Olympic silver medal-winning windsurfer Nick Dempsey today etched his name into the history books by becoming the first man ever to win two RS:X Windsurfing World Championship titles.

There were double celebrations for Skandia Team GBR, with Bryony Shaw also claiming silver in the women’s fleet – her first ever podium finish at an RS:X World Championship, on Wednesday (6 March).

The 32-year-old Dempsey claimed gold in emphatic style at the Brazilian venue of Buzios, going into the final medal race with a nine-point lead over Dutchman Dorian Van Rijsselberge – the 2012 Olympic Champion.

Light winds delayed the start of Wednesday’s medal races, but they eventually got underway in 12 knot shifty and gusty conditions, with Van Rijsselberge, the 2011 World Champion, quick out of the blocks.  Dempsey had a slower start in the 10-board finale, but sailed a superb second upwind leg to move back through the fleet and maintain his hold on the gold medal.
The Weymouth-based windsurfer adds this 2013 title to the world crown he won on home waters in Weymouth and Portland in 2009, and admits it was “pretty good” to be the first male winner of two RS:X world titles, and that the win is a great boost at the start of his Rio campaign.

“After the Olympics, I didn’t know if I wanted to carry on.  I didn’t know if I still had it in me.  But windsurfing is what I love, I love doing it,” the Skandia Team GBR sailor explained.

“This trip has been great preparation for Rio and I think it’s going to suit me there.  It’s going be slightly lighter in Rio than here, but I’m one of the smaller guys in the fleet so hopefully that will work in my favour.”

“I didn’t really have any idea of how I was going to perform [at the Worlds] after so long off the board after the Olympics,” Dempsey continued.  “With just a seven-week build up you can’t really expect too much, but I have trained really hard in that time and it’s been a long time away from home.

“I’ve kept it steady this week and did everything I could, and have ended up having one of the best regattas of my life!  My strengths have always been that I can perform across the range of conditions and we’ve had that this week.

“Maybe going into the event without any real expectations helped me relax a bit, but I’m always pretty relaxed I think.  I don’t think you can ever expect to be at the front of the fleet all of the time.”

Dempsey’s long-serving coach Barrie Edgington has been impressed with his protégé.

“It’s been a challenging week, but Nick held it together and has been really impressive,” said Edgington.

“Considering the build up we have had, he’s had one of the best week’s sailing in the 17 years that I have been working with him, and it bodes really well.  It just goes to show that age and experience still count for so much in sailing – that experience has definitely helped Nick make the right decisions this week.”

Beijing bronze medallist Bryony Shaw added to the British Sailing Team’s joys in Buzios, claiming a silver and her first ever podium spot at an RS:X World Championship.

With the gold medal already assured to Israel’s Lee Korsitz ahead of the final race, Shaw trained her sights on preventing an Israeli 1-2.  She trailed Maayan Davidovich by three points, going into the final day in the bronze medal position.

But a determined display saw the British sailor finish fourth in the medal race to Davidovich’s ninth and overhaul the Israeli sailor into the silver medal spot.

“I’m really happy to come away with silver,” the 29-year-old enthused.  “I feel I’ve been sailing really well, especially for the first two-thirds of the week.  I really wanted to close the points on Lee and yesterday was the day to have done that.  It was shifty and tactically hard, and she has been sailing phenomenally in all conditions, so all credit to her, she got away!”

“My Games year didn’t work out as I had wanted and it was tough – physically and mentally – so the most important thing for me here is to have had that self-belief grow back inside me again that I do still have it and I can perform on the water.

Shaw concluded: “Since windsurfing had its Olympic reprieve I’ve just been super-excited to get back on the board again.  This week has been really important for me confidence-wise and I’ve showed a few things this week and am developing some real super-strengths.”

For full regatta results, visit http://worldwindsurfingchampionships2013.rsxclass.com 

For the latest news and information from the Skandia Team GBR British Sailing Team visit www.skandiateamgbr.com or follow us on Twitter @BritishSailing.

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The first big event post London 2012 for the RS:X windsurfing class is well underway in Brazil. The world championships has attracted all of the top racers and the action has been close in the relatively light winds (up to 15knots) and warm weather.

