfing hall of fame. The first seven recipients of this award are windsurfers who have made a outstanding contribution to windsurfing here in the UK.

The first seven people being honoured by the UKWA are:

Peter Chilvers – The world 1st windsurfer and inventor of the sailboard

Peter Hart – Successful Racer, Record Breaker, Coach, Journalist and Producer

Nik Baker – The most successful wave sailor the UK has ever produced.

Dave Hackford – The UK’s 1st Olympic Windsurfer and long board racer winner

Dave White – Our Most successful speed sailor with 3 production world records

Guy Cribb – 13 x British Champion, including Youth, Men’s and Masters Categories

Penny Wilson – 3 times Women’s’ World Racing Champion and took part in two Olympic games

I am sure you will agree these windsurfers here are very worthy of their place on this list. It is also worth noting that after the many years since they stepped on a board for the first time. They are all still very involved in windsurfing here in the UK and worldwide. There are not many sports that can boast that from their hall of fame.

The UKWA will consider additions to the hall of fame on an annual basis, so if you would like to send a nominee for consideration please get in touch via their Facebook page or email info@ukwindsurfing.com.

So what is the attraction

Well the first and most obvious attraction is the tan you’ll come home with. Aside from this you get to be the star of the beach as guests come and go and see you, the instructor, as the blazing beach icon that is so typically stereotyped. You’ll be able to impress all day long with your smooth chat on the beach and awesome windsurf moves during lessons. On top of this you get a free place to stay, you get time off each day for your own activities and you even get a salary that is often split so that you can’t spend it all whilst there, which means you end up with a nice lump sum at the end of the season. Did we forget to mention the chance to work on your own windsurfing skills and perhaps become the next UK windsurfing star… If we just sold it to you then read on.

Where should you go

There are a large number of options, some more obvious than others the question really is what are your aims and targets. If you fancy getting to grips with windsurfing a bit more whilst teaching and maybe building up your experience and qualifications at the same time then a more chilled out location may suit you, a place that sees slightly more subdued wind strengths than that of say Vassiliki. Locations like Nidri offer the perfect chance to teach both windsurfing and dinghy sailing whilst enjoying the company of other instructors. More about this destination here – alpineelements.co.uk/beach-holidays/resort/nidri.html

However, if it is action, lifestyle and higher level windsurfing you are after, then Vassiliki really sits at the top of the food chain, offering the instructor quality on water time during peak season but at the same time a chance to mingle with guests who may be a little more experienced. Vass is really a place where many of the UK’s finest windsurfers have developed their routes so it has a strong history of raising the profiles of the young and driven individuals who work there. More on this location here - alpineelements.co.uk/beach-holidays/resort/activity-holidays-greece.html

What is on offer

Right now many of the jobs have already been snapped up, the London Boat Show is one of the best opportunities to sign up, take your C.V. and talk to the big dogs, you can really get your foot into the right door by doing this. However, all is not lost there is still time to speak to the holiday companies, and one such company is that of Ocean Elements, sister company to Alpine Elements. They have two opportunities available, the first is for an Advanced Windsurfing Instructor, where you will find yourself on the water everyday, the second is for a Mountain Bike Guide who will lead groups off into the trails for a break from the water. Read on to find out more and send your applications in to jobs@alpineelements.co.uk.

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Job Title:

Advanced Windsurf Instructor

Activities Manager

To work under the supervision of the Beach Senior, delivering safe and fun Windsurf  tuition and equipment use for adults and children.  Ensuring that all practices meet RYA and BCU governing body criteria.

Duties and Responsibilities: (this list is not exhaustive)

• Attending daily staff meeting to discuss lesson plans and duties for the day
• Opening and securing all beach equipment, including lifting and  moving equipment and security cages
• Tidying and preparing communal areas ready for guests arrivals
• Preparing teaching areas, teaching aids and simulators
• Preparing equipment for tuition, including lifting and moving equipment ready for launching
• Routine maintenance checks on all equipment and completion of maintenance records
• Preventative and as necessary maintenance including board repair and GRP repair
• Assisting guests with the rigging, carrying, launching and landing of equipment
• Taking bookings for activities
• Interacting with all guests in a professional yet relaxed fashion
• Creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for guests to learn new skills
• Carrying out first aid and completing accident forms as necessary
• Providing safety cover for water users from a power boat
• Providing safety cover for water users by surveying the area  from a tower vantage point
• Teaching groups of adults new skills in line with the governing body syllabus
• Teaching groups of children new skills in line with the governing body syllabus
• Providing private watersports tuition if  requested ( commission based )
• Being responsible for all safety aspects of your session whilst you are afloat, including considerations for ability, weather conditions and suitable craft to use.
• Socialising with guests in the evenings,  including handing out awards on their last night
• Carrying out monthly stock takes
• Showing guests to their rooms and helping with their luggage
• Assisting other departments as per operational needs

Experience / Qualifications required:

Experience working on an RYA beach, preferably with BCU knowledge also.

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Job Title:

Bike Guide

Reporting to:

Activities Manager

To ensure that all bike guiding and free riding is offered in a safe, professional and enjoyable manor. To be solely responsible for the maintenance of the fleet.  In addition to the role of bike guide you will assist with beach operations when required.

Duties and Responsibilities: (this list is not exhaustive)

• Attending weekly staff meetings to discuss bike feedback and duties for the week
• Ensuing maintenance, cleaning and any other bike duties are carried out in a timely fashion
• Responsible for the opening and set up of all bike equipment at the start of the day, inc manual  labour
• Responsible for ensuring all bike equipment is securely locked and stored properly at the end of the day
• Ensure all bike storage areas are ready for guests arrivals
• Ensure helmets in safe working order and safety packs are kept stocked up
• Complete essential weekly maintenance checklists for each bike
• Give each bike a full service at once a month
• Ensure accurate maintenance records are kept
• Archive all bike maintenance records
• Complete the weekly H&S audit
• Plan a varied weekly program of guided rides to suit all abilities
• Produce route cards for guests to use when free riding
• Advertise rides and update daily
• Train colleagues in basic bike maintenance and guiding techniques
• Creating a welcoming and encouraging environment for guests of all abilities to enjoy biking
• Carrying out first aid and completing accident forms as necessary
• Being responsible for the overall safety aspects of all biking program
• Writing risk assessments for bike activities
• Provide a bike Welcome Speech to all guests at the start of their holiday
• Ensure a full safety briefing is given before every guided ride
• Obtain any relevant medical information from all guests before departing on a guided ride
• Socialising with guests in the evenings,  including handing out awards on their last night
• Carry out monthly stock takes
• Showing guests to their rooms and helping with their luggage
• Assisting other departments as per operational needs, in particular you will spend a portion time at the beach each day: see job description for instructor.

Experience / Qualifications required:
Strong maintenance knowledge, able to build a new bike and maintain it with weekly servicing. Instructor or Teaching qualifications in any discipline an advantage. Trail leader Award. First Aid.

‘At the office’

DC: The only trip I had this winter was to Morocco with my son Jack. We spent some time with Boujmaa and Hack had a good chance to practice his surfing. He had a good year this year as he was crowned British surfing champion in the under 12’s. Other than that I’ve just been staying around Cornwall, hitting the water almost 4 times a week, either windsurfing or surfing. It’s been a really cold winter, perhaps too cold for windsurfing, below 9 degrees air temp is pretty hard on hands, so it was sometimes a really hard call to go out. The rest of the time I’ve just been on standby for the Red Bull Storm Chase. We eventually found ourselves in Ireland, with some epic conditions and the temperature really wasn’t that bad, about 12 degrees.

Boardseeker: Looking back at last year we had wind at every event, how do you think it all went and was there any real highlights for you?

DC: Yeah it was a really good season, Koester was obviously the standout once again but aside from him Thomas Traversa had an exceptional year and was the first person to win an event in three years after Koester’s dominant reign. In freestyle, again the standard and level shot up and Gollito really showed he had it in him to come back, proving he is not to be forgotten. You can sometimes think when someone is at the top they can drop off their game and then slip out of the limelight but he came back and came back strong. It’s also really great to see so many more coming into freestyle, numbers are really high right now, the events are running at full capacity and many wildcards are having to be turned away. It’s also promising for the sport as many will take the natural progression from freestyle to waves, this will only then up the level of freestyle mixing with the waves, then the aerial moves for waves can only increase fro here. Also worth a special mention is Alex Mussolini he had a good year and was on fire in Tenerife and we can’t forget Iballa who for won the PWA Womens Wave title, bit of an upset for Daida.

Koester is even sailing some heats with almost perfect scores out of a maximum of 60. The level of sailors, especially Koester is about as good as you can get, he is near to perfection…

DC: The most significant change came from the media. When I started we didn’t have any live feed or live TV, so for me that’s the biggest change. It makes it very different, something extra to think about, rather than making a video and editing it. It goes out live, this has made the whole PWA become much more professional in terms of its media output.

In terms of the level of windsurfing, like I said before it is always improving but that is kind of expected, we see heats of perfect 10 scores now and Koester is even sailing some heats with almost perfect scores out of a maximum of 60. The level of sailors, especially Koester is about as good as you can get, he is near to perfection in a contest heat than anyone can be right now. Trying to beat him really requires the perfect heat, a double to start, a perfect push forward and then wave rides to match!

Another addition to this year was the Red Bull storm chase. Affiliated with the PWA we made sure that no event dates could clash and it puts our sport right in the limelight with guaranteed action and a chance for the public to see windsurfing at its most extreme.

Let’s not forget the slalom, it is still amazing seeing Bjorn Dunkerbeck still on the podium, still charging, still producing results despite being over 40 years old. It’s super impressive, he really has dedicated his whole life to windsurfing, well over a quarter of a century!

A remarkable resemblance…

DC: I’d be surprised if anyone could beat Bjorn or even get close to his number of World Titles.

DC: It can always come back, it is just a matter of funding. We know how to run them, they are good, potentially a financial business proposition for the right person. There is a lot to be made from sponsorship and it is great to get windsurfing across to people who haven’t seen it, the people that live in the middle of cities.

Tow-in is to just fill in no wind days in competitions, I really like it ,you could possibly have a tow-in tour, but we have to be careful because we are windsurfing and it’s more of a show and an attraction on light wind days at events. It’s great to see that the public love it and if you are freestyler its definitely worth training as there is some good prize money available. However,  it is interesting that it still seems to be the best ranked freestylers who are taking the podium positions.

DC: Yep they are all on, Holland is on, Pozo and the other Canary Island events are on. It looks like a good year ahead.

DC: Nothing specific planned as such, just new events in Chile and Cape Town. An exciting year for the wave tour because Sylt won’t be the final stop anymore. The one drawback is that there is still no starboard tack, which is pretty frustrating for people like Boujmaa. I think in these times it is much easier to keep events going then getting new ones. Hopefully, one day soon we will have one in Hawaii.

Is Live Scoring the future of our sport…

DC: Yes we are working on this with Kurosh Kiani to make sure we get the right software that is needed, he will design it with Rich Page, myself and Frankie rouge the French judge. Between us we will work out how it will be best laid out for the judges to use for freestyle. We’d like to do it move for move. Would be good for the media side of it, for the commentators and followers of the live Stream.

DC: It’s already started to go the way we all thought it would go, it is now much more internet based, there is live stream, live scoring, etc…

With Kelly Slaters influence it could for sure happen… I guess it would kind of be similar to the X-Games, just on the water.

DC: Sometimes in waves we do that already, when we have 5 judges we already do it. Perhaps we can develop this into freestyle, we are already thinking about how it would work, so I don’t see why not. Generally it is better like that but you need 5 judges, we have just 3 for waves. In freestyle we do use 5 judges in the latter heats so there is the possibility there.

Boardseeker: Do you think disciplines like Super-X came into the sport too early and that by re-introducing it now it would perhaps take off again?

DC: I like super-x, but the real problem is is that it requires loads more equipment. Right now I’m not sure the sponsors/brands can support the riders to make it happen. Especially as super-x boards weren’t really sold to the public. As a spectacle though it is amazing to watch but I don’t think it came too soon. It would be great to see it come back but it just needs a lot more money/equipment, it wont replace normal slalom racing.

DC: I used to race on triangle/sausage courses so I can understand it and like watching it, especially as we have gold level chances (UK). It is exciting to see and congrats to Nick for picking up bronze.

It would be good but really it won’t happen because there is not enough wind to go on the plane at many of the Olympic destinations, so it just couldn’t happen. Potentially however, something I’ve thought about for a while now, is an event like a water-sports Olympics, like a winter Olympics with snow, I don’t see why it is not possible to have a water Olympics, like kitesurfing, windsurfing, surfing etc.., where wave pools and wind machines to make it much more guaranteed. With Kelly Slaters influence it could for sure happen… I guess it would kind of be similar to the X-Games, just on the water.

In terms of the kit, maybe the only real change needed is the board type. Maybe have two boards, choosing one that is more exciting when it is windy. A bit like we used to do on the old days of the pro tour. We would course racing when it was not as windy then slalom when the wind picked up. But it can be very difficult to get the RYA to change, something I have no influence on.

Hawaii (spring and fall) for two events, Indonesia or Fiji, but to be honest it is pretty good at the moment. Maybe Ireland could be a good addition it’s a strong port tack wave tour right now, if it just had those Hawaii events in it, it would be a really good well balanced tour, especially with Chile now in the mix.

I guess if I was to really list it then it would be something like this – Cabo Verde, Maui, the Canaries, then Klitmoeller, Sylt (both are really good showcases for windsurfing, really radical conditions which keeps the public involved and interested and gives them a chance to meet the pros) then finish with port tack down the line in Chile or SA, so really it’s not far off being a dream tour.

For freestyle: There are a lot more places you can do freestyle but in the end the canaries offer some of the best conditions. It would be great to see the Caribbean back and to add some more ‘exotic’ events perhaps freestyle in Cape Town so it is more wave orientated, it makes it much more exciting to watch. Or how about Margarita, the funding is not there but the dream tour right?

Duncan shredding back in the 80′s at his favourite UK break – Gwithian

DC: Yeah it is really about the young kids coming up who are most important for the sport, like Arthur Arutkin, he’s been training really hard in Chile, he looked good last year. Also Alessio Stillrich for sure has always been there in Pozo, if his down the line wave riding improved a bit more he should do well on the rankings this year. All in all it is good to see the new young faces coming through not just world tour but on the national levels as well.

Follow the progress of this years PWA World Tour on www.pwaworldtour.com or right here on Boards.co.uk

Sportif report the season has just started in Golf de Rosas on the northern mediterranean Spanish coast. This top PWA windsurf venue is set in the stunning Catalan region of Empuria Brava. A short distance from Gerona and Barcelona, it offers a superb culture break with wide sand beaches. Windy conditions are ideal for windsurfing with a host of other sports and activitiesm such as kitesurfing with SUP, cycling even rafing, canyoning or parachuting in the nearby Pyrenees, on offer. Explore the many tapas bas and bodegas to sample local Catalan dishes and superb wines. For a quick culture fix, nearby Figueres is home to the Dali Museum or combine your stay in Rosas with a few days in Barcelona and see the sights. Accommodation starts at £399pp including flights for 7 nights BB in an authentic catalan farmhouse  with pool. Alternatively pamper yourself with a week at the boutique spa hotel Can Cristofor with luxury spa and a la carte restaurant from £699pp including flights.

Tarifa is open for business year round but temperatures moving up the scale from May onwards. Tarifa is the perfect location to explore the surround region including Cadiz, Seville and Rhonda with day trips possible to Gibralta and Tangiers. Tarifa old town has it’s own myriad of winding streets and shops and restaurants to explore with a surfers vibe in many of the sports bars and coffee shops. Sportif recommend Tarifa for intermediate and above windsurfers, although say the Valdevaqueros beach has a sheltered area that can introduce beginners to windsurfing in less strong conditions. One of the original windsurfing meccas, you can enjoy the comfort of a luxury, boutique hotel minutes from the beach. There are two excellent centres for all your rental or instruction requirements plus options to try surfing, SUP and kitesurfing. The local hills provide excellent hiking, cycling and horseriding tracks. This is an ideal location for a short break spa weekend or family holiday. Short breaks of 4 nights BB start at £459 inc car with 1 week BB at a boutique hotel inc flights from £519pp.

For more details or to book call Sportif on 01273 844919 or see online www.sportif.travel

Team Loco

Stand up paddle boarding, and other similar pastimes, have always gone hand in hand with travel. Once those initial skills have been learned it stands to reason that SUPers would wish to spread their paddling wings.

Exploring foreign destinations, experiencing differing cultures and checking out other SUP opportunities is not only a way to improve your on water skills, it’s a way to grow personally and have a deeper understanding of our planet.

Travelling with stand up paddle gear can be tricky. Due to the size and weight of SUPs, getting your stick to exotic destinations can be a hassle. Here are a few travelling tips to, hopefully, help alleviate the stress.

Choose your weapon (wisely)

If you’re an avid stand up paddle boarder then chances are you’ll have a quiver of boards and paddles in your arsenal. You could be the type of SUPer who loves waves AND flat water or you could have chosen to specialise. Your kit will no doubt reflect this.

To continue reading their sound advice CLICK HERE where you will be transported via the world wide web to their full article.

“Mikey Clancy who passed away in January was awarded the outstanding sports contribution Award at his University, Dublin Institute of Technology in  Dublin last week. Mikey an elite sports student who was completing a degree course in Marketing at the college was awarded the accolade for his exploits on the PWA tour during 2012. During an emotional tribute where a video presentation of Mikey in action was shown, Mikey’s parents accepted the award from Fiona Coughlan the Irish Women’s rugby captain. Here is the D.I.T. video of Mikey.”

Considering as Tushingham have a great reputation for masts and have been in the industry well before many of us were even speaking the word mast, we figured we couldn’t go too far wrong when we proposed to fire a few questions their way. However, before we dive in it is important to know a thing or two about the basic mast principles.

Stiffness

A windsurfing mast must have an overall stiffness within the range specified by the sailmaker for any given sail.

Stiffness is measured by supporting the mast at each end and applying a 30kg weight to the middle. The mid-point deflection figure is applied to a formula that takes account of the mast’s length to give an IMCS number (Indexed Mast Check System) The bigger the number the stiffer the mast; IMCS numbers typically range from about 11 (soft junior mast) to 36 (stiff race mast).

Tushingham have their very own mast testing machine to ensure that quality remains throughout their entire mast collection

Bigger sails need stiffer masts to support the extra forces so it’s normal for longer masts to be built stiffer with higher IMCS numbers.

Thanks to the geeks at Tushingham HQ we have the formula for calculating IMCS:

IMCS = Length(cm)3 / Mid Point Deflection(cm) x 216225

Bend Curve

Stiffness does not tell the whole story. The shape of the bend curve is also important; we’ve all heard terms like ‘constant curve’ & ‘flex top’ but what do they mean? In fact, these are quantifiable terms. When we measure the half height deflection for the IMCS test, we also measure deflection at the quarter and three quarter height points. We express these as a percentage of the maximum deflection, for example here are the test results for a ‘constant curve’ 460cm IMCS 25.

The bottom half of the mast is always stiffer than the top. If we subtract the ¼ height percentage from the ¾ height percentage we get; 76 – 64 = 12. This mast has a bend curve number of 12.

Jamie Drummond by Globalshots

The industry standard terms describing windsurfing mast bend curves are:

• 0-6 = Hard top
• 7-9 = Hard Top/Constant Curve
• 10-12 = Constant Curve
• 13-15 =Constant Curve/Flex top
• 16-18 = Flex Top
• 19-21 = Flex Top/Super Flex Top
• 22+ = Super Flex Top

The higher the number the more flexible the mast is in the upper half relative to the bottom

The mast in our example just falls into the ‘Constant Curve’ range and can be described as a 460/25 Constant Curve with a bend characteristic of 12.

If you are interested in finding out even more details then we strongly recommend you follow up this read with all the information on tushingham.com/windsurfing/masts

Peter Hart

Chatting with Ken Black (KB), Peter Hart (PH) and Roger Tushingham (RT).

BOARDS: Why is it important to have the right mast?
KB – It is fundamental to the way the sail works.
PH – It’s worse than fitting cheap remould tyres to a F1 car. You’re completely undermining the sail’s potential.
RT – Unlike a yacht mast, which is controllable, a windsurfer mast is completely unsupported; it either fits or it doesn’t, simple.

BOARDS: What is the right mast?
KB – A stiffness that suits the sail size and a bend curve to suit the sail’s luff curve.
PH -  Every sail-maker cuts the luff curve around the bend of a certain mast  – usually the one they sell funnily enough. That is the mast to buy. Having said that, especially with allround sails, they’ll try and make it compatible  with as many masts as possible and will recommend which ones work. The generic labels ‘flex top’ and ‘constant curve’ are a guide but outfits don’t all agree on what constitutes a constant curve.
RT – You can find a full a explanation of bend curves on the Tushingham website. It’s not rocket science but well worth taking the time to understand, then you can make the right choice.

BOARDS: What happens if you have the wrong mast, and should weight really be something to worry about?
KB – The wrong mast will alter the way the sail works and feels. For example: a mast that is too stiff will make the sail stiff and unbalanced, too soft and it will feel spongy and slow. The wrong bend curve will alter the height of the centre of effort: too stiff in the top will pull the sailor off balance, too soft in the top will lose bottom end power. Weight effects the flex response and handling so it is significant but stiffness and bend curve are more important.
PH – YES! Worry like hell. As I never tire of telling people on my clinics, good technique stems primarily from good power control. If you’re fighting the rig, you’re going to be defensive, tense in the back seat and in the worst shape to initiate a manoeuvre. There is no better way to make a sail fight than shoving the wrong mast up it. If it’s too stiff, especially in the head, it won’t exhaust and feel heavy and ‘draggy’ and be very difficult to over-sheet and depower. Too soft and it will feel spongy, undirect. Gusts will blow through you and it will break up under load and feel unstable.
WEIGHT is a big issue. The lighter it is, the quicker it returns as you pump and so the earlier you plane and the more responsive and reactive it feels – which is key in gusty winds and wild seas. If you have extra cash burning a hole in a pocket, spend it on a higher carbon content mast before anything else.

BOARDS: What are the different types of mast and how do they work?
KB – Flex top masts are good for top end speed and stability. Constant curve good for all round performance. Stiff top masts are only used for light winds, usually racing.
PH -  RDMs (reduced diameter) are the popular choice for wave and freestyle sails. The over-riding advantage is that their thicker walls make them stronger. The payback is that there’s less air in them so they sink faster. The first time I used one was at Hookipa. Off the rocks I suddenly noticed how much quicker the rig sank. I couldn’t release it in time and got trashed. I’m over it now. For sails designed more with speed in mind, the SDM (standard diameter) tends to work better. Being more flexible in the tip, the sail stays fuller and more locked in below the boom and twists off more  – perfect for sailing over-powered at high speeds.

BOARDS: How do you test for quality control and where do the masts come from?
KB – (Roger’s dept)
PH -  Tush are one of the few companies who actually have a machine that checks the bend of each mast. It came to our attention some time ago how much variance there was in masts all purporting to be same bend!
RT – We test all masts to make sure they’re within tolerance for overall stiffness and with the correct bend curve. Laminate quality is harder to test on a finished mast; we control these factors by careful control of materials and specification and with physical checks during the production process. Tushingham masts are made in Italy, a country that was early into pre-preg carbon technology as part of its cutting edge fishing rod industry.

Quality Control Video Demo

BOARDS: What should people watch out for in a poorly selected mast?
KB – This is a quality issue. When the mast is new it is difficult to spot weaknesses so reputation and warranty are important. In used masts check for impact damage and dry laminate areas.
PH – It is indeed a problem that carbon masts often show no visible signs of weakness. Often the J.S.A. (Just Sailing Along) breakages result from a previous impact. Perhaps you dropped it against the pavement/head-butted it last time out, which fractured some of the fibres. Top tip especially with a new mast, is to keep the first runs close to shore and do some vigorous pumps. If the mast has a weakness it will usually break straight away. Look out for signs of impact. On racier masts, over-tight cambers can rub away the outer fibres and cause a weakness.

BOARDS: All masts can break but what is done to prevent them from doing it as much as possible?
KB – Avoid impact damage, & limit u.v. exposure. If cams are used make sure the cams are working properly and are not causing wear to the mast. Masts have a reinforced area for the boom attachment, it is important the boom is attached within that area.
PH – Don’t drop them! Especially  not in the heavy waves of a shorebreak! It’s the shock loads that do the damage. Commonest is where the mast on the shore side of the wave. The wave picks the board up, drives the mast tip into the shingle and then breaks. Secondly it’s when the rig gets caught right in the lip of a pitching wave. When the wave breaks it suddenly bends the mast like someone cracking a whip. Top tips are to get the mast tip pointing out to sea and sink the rig under the wave where the waters are stiller.
RT – We started fitting an outer layer of white glass fibres a few years ago. This keeps the mast cool in hot sun and reflects UV, it also offers some protection to the outer carbon fibres which is important in reducing the possibility of concussion damage.

BOARDS: I’m a fairly new freerider, what mast should I take with my 6.0 and 125l board?
KB – Usually it would be a 430/21 with whatever bend curve is recommended by the designer.
PH – So much depends on the age and design of the rig. I’d obey the recommendations on the sail. If it’s suggesting an IMCS range (for a modern 6.0 it might be 19-21), go for the softest option.
RT – Obviously the stiffness and bend curve should suit the sail. Beyond that it’s a question of weight; a super light high carbon content mast is just as beneficial to the new free rider as the hardened pro’. It depends on the depth of your pockets!

BOARDS: I’m getting into waves what mast should I take with my 4.7 and 90l wave board?
KB – Usually 400/19 but on some sails a lighter sailor might prefer to use 370/16. The main decision is usually SDM or RDM. RDM will bend further before breaking so is more likely to emerge in unscathed from a big wave, it’s easier to grab hold of at the boom cut-out too. SDM have better floatation so are easier to recover from longer submersion. Generally they give a lower centre of effort as the lower section stays stiffer under load so produce more speed and stability in high winds.
PH – I’d go RDM. Again look at the recommendations. For a 4.7 it’s likely to be a 370/16 or 400/19. One thing to add is that some small sails have adjustable head turbans to save you money and allow you to get away with a longer mast. BUT the sail will feel hard and unforgiving. The best way to widen a small sail’s wind range and make it soft and forgiving is to fit the shortest, softest recommended mast.

BOARDS: I’m a top pro freestyler, what mast should I take for my 4.2 and 90l freestyle board?
KB – 370/16. Whether RDM or SDM is personal preference. RDM is easier to grab hold off and gives a different feel to the more solid feel of the SDM which is also a little lighter.

This humbling song that will be hard to listen to and watch for many includes images by John Carter, Peter Rowan and Michael Clancy (Mikey’s dad). The song is by Roger Smale (Mikey’s uncle) and friend Tony Pacholuk and it is titled “When Birds Fly From The Shore” – the time when windsurfers arrive at the shore.

Please click on one of the following links to download:
Song iTunes
Amazon Mp3 Store
Google Play

The event itself was at an awkward time for some of the others who couldn’t make it but for those who did many travelled 1000′s of kilometres just to be there. Nic Hibdige flew from Bonaire the day before, then had to drive from Heathrow to the south coast and back up all before Saturday night. Adam Sims drove for 22 hours with one hours sleep from Vienna in Austria and many of the others had to also make the long journey from the south coast up. Dedication by a few but the reward was high as they scored some of the best freestyle conditions they could dream of.

All photos courtesy of Trevor Hibdige

Nic Hibdige steps up his game after two weeks in Bonaire

We caught up with JP for a word:

“After all the snow in the last few months when I saw the forecast for the event at one of the best freestyle spots in the UK I got pretty excited! I hadnt windsurfed since a trip to Ireland at new year so couldnt wait to get back out on the water with everyone. Event started and I started sailing pretty well with some solid heats. Felt pretty bad in the first final when Oscar crashed his first Flaka next to me because his footstrap broke, he still sailed a pretty impressive heat though! I managed to sail a solid heat getting some decent moves on each side so wasnt too surprised to win that.

Mr Sims then rocked up after his marathon drive and started dominating and sailing pretty well. I had some solid heats, did have one nightmare which meant I had to sail an extra heat to get to the final – not ideal when I was so tired could barely hold the boom anyway (maybe more exercise needed before the next comp…). By the second day I had a 1st and 2nd.

David Bradley organised a cracking evening with food and drinks at Toast so was good to catch up with everyone on saturday night.

Sunday started with a full english with the boys then was straight into sailing. The wind was still pretty gusty, but full power on my 4.8 Freek. I got another 2nd place, then it came to the final round. It was either me or Sims to win and whoever finished ahead won the event. The wind was pretty dodgy so I rigged up my 5.2 Freek for the first time and went out on that for the final. Had a pretty solid heat again, getting a decent shaka, a nice switch kono and pretty much every move I can do. I hadnt seen much of the others so wasnt sure how they had sailed. When it came to the prize giving I was real happy to here Id won!

Was a great event, decent wind, tight competition and really well organised so thanks to everyone that competed and helped out with it!”

Check out the gallery below and tune back later for more photos…

Alacati is located on the Cesme Peninsula, the westernmost point of Turkey in the Aegean Sea. It is 12 kilometers away from Cesme, a well-known holiday town that is famous for its thermal waters, clean white beaches and its vast holiday options. Alacati, overshadowed by Cesme until recent years, is quickly becoming one of the most popular holiday places for windsurfers who visit Alacati Bay to enjoy its constant wind, nice waves and surf schools.

Cagla Kubat: Windsurfing has been a huge part of Cagla’s life. Her love for the sport has been an inspiration to all aspects of her life. She has been known as a television personality, an actress, a model, a beauty queen, an engineer, and as a champion windsurfer. In her heart and soul she is simply a windsurfer. It is now her desire to help bring more people into the sport of windsurfing and share in the joy and adventure she has experienced. The Cagla Kubat Windsurf School has been founded to share her love for the sport, to inspire healthy living, and enjoy the beautiful conditions that the nature of Turkey has to offer.

Event website – www.caglakubatwindsurf.com/en/

EXTERIOR

INTERIOR

With one complete interior and exterior the boys hit the road for their first major trip, the long drive down to Tarifa. On arrival their clinic awaited and then it was photo shoot time. These pictures were taken just yesterday and show the final finished beast. If you fancy taking on your own project then Colin is certainly worth chatting to as he will point you in the right direction and offer some sound advice.

A final word from Colin – “A really big thanks to everyone that made it happen, we are stoked to be on the road and she is behaving beautifully”.

More here – windsurfcoaching.com/blogs/news

It’s been a long hard 3 months but getting some good feedback and every one loves the van. Finally just finished an unreal week clinic in Tarifa so nice to have a nice van with everything we need!

FINAL SHOTS