Bryony Shaw

Bryony Shaw got the day off to winning ways for the Brits, and secured an early birthday present for herself in the RS:X women’s windsurfing event, finishing second in the first of her two medal races, before closing out the gold in style with a win in the final race.
“I’m really happy!” said Shaw afterwards, ahead of her 30^th birthday tomorrow.  “I didn’t have the best of days yesterday on the last day of finals series, so was pretty fired up coming in to today.  Two of my main rivals were over the line in the first race, so that was a big opportunity for me.
“I sailed really well, got good starts, and made some good decisions so it’s great that it all came together today when it mattered,” she commented

“I’ve had a great start to the year with silver at the World Championships and silver in Palma.  I really wanted to keep that momentum going this week and come away with gold, so I’m really happy, and especially to have performed well across the range of conditions this week.”

If you missed the previous feature with Barrie Edgington check it out here. 

Another eventful week in the world of windsurfing has flown by! The competition is still going in Miami as RS:X competitors get close to the winner takes all final race, follow the progress of Nick, Bryony, El Carney, Izzy Hamilton and more here. Of course this week was dominated by another competition, the much awaited Red Bull Storm Chase, which hit Ireland early this week. Check out all the action here and we will have brand new interview with the only Brit to make the chase, Robby Swift, very soon too!

The week started off with an amazing video from Max Rowe in Brazil, as well as footage from a secret speed spot! Though temperatures are  not finally on the up, we had a few more ice and snow windsurfing videos for you too here. 

Ant Baker took advantage of the slightly warmer weather and took out his brand new North and Fanatic slalom set up out for a spin, just before North Sails released the official video and new information on the very same sail.

Another top slalom racer also looking to get ready for the BSA season is Ross Williams, who will be hosting some training and warm up clinics over at the OTC Puravida centre in Weymouth.

Our final note this week goes to Andy ‘Buzz’ Buchanan, another incredible windsurfer who sadly left us this week. RIP Buzz, hope you’re ripping it up with Mikey.

Things are hotting up in Miami as the quarter final stage of competition is reached.

The top ten from each fleet now go forward into the next stage of competition, battling it out for a place in the final six to be in with a chance of the overall win.

In the men’s fleet Dorian put away another couple of bullets, securing his place at the top whilst Dempsey stays in third with another two decent results. El Carney also makes it into the top ten and currently lies in fifth position.

Bryony Shaw has moved up to second in the women’s fleet with a first and second in racing yesterday, whilst Izzy Hamilton also scored a bullet keeping her in sixth position. Great work girls!

After more racing the final six will be decided, then it’s all to play for in the final race where winner takes all!

Men’s results

Women’s results.

The Blue Project uses sport, adventure and digital media to connect more people to our blue environment.  Jacques Cousteau once said that “People protect what they love” so our mission is to develop innovative ways to encourage greater care of our blue environment.

Our journey started with a small group of people who derive a large part of their inspiration from competing and working in the natural environment. We decided to share their stories, images and content with a wider audience and set up the Blue Project as a communications outreach programme.

In 2009, we launched the Blue Mile as a mass-participation event designed to connect more people and raise funds to support WWF’s marine and freshwater programme – www.theblueproject.org.

The Interview

Bryony Shaw. Credit Skandia Team GBR.

How does your sport connect you to the natural environment and how does that environment continually motivate and inspire you to achieve goals – sporting and other life goals?

I spend my sporting life travelling to beaches and harbours around the world, following the sun and winds to compete at Olympic Class Windsurfing Events. Locals often describe how trade winds get disturbed “It’s never usually like this!” they say. I revisit the same venues each year on the World Tour and you get sensitive to the ever-changing winds and temperatures. This connection to my natural environment helps me really appreciate truly beautiful places, not just socially or from a tourist perspective, but with regards to what the coastline can offer and the natural features that make it unique. I feel lucky that I can enjoy this fulfilled life with so many experiences: like humid training runs along a Brazillian beach at sunset with pink storm clouds over the mountains. Even when inland I connect with coastal wind conditions by watching trees and clouds, I get motivated to get down to the beach and go windsurfing, taking advantage of what nature offers daily rather than letting it just pass by unnoticed.

What has your sport, and experiences through it, taught you about your natural environment?

Windsurfing has given me a heightened sense of trade winds and water temperatures; how clean the water is at different venues around the world, according to its colour, clarity and diversity of sealife. Travelling gives me an insight into how natural it is that climates change, like when we get snow in the UK that we didn’t get for 18 years, or tropical continents get a year of dramatically increased stormy rainfall. But as long as that as individuals we maintain awareness and respect for it, nature has it’s own methods of repair.

Bryony Shaw. Image credit Richard Langdon/Skandia Team GBR

Sport is intimately connected to nature and a healthy environment is necessary for a healthy planet. By participating in your sport, have you encountered anything that’s truly shocked you about the impact human activity is having on the natural environment?

My sport has gifted me with a connection to my environment, which gives me passion to increase awareness to stop using the ocean as a waste ground, as all water users are directly affected, wildlife and humans. Polluted local areas such as the Olympic waters in Qingdao, China made headlines because the over-grown algae blooms affected our competition area. And a sailor who swallowed harbour water got a body-damaging parasite. But I hope that the Chinese waste management in this area has not just gone back to its old ways, and consideration for the local people and waterlife is maintained not just when under the world media spotlight…

Bryony Shaw, Pre-Olympic Test Event 2007.

If you were to motivate people (on a local, national, or international level) on one particular environmental issue, what would it be?

The environmental issues that I feel most strongly about are waste management, and the consideration of whether your purchases and activities truly have a small carbon footprint. For example the current craze is to have an electric car. But where does that electricity come from?? Waste from most forms of energy production is a global economic issue that will take time and money to educate and ultimately change. Your car is more “green” from cradle to grave if its body parts are locally sourced and can be easily disposed of, not what fuel it runs off. Like a truck made mostly of metal, where is parts and production are all from one country, uses less natural resources than an electric car that has so many foreign plastic body parts. It is important to consider what is truly recyclable, therefore is not contributing to landfill or pollution into rivers, and not just follow fashionable consumer trends!!

Bryony racing in front of the crowds on the Nothe course at the 2012 Olympics.

What have you actively changed in your day to day living behaviour and choices, including how you go-about your sport that makes a positive difference to the health of our planet?

My sporting activities, although a healthy and active lifestyle, do have quite a sizeable carbon footprint. In recent years I have taken advantage of the improved accessibility of European travel by budget airlines with their many route destinations, I can fly very close to most of my competition venues so travel is less stressful and training time is greatly improved. In addition to this my coach will also tow his coach boat around the European venues.

What motivated you to become involved with The BLUE Climate and Oceans Project?

Being involved with BLUE gives me the opportunity to increase the awareness of windsurfing within the environmental community. The worldwide environments we encounter and how as windsurfers we are directly faced with water pollution and damaged coastlines. Windsurfing is one of the most popular watersports in the UK due to its fun, colourful, radical image and it is the most financially accessible worldwide racing sailing class. If our waters are clean and our beaches not over-developed then we are free to run professional competitions and enjoy a much-loved hobby experiencing nature’s wonders.

Bryony Shaw battling the strong winds in Weymouth. Richard Langdon/ Skandia Team GBR

What one piece of advice would you offer to encourage people into thinking proactively about a BLUE future?

For me BLUE is about active lifestyle as well as awareness. Take in your surroundings and what nature can offer. City life is sociable, but opening your eyes to coastal life can provide escape and freedom. My initial interest in watersports was my escape into nature and the thrill of wind-powered speed skimming across the ocean. This sporting connection can then bring greater lifestyle appreciation, and that get-up-n-go outlook to grab life’s opportunities and not let them float by.

A call to action – What can people do to become BLUE?

I feel it is important to introduce a BLUE attitude and provide lifestyle opportunities into schools. I tried hard aged 14 for my school in Oxford, which is far from the sea, to organize after school trips to our local reservoir for sailing and windsurfing activities. But without teacher enthusiasm the idea fell apart, so I was going there on my own motivation and my parent’s support, without my school friends. Watersports activities are very safe, accessible, educational and fun, wherever you live in the UK, so there is no reason for it not to be an option. I see the lifestyles that people in countries like New Zealand are enjoying with such a close relationship to the ocean, and it is not our UK climate that prevents this, only our attitude.

For further videos from the RYA check out their You Tube channel here. 

Women's RS:X medalists. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

Marina Alabau

“The medal race was super exciting, it was really my conditions and I was really with a lot of confidence in myself. I’m super happy now!

I was first from the first day, two days ago I had not such a good day, but today I had to be calm and race really well. Probably this was my best medal race ever, and one of my best competitions for sure.

Tuuli sailed really good, it’s really impressive! Before Tuuli had not been in the top three, but now she had the week of her life.

Now I’m going to wait for the decision in November and then I will decide. Probably I will go for kiting, I have been kiting already, I live in Tarifa which is paradise for kites so for sure I will try.

Marina Alabau celebrates. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

If they’re going to decide to put kitesurfing in, and take out windsurfing it’s going to be a big mistake. I think kiting is a really good sport, but more the freestyle not the racing. All the numbers and the statistics that they take are from the people doing freestyle, ISAF think there are millions of people doing kite racing in the world but this is not true. In the end if they chose kiting, it’s going to be the same people that are now on RS:X that will change over onto kite. They think that a lot of things that are not true, like that there will be more countries competing. At the moment kitesurfing doesn’t have the development to have a one design class and I think it is really important to have this, as it means you are sure the athlete is the best and not the equipment. Hopefully windsurfing is going to stay and they will change their mind. I think if they take out windsurfing, we will come back in 2020 as they will realise their mistake. I also think we are the most exciting class in the sailing, it was really cool this week to see the racing, we are a spectacular class, the athletes are really fit and it’s a beautiful sport.”

Tuuli Petaja

Tuuli Petaja

“It was really tight racing in the medal race, but these shifty, gusty conditions really suit me. I’m probably more of a tactical racer, it was really, really fun racing out there. I think the positions were changing a lot during the race.

Last year in the pre Olympic regatta I cam 17th, so I was hoping to get a bit of a better result than that here. My goal was to get top eight, I guess all the top girls here are more or less the same level so it comes more to the mental or tactical side of sailing.

Yes, I won the first medal for Finland at these games. I hope I will continue onto Rio. I agree with Marina, that I think windsurfing should definitely stay in the Olympic arena. I have done a little bit of kitesurfing already, but that was on the lakes in Finland in the winter with a snow board.”

Zofia Noceti-Klepacka

Zofia Noceti-Klepacka

“I finished my medal race, came down and the Olha from the Ukraine said she would protest me. I asked why, as there was no situation on the water. Then she said they had a problem with the Polish insurance, they said it was for 1million euro and it had to be for 1.5million. I didn’t know what was going on, but the jury said that I was free and congratulations. Don’t worry about that, but it was horrible I was crying before I saw the jury because I have never been involved in a protest like that before. I don’t have an idea where the Ukrainian team got the information about the Polish insurance.

We fight on the water, we compete and fight for the medals, this protest was supposed to be to our team leader, but everything in the end was ok with the insurance. Olha finished fourth, for sure she wasn’t happy it’s the worst place to finish.

I gave everything on the water, I finished third in the medal race and overall so I am really happy!

I think also that windsurfing should stay. The windsurfing schools around the world, a lot of on small lakes surrounded trees etc, this makes kitesurfing impossible. It should be a sport in which everyone can train, no matter where they are on the lake, on the river, on the ocean. You should not have to travel a long way to train, especially as a kid.”

Bryony Shaw. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

Bryony Shaw

“Gutted, just deep breath and it’s all over now. I’m going to spend a bit of time with friends and my boyfriend Greg, back home to Tunbridge Wells we’ve got some home renovations planned, which puts a smile on my face! Have a bit of a holiday too!

The last race was fine, I went out pretty positive, I had nothing to lose and everything to gain. I was pretty happy with the conditions out there, it was a tactical race, I didn’t have a plan to control the race, just to plan my race and do my best. I was pretty much joint first at the bottom mark with the Ukraine and it was a big call, whether to decide to be dagger down or track back, I think there was a marginal gain to be track back and a big risk. It paid off for the Spanish and Ukraine, but the rest of us all chose to go dagger down and I was going pretty well speed wise. Honestly, the Polish girl came from nowhere, but wow I didn’t even see where she came from!

Women's RS:X racing

The girl from Finland has had a fantastic week, her career best by far and they were obviously determined on that last lap to come through and snatch it from the Ukraine, because she was leading the race.

I’ve been kind of up there at the beginning of the race, then just getting clawed back, it’s been that way all week. I got one race win, it’s all been about trying to pick myself up and be positive each day, to really show to myself that I can hold a race together. It’s just seemed to not really go my way.

I knew that heading out there the boys would be having all their celebrations, it was great to see that Nick had got up there with the crowd but obviously I still had to do a job and focus on our race. I heard the cheers from the crowd, which was brilliant. I chose to go up past the crowd after the race too, more as a thank you wave as I knew lots of my friends, family and sponsors were up there.”

Click here to check out all of the Boards coverage for the 2012 Olympics. 

Getting to Gold

Dorian van Rijsselberghe. © onEdition

I’m quietly satisfied. We always believed in what Dorian could do and how he could do it. About a month out, from the Games, I said to him if you sail to the best of your ability you’ll smash the field or if you have an average regatta you’re going to be fighting for the medals with the other guys. The way the package came together, I could feel Dorian was starting to come into his own and feel comfortable with where we were at.

We still had the equipment that was delivered to us, we had to go through and analyse that, making sure we were happy with our equipment. We got through that, then we had to finalise the details. We had a nice light wind session towards the end of last week,  which just put the finishing touches to the package and then we had to make sure we had enough rest and stayed sharp. Then Dorian just brought it on the whole week, the guys didn’t really have an answer to anything.

There’s been moments of brilliance you’ve seen from Dorian over the last few years, you’ve always seen seven races of brilliance, now he’s just done nine races of brilliance. That’s really what the difference was, no mistakes, he didn’t put a foot wrong. It was his week to potentially loose if it didn’t go well, but he just sailed out of his skin. If you look at him, he’s cool, calm and collected, he kept the focus the whole time, never dropped the ball and always came back from a decision that wasn’t quite correct.

That’s his character, that’s his nature, he’s a fighter and he’s a winner. 

Aaron McIntosh racing in Sydney in the 2000 Olympic Games. ©Nick Wilson/ALLSPORT

The Medal Race

The medal race, let’s see how we go, we’re going to have a crowd on the Nothe and it’s a place that we’ve done quite a bit of training and an area we’re comfortable in, so it would be nice to do really well in the medal race, although it doesn’t really matter at this stage. One last blast!

Kitesurfing?

With the relationship Dorian and I have created, I am sure we will do something together. Whether that’s in windsurfing, or kitesurfing, or whether it’s something else. Same shit, different basket. All the same principles apply, it’s a yacht race, It’s still understanding the equipment, getting yourself around the race course so it’s a possiblity. It’s too hasting to make a concrete decision at the moment, but we will have a lot of fun playing around with kitesurfing in the near future that’s for sure.

How ‘We’ Work Together

Like any athlete theirs a support network around them and I’m the closest to Dorian within the ‘we’. But we have the technical support we get too, the team manager, the logistics, the people that organise the intricate details and logistics. They’re all part of what we’re doing. In ‘we’ you can also include Zac (Plasvic of Canada, who is in 8th position going into the medal race) and JP (Tobin of New Zealand, currently in 7th position) they’ve been a huge part of what we’ve been doing. We set a plan and we managed to execute it nicely. We did the work and we had fun doing it, and I’ve always said when you do that the results will come.

Aaron and Dorian, having fun as always. © Richard Langdon

We’ve worked together for four years, over this time the team has grown and our relationship has strengthened. Whether Dorian needs me all the time or not, I’m his sounding board. If he wants to know something I’ll let him know what I think, I think my opinion is regarded well in his eyes. But he’s still his own person, he has to make his own decisions. Occasionally we beg to differ, but that’s it whatever his opinion is, is his opinion and we roll with it. I know there’s times he’s gone out to prove himself right and he hasn’t come unstuck too much!

Check out the other coverage today:

Nick Dempsey Interview

RS:X and Boards on RYA TV

Full women’s results.

Full men’s results.

Dorian built up such a lead on previous days, leaving the others to focus on silver even mid way through the competition. But it was with the most dominant race of the whole games, pulling out a lead of over three minutes over the next sailor, that Dorian officially took gold. It surely shows the dominance of the young Dutchman that he did not need to complete the final race today, and just needs to enter to medal race to win.

At only 23 years of age, although this may well be the last time windsurfing is in the Olympics it does not look like it will be the end for this Olympian. Kiters, watch out!

Dorian van Rijsselberghe. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

Some words from the man himself, gold medalist Dorian van Rijsselberghe:

Dorian and Aaron

“Yeah,  I had a really good first race. Couldn’t have been any better, I got a big gain on the front, I was ahead of some of the other top guys, unfortunately they didn’t do as well as they should have done. So I got the points that I needed and that was it!

Second race, I pulled out. I felt I was in the way for the other guys, if I were in their shoes I would be telling me to bugger off!

Yes, I’ve cefinitely won! Even in the medal race I could cruise, but I’m not going to. I’m just going to try and have a good race. There should be a nice breeze, so why not.

It was always the dream to win an Olympic gold medal, and now the dream has come true.

This is pretty special, so another Olympic campaign would be nice. If it’s in kiting then so be it.”

Tomorrow Boards will bring you a run down of the men’s and women’s racing going into the medal race, along with a full interview with Nick Dempsey and coach of Dorian, Aaron McIntosh.

Also tomorrow RS:X will be discussed on the RYA TV Channel, with myself (Amy Carter) and Penny Clark. Tune in tomorrow morning for further info!

Today’s other coverage: 

Bryony Shaw Interview

Ben Ainslie Interview

Day Five Gallery

Full women’s results. 

Full men’s results. 

Bryony Shaw around the gybe back, Marina of Spain chasing

In the women’s fleet, after a fantastic day Lee of Israel has closed the gap on Marina iof Spain. Marina still leads, but taking a third and seventh position today she is now just three points ahead of Lee. Lee had an outstanding day on the Nothe course, as did Olha who is in third place overall. Tuuli of Finland is in fourth place overall, with 32 points five ahead of Olha. This puts first and second very close but with a significant lead over third and fourth. Whereas Zofia of Poland and Moanna of Germany are nipping at the heels of Olha, with 33 and 34 points respectively. Bryony Shaw is currently in 7th place, for Bryony now a top five result is realistic and Bryony is sure to be on form tomorrow in the lighter winds.

Full women’s results. 

RS:X men

The men’s races were run today in approx 12-14knots of wind on a flat Portland Harbour.  Dorian lead from beginning to end in the first race, stretching out a lead of over one minute over Nick Dempsey in second. Nick was sixth to the first upwind mark, but then went on a charge making up place after place on each run. Byron of Greece was on form again, finishing third. The second race saw a shake up at the top, with Toni of Germany taking top honours. Nick was firmly in second before taking a risk to overtake Toni, which backfired a little and allowed Dorian to just overtake him on the final beat. Read more about this in Nick’s interview about today’s racing.

This leaves Dorian in a more than commanding position overall, leading Nick in second by a massive fifteen points. Dorian has nine, with Nick joint on points with Toni, both on 24 but Nick ahead on count back. Just behind these two is Poland on 29, before a big gap to JP Tobin of New Zealand who has 48 points. The battle is on, all sailors wanting to put themselves into a good position going into the medal race.

Full men’s results. 

The action kicks off tomorrow at 12.00 with the women’s two races on the Portland Harbour course, before then men head out for two of their own at 14.00.

Other coverage today:

Interview with Nick Dempsey

Messages of support

Bryony Shaw report

Drama for the women and race information

Firstly Boards caught up with a very focussed Nick Dempsey: 

Nick Dempsey looking for a medal. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

The First Start and Race

“As the wind shifted left and they keep laying port biased lines, it was just a nightmare. The wind dropped and made the line even more port biased, so it was impossible to get off the line and a lot of people were tacking out. I missed a couple of opportunities up the first beat, I didn’t take any risks and paid the price really.”

Nick Dempsey over taking. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

Second Race

“I’m quick, I know I’m quick. Especially downwind I am rapid, which is really good, it just makes it frustrating at times too. The  main difference in the second race was that I got off the line! The wind had also picked up a little as well and I know once I am powered up I am quick.”

Nick Dempsey. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

Lay Day Plans

“I will probably sail a little, go to the gym, go to the physio and just prepare for the next races. I’m feeling good, alright and ready. I just need the chance.”

Nick Dempsey. © Boards Magazine / Adam Duckworth

Next some (slightly sarcastic at times, we hope!) words from a very relaxed and happy Dutchman:

Nick is currently lying in 4th with Bryony in 7th overall. Things are far from decided and Boards will continue to bring you all the action and results from the event site in Weymouth.

Stay tuned!

Elsewhere but sticking with the Olympic theme we reported that there has now been an official legal challenge against the ISAF ballot to not include the RS:X discipline in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Boards will monitor this situation closely and bring you updates as and when they happen.

The battle to save the Weymouth and Portland Rescue Helicopter is underway and you can pledge your support by signing the e-petition here

Saskia Sills reported her amazing success during the Windsurfing Worlds that were held in Dublin Bay recently. Read her write up here

We were given the good news that the Scottish Wind Fest has been confirmed. All the details can be found here

And finally, get involved with the RYA’s Project Windsurf UK initiative -

Are the Olympics whetting your appetite to get out there and get involved in sport?
When did you last go windsurfing? We’ve had some great conditions meaning a large number of you have been very active, but there’s definitely people who have yet to make the connection with a local group to help them get back out there. Check out the map – to find your local group and then click on their home page to join them – and then get posting! And if there’s not a group in your area yet, consider starting your own… 

Project Windsurf UK

Have a great weekend and pray for wind!

The first race started, or at least tried to start in exceptionally gusty winds. All the riders were pushing the line, knowing the importance of a great start. As the pushed harder and the time ticked down increasing numbers of riders got close to, and then sent themselves over the line. A general recall was called as too many were over the line to ascertain specific riders, the restart was scheduled five minutes after this and all riders brought the back to the start ready to go again.

The second start was held under a black flag, meaning if you are over, you are out. Despite this, the line was still pushed as hard as it was in the first. Again a number of riders went over and the general recall flag was hoisted shortly after the start. This meant a number of riders would be out of the race, a disastrous move for anyone but particularly for those within touching distance of a medal.

Sailors headed to the committee boat as the tension built, finally it was revealed that Santiago Grillo of Columbia, Shahar Zubari of Israel, Karel Lavicky of the Czech Republic and  Robert Willis of the USA were all disqualified.

Dorian in control in the men's fleet.

After a short wait the race finally got underway on the third attempt, Dorian, Nick and many riders seemed to struggle at the start. Dorian was one of the first to tack off onto port, as he was swamped by riders and struggling for speed. Aron Gadorfalvi of Hungary was the surprise leader at the first mark. Aron held his position well downwind, but as the sailors rounded the leeward mark a few sailors climbed the ranks. Wang of China brought himself up into fourth by hitting the far right hand side of the course and surprise, surprise, Dorian leapt from fourth to first. In the lead Dorian seemed unstoppable again, with Toni in second and Wang who moved up into third ahead of Zack Plavsic of Canada in fourth.

Nick Dempsey struggled off the line, appearing to get stuck in the middle of the line and unable to get into to clear wind and pick off any riders on the upwind or downwind legs.

But race two was a different story.

The wind filled in a little more and became  a bit more consistent, meaning the men would be full planing all the way around the course. Nick looked brilliant off the line, in a strong position upwind and near to the boat end.

Nick lead from beginning to end, shooting around the course at absolute top speed. Dorian  was a fair way back by his standards (fourth!) at the first mark, but again made is way up the fleet and into second, but not even he could catch Nick. The Polish rider, after a bad first race, came back with a third position in this race and the French man Julien in fourth.

Unfortunately the TV coverage of the racing finished mid way through the first race, there were still some cameras around so fingers crossed there is some footage of Nick’s incredible race that will appear at some point!

Going into the lay day tomorrow, Dorian is counting an almost unbelievable four firsts and one second, discarding a third, leaving him with a total of six points. Second and fourth are covered by only three points, Toni in second on 17, Przemyslaw in third on 18 and Nick in fourth on 19. With Julien in fifth, but some 11 points behind, the top four are out ahead and all in contention for the medals.

Men’s results after six races. 

Women’s results after six races. 

On the next page check out the women’s RS:X update from day three…