RS:X worlds, racing underway

Nick Dempsey, El Carney and Tom Squires, are representing team GB in the men’s fleet, with Nick currently in third position.

Men’s results after race five. 

In the women’s fleet Bryony Shaw is having an exceptional event, and is currently in first place with fellow Brit Izzy Hamilton in 18th and Claudia Carney in 30th.

Women’s results after race five. 

The racing continues in Brazil until the 7th of March, so we wish all the competitors luck for the coming races. We’ll have more info from team GB as the competition continues.

Check out full event info 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.

First up, Izzy Hamilton, RS:X competitor and keen promoter of women’s racing, let’s us know what she has been up to since the decision to remove windsurfing as an Olympic class.

Saturday was a big day in windsurfing history, ISAF announced to many peoples surprise that windsurfing has been removed, and kitesurfing course racing added into the 2016 Olympics. Windsurfers and kitesurfers are keen to have both classes in the games, we are after all the coolest racing classes and both are fun, fast and accessible sports relevant to millions of people globally.

Initially, my reaction to the decision was shock. I have trained and competed in windsurfing racing my for a large part of my life, I love it and I can’t imagine not racing any more. My dream of going to Rio was so real one day and non existent the next. The confidence I gained winning medals in Junior and Youth World Championships has been lost. I am however very excited at the prospect of a new challenge.

Izzy Hamilton

There is a large petition online which many thousands have already signed – Olympic Windsurfing Petition

Windsurfers have no objection to kitesurfing in the Olympics and the idea is to promote the idea of both sports to ISAF for the Olympic future. If ISAF’s main focus is the media, making the sport more diverse by adding different styles of racing has to be a good thing, to the public all the white boats look the same anyway! 

If their decision remains the same 1000’s of windsurfers, coaches and support staff loose their jobs and a lot of money. The facebook site http://www.facebook.com/groups/ISAFolympicswindsurfing/ that opened for us all to chat and learn about windsurfing and kitesurfing (14,000 members by day two) has a lot of information from various important people. Many windsurfers are learning about the “darkside” and misunderstandings and new questions regarding both sports are being evaluated, fingers crossed these will make their way back to ISAF as some very obvious flaws have been posted. 

Izzy Hamilton on the podium

The RYA pathway of Team15, Bic Techno and Youth RSX racing will loose much of its support. I followed this pathway starting T15 at my local Tamar Lake, then into National and International Racing, will the RYA fund and support all this if it is no longer feeding sailors into their Olympic pathway? I looked up to Nick and Bryony as Olympic medalists and it motivated me to continue training and racing.

I hope windsurf racing has a future outside the Olympics, for the windsurfers of the future to look up to. Many of the top PWA Freestyle, Slalom and Wave sailors previously raced the imco without the introductory platform of racing, will these classes also suffer?

My windsurfing plans are still to train with Bryony until the Olympics to help her win her medal. I will also race in Sail for Gold Regatta in Weymouth this summer. Between the games and November when ISAF have a chance to re evaluate and re vote on their decision I guess I will spend time learning to kitesurf and continue with some windsurfing. The future currently is a big unknown. Fingers crossed we get to go somewhere warm as learning to kitesurf in the UK could be a chilly experience!

Izzy explains her first kitesurfing experience on page two…

The decision, has of course sparked outrage within the windsurfing community, the concern being not only for the Olympians, present and future, that have worked exceptionally hard to get to such a high level, but for how the decision will affect the RYA and initiatives such as Team15.

Team15, delivers a fantastic service to many kids across the UK who are the future of our sport, will it now still receive the funding needed to continue? 

The campaign for kiteboarding to be included in the Olympics was backed by many, including head of Virgin, Richard Branson.

“Delighted to announce kitesurfing has been selected as an Olympic sport. It has just been accepted by the ISAF after a 19/17 vote and there will now be kitesurfing at the Rio Olympics in 2016. This is fantastic news for my favourite sport and kitesurfers all over the world.”

The argument for many, is not against the inclusion of kitesurfing in the Olympics, but why does it have to replace windsurfing?

The decision has already been covered well in the mainstream media, including by the Guardian online, and The Independent put forward this informative piece showing both sides of the argument.

Have your say in the Boards forum…

There is already an online petition, signed by many of the windsurfing community to make ISAF reconsider their decision. Sign it and share. With enough signatures ISAF will be forced to listen, and there is the potential for the decision to be revoked at a meeting later in the year.

Bryony Shaw

How are the British Olympians taking the news?

Bryony Shaw seems as positive as always on twitter, does this mean we could be seeing the bronze medalist racing on a kite in the near future?

BRYONY SHAW ‏ @BRYONYSHAW

My focus on London now seems heightened!! New discipline for Rio… New challenge…!

BRYONY SHAW ‏ @BRYONYSHAW

Windsurfing out of 2016… Old man politics playing with people’s lives…! Wreckless in chopping & changing… http://fb.me/LiO37pVq

BRYONY SHAW ‏ @BRYONYSHAW

Windsurfing is me… I am windsurfing!! http://fb.me/1MwvpITx8

While on facebook Nick Dempsey, is thinking of the next generation:

“Wow, unexpected. That was a big decision and a very sad day for windsurfing. My heart goes out to all the aspiring champions and kids with dreams of windsurfing at the Olympics.”

Nick Dempsey

The Future

It wasn’t so long ago that Olympic windsurf racing changed from Mistral One Design to the RS:X. At the time it was seen as a massive change, anyone that has used both pieces of equipment will know that although both are classed as windsurfing, there are in fact very few similarities.

Olympic windsurfers across the globe adapted and welcomed the new discipline, and while some formula windsurfers moved across, it was on the whole the previous Olympic racers who shone through.

With a great amount of windsurfers that also kite, we have shown that being able to windsurf sets you up exceptionally well for kiting. So could we see a number of our current Olympians, as Bryony said taking up the “new challenge” and still heading to Rio?

Izzy Hamilton

Future British hopeful Izzy Hamilton, though encouraging many to sign the petition and keep her dream alive, already seems to be taking up the kitesurfing challenge:

“So, RSX Racing has been replaced by Kitesurfing Racing, just have to detach my sail and add some string! Lesson booked for Monday, guess I am excited to try something new…”

With the very strong possibility of Weymouth hosting the final Olympic windsurfing event, this surely heightens the pressure for all competing and brings the very real prospect of two lucky competitors taking the final glory.

With Weymouth set to be the final Olympics for windsurfing, will we see any of the current stars in Rio?

The official ISAF announcement:

The International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has confirmed the final event and equipment selections for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition.

The ISAF Council voted that Kiteboarding will replace Windsurfing for the men’s and women’s board events and confirmed the equipment that will be used for the Women’s Skiff and Mixed Multihull Events.

The Mackay FX, referred to as the 49er FX, was selected yesterday as the two person women’s skiff and today the Nacra 17 joins the Olympic equipment family after being selected for the two person mixed multihull event.

The 49er FX received the majority of votes from the ISAF Council in the first round after the six evaluation trial entries were narrowed down to just three; the 29erXX, the RS900 and the 49er FX.

There was an equally animated debate on the final morning of the Council meeting at this year’s ISAF Mid-Year Meeting to decide the equipment to be selected for the mixed multihull event. After discussing the recommendations from the Evaluation Panel, the Equipment Committee and the Events Committee, Council voted between the Nacra 17 and the Viper with the Nacra 17 securing the majority.

The final discussion on the events and equipment for the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition was about the men’s and women’s board events with Council voting in favour or kiteboarding.

In November 2011 an evaluation group was appointed to examine kiteboarding formats with the board events for Rio 2016 defined as ‘windsurfing and/or kiteboarding’. The Evaluation Group recommended that kiteboarding be included in the ISAF Event family including the ISAF Sailing World Cup and the ISAF Sailing World Championships but Council went one step further and selected kiteboarding for the Rio 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition as well.

The ISAF Windsurfing and Kiteboarding Committee will consider and make further recommendations to Council on the implementation of the inclusion of kiteboarding at their meeting in November 2012 at the ISAF Annual Conference.

ISAF President Göran Petersson said, “These announcements mark a new era for sailing and we welcome the new classes into the ISAF family. The equipment selections have fulfilled the criteria set out by the Evaluation Panel and we look forward to seeing the boats not only at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, but the ISAF Sailing World Cup and ISAF Sailing World Championships.

“Kiteboarding has proven to us that it is ready to be included into the list of prestigious ISAF Events and it is a fantastic addition to the sailing programme for the 2016 Olympic Games.”

The events to be contested at the 2016 Olympic Games are confirmed as:
Men’s Kiteboarding
Women’s Kiteboarding
Men’s One Person Dinghy – Laser
Women’s One Person Dinghy – Laser Radial
Men’s One Person Dinghy (heavy) – Finn
Men’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Women’s Two Person Dinghy – 470
Men’s Skiff – 49er
Women’s skiff – 49er FX
Mixed Two Person Multihull – Nacra 17

These ten events will be featured in the 2012-2013 ISAF Sailing World Cup which kicks off in Melbourne in December and will come together in Santander, Spain in 2014 for the ISAF Sailing World Championships.

The RYA statement on new Olympic Events and Equipment for 2016:

At its mid-year meetings in Stresa, Italy, the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) has confirmed the Event and Equipment selections which will feature at the 2016 Olympic Sailing Competition in Rio de Janeiro.

Following equipment trials held in Santander, Spain, in March, the Mackay FX, referred to as the 49er FX, is the equipment choice for the new two person women’s skiff discipline, while the Nacra 17 was confirmed as the boat to be used in the two person mixed multihull event.

ISAF Council also voted to replace the current men’s and women’s windsurfing events with kiteboarding events for men and women which will feature at the Olympic Games for the first time.

John Derbyshire, RYA Racing Manager and Performance Director, was present at the ISAF mid-year meetings where the votes took place.

“The 49er FX and the Nacra 17 both performed well in the Santander trials and stand to be great additions to the Olympic sailing programme both in terms of the challenge they present to sailors and their visual appeal,” Derbyshire commented.

“The introduction of Kiteboarding, while an exciting prospect for a new discipline, the decision to replace windsurfing with Kiteboarding will of course be a huge blow to the windsurfing community, and we’re disappointed for all those who are working at the coalface of the RYA’s windsurfing programmes to deliver activity and British success on the world stage who will be affected most by this decision.”

“Kiteboarding made a solid case for its Olympic inclusion at the March trials,” Derbyshire continued, “and although a surprise that ISAF has voted it into the Olympic programme at this stage, it appears that the Council of ISAF wished to seize the opportunity, rather than wait until 2020.

“This decision will force the pace of change and the RYA is looking forward to the opportunity of working with Kiteboarders and the British Kitesurfing Association in order to develop the talent pathway for this new event, and to using the strengths of our UK Sport lottery funded high performance system that has become the envy of the world so that GBR is well-placed to deliver the first Olympic kiteboarding medals in Rio in four years’ time.”

With one day of racing already cancelled due to strong winds, the racing in Cadiz is starting to become a war of attrition for the sailors and their equipment. The Gold Fleet took the water to complete three races in winds gusting over 30 knots. Good news for Team GBR as Nick Dempsey didn’t step off the podium all day long.

With a bullet, followed by a second and a third, Nick has shot back up into Silver Medal position. The Gold Medal position was held yesterday by Dorian van Rijsselberge from the Netherlands. After some unlucky results, Dorian has dropped to fourth position and tails the number one spot by 7 points. Dempsey is a mere 2-points behind new leader Julien Bontemps from France, who posted a third and two bullets in Monday’s racing.

The forecast calls for stronger winds and GBR-1 has been Tweeting away already, saying that the racing has already been postponed today (Tuesday), “Well, the wind has definitely arrived. 30-40 knots, not great news. Postponed, no sign of it easing either.” Follow Nick on Twitter: @NickDempsey1.

Nick Dempsey on the podium yesterday

Fellow Olympian Bryony Shaw currently sits in fourth position. She nailed a fifth, a second and a fourth in the challenging conditions.

Great Britain’s Under 21 Team are doing brilliantly in the challenging conditions in Spain as well. Connor Bainbridge and Sam Sills are in 4th and 5th places respectively while Izzy Hamilton sits in second, closing the gap on French opponent Helene Noesmoen.

Connor Bainbridge, 4th in the U21 Category

Follow the latest updates on the official regatta website HERE.

Winds of 40 knots howled through Cadiz on Friday, forcing the race committee to postpone the competition for a day. After waiting for the conditions to drop all day, the scheduled rest day on Saturday saw one race completed in both the male and female fleets.

Nick Dempsey flat out in Spain

In the Ladies’ fleet, Bryony Shaw is in 7th place. Not dropping out of the top 10 in any of the races so far and regulary in the top 5, Bryony can hopefully climb into the top 5 overall. Lee Korzits from Israel is dominating the women’s fleet, posting a bullet or second place in every race so far! Also representing the UK is young Izzy Hamilton. With a fantastic 4th place in Race 1, Izzy has fallen back slightly in the super windy conditions. She will be sure to climb back up the rankings as the racing continues. Currently in a great 22nd, Izzy is also 3rd in the U21 category.

Izzy Hamilton

Nick Dempsey is leading the way for the Brits and currently sits in fourth place overall. With two bullets and two seconds, Nick is performing well in the stronger winds and is sure to give the remaining races everything he’s got. Tied on points is Greek sailor Byron Kokkalanis – he and Dempesy have had some battles on the water and it’s not over yet!

In 25th place is fellow Brit Elliot Carney. Opening the proceedings with an awesome 3rd place, followed by an 8th and a 7th, Carney has also slipped slightly in the recent stronger winds but will be hungry to power back through the rankings.

Full tilt at Cadiz

Check out a video of the action from Day 4 below and be sue to follow the action on the official RS:X website HERE. Today’s racing is scheduled to kick off just before midday and the wind is already blowing, good luck to all the competitors.

The port of Funchal in Portugal held host to the RS:X European Championships last week. With an 8-strong team representing the UK, here are the results…

After a competition of mixed winds and 11 races, the final Race Day in Madeira dawned with just the medal races to completed. Unfortunately the wind never showed up, meaning the men’s Gold medal was shared by Polish sailor Przemyslaw Miarczynski and Greek representative Byron Kokalanis with the ladies’ Gold going to Marina Alabau from Spain.

In the men’s fleet were five sailors representing the UK with 3 of those in the Under 21 category. Highest ranked was Connor Bainbridge in 21st place – a great result given the intense level of competition. The experience will be sure to help Connor as he tries to improve on his 7th place in the BSA rankings for 2012. Also in the Under 21 category were Sam Sills and Tom Squires,  close on Connor’s heels with Sam just slotting in ahead in 24th position.

Connor Bainbridge rounds a mark

Ali Masters and Jamie Ingram posted 36th and 41st positions respectively – with some top 20 finishes amongst the 10 races they will be sure to improve at the next event!

The ladies fleet saw Izzy Hamilton finish in a fantastic 6th place for the competition after nailing a 5th and a 3rd place during the course of the event. In 13th and 16th were Claudia Carney and Noelle Finch respectively, some more solid results for the UK sailors who are all still in the U21 category.

Claudia Carney racing in Madeira

Well done to all the British competitors.

The next RS:X event is the World Championships at Cadiz in a few weeks. With a $45,000 prize pot the stakes are that little bit higher with all to play for. Follow the RS:X Class HERE.

Nick Dempsey

Last weekend (15-16 October) witnessed an exciting finish to a season of domestic Olympic Classes racing as the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy staged the final round of the RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series 2011.

The event plays an integral part for those wanting to progress up the Olympic class national ranking ladder and win grants to go on and compete at international regattas. For those more experienced sailors, including Skandia Team GBR members, the event serves the purpose of providing top class competitive racing on home waters of the 2012 Olympic Games.

For the first time in the event’s history, this weekend welcomed competitors in the Sonar, the Paralympic three-person keelboat class. In addition to the events first timers, seasoned campaigners along with some fresh faces were also in attendance.

The RSX 9.5 Series was won again by Skandia Team GBR sailor and 2012 Olympian Nick Dempsey who posted two bullets to finish one point ahead of Elliot Carney. Third place from the weekend went to Ali Masters who did enough to secure second place on the Series podium ahead of Carney.

The 16 year-old Kieran Martin, RYA Volvo National Youth Squad member and 2011 U17 Techno World Champion, made no mistake in wrapping up the RSX 8.5 Series title after finishing two points ahead of 2012 Olympian Bryony Shaw. Behind Martin and Shaw in both the weekend regatta and overall Series was Izzy Hamilton in third.

In the 49er class it was last year’s Series champions who led the charge as Skandia Team GBR’s John Pink/Rick Peacock seized three race wins to clinch weekend honours and more importantly the Series crown.

Dylan Fletcher/Alain Sign followed five points behind in second to clinch silver in both the weekend regatta and the overall series. Dave Evans/Ed Powys’ efforts of posting a fifth this weekend was enough to secure third place on the Series podium.

2011 RYA Volvo Youth National Champions Henry Lloyd Williams/Sam Batten, who have only recently stepped up into the Olympic classes, put in a strong performance to stake their claim In the 49er class by posting a credible 7^th from the weekend.

The Finn class shared the biggest turnout with the 49er class and it was 2011 European Champion Giles Scott who racked up three out of five race wins to scoop the heavyweight title as well as the RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series crown.

Fellow Skandia Team GBR Finn sailors Andrew Mills and Development Squad sailor Mark Andrews finished second and third respectively sealing the same fate upon the Series podium. Mark Andrews third was at the expense of seasoned sailor Jon Greenwood who had until the last race, in which he was involved in an aggressive boat on boat attack from Andrews, handed out a bit of a lesson to the younger guns on how to sail the shifty conditions.

Nic Asher/Elliot Willis, who took bronze in the 2010 event, were emphatic this time around in the men’s 470 class as they sealed the weekend honours ahead of Nick Rogers/Chris Grube as well as the overall event crown. Ben Saxton/ Richard Mason, Skandia Team GBR Development Squad sailors, finished the weekend in third. Seventh placed Luke Patience/Stuart Bithell did enough at the previous event to seal their place on the podium in third.

In the women’s 470 fleet, Penny Clark/Katrina Hughes clinched second place overall this weekend however it was not enough to land them a place on the overall Series podium having missed the previous event. The promising duo of Sophie Weguelin/Sophie Ainsworth claimed the Series crown with the help of a bullet in the opening race to finish fourth.  Hannah Mills/Saskia Clark ended the Series in second with recent Marlow Ropes Award winners Anna Burnett/Flora Stewart sealing third.

Meanwhile in the Paralympic classes, Dror Cohen/Arnon Efrati/Benni Vexler from Israel were clinical in the Sonar class counting all race wins and scooping the inaugural Sonar National Ranking Series title. The Skandia Team GBR trio of John Robertson/Hannah Stodel/Stephen Thomas kept themselves in touch with the high level fleet posting third.

Megan Pascoe took the overall title by winning four out of the six races at WPNSA in the 2.4mR fleet, in the two-person SKUD class, Alexandra Rickham/Nikki Birrell continued to dominate as they sealed the Series crown with an impressive five out of six race wins.

Barrie Edgington, RYA Olympic Development Squad Manager, commented: “We have had some great sailing conditions over the two weekends allowing the sailors to really enjoy what has been an exciting Series.

“It is always great to see a real mixture of talent from established Olympic sailors who are at the top of their sport down to some new faces who are continually looking to improve and develop their racing skills. In that sense the Olympic classes Ranking Events are unique and in classes such as the Finn having a number of the experienced old guard really adds benefit also.”

“To have a full house of classes competing this year for the first time, with the addition of the Sonar class, is fantastic and I hope that this will continue with the numbers growing each year,” concluded Edgington.

Overall Results:

RS:X 9.5

1st Nick Dempsey

2nd Ali Masters

3rd Elliot Carney

RS:X 8.5

1st Kieran Martin

2nd Bryony Shaw

3rd Izzy Hamilton

For full results from the RYA Olympic Classes National Ranking Series 2011 please visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk

For the latest news and information from the British Sailing Team, visit www.skandiateamgbr.com or follow us on Twitter (@SkandiaTeamGBR).

Nick Dempsey

Nick Dempsey’s consistent form continues in the RS:X men’s windsurfing event at the Princess Sofia Regatta in Palma. He’s taken the overall lead by seven points over Israel’s Shahar Zubari with scores of 2,3 on the water today, while development squad sailor Elliot Carney picked up two top ten results to place him in tenth overall.
“I’m pretty pleased with how it’s all going,” the 30-year-old Dempsey admitted. “I’ve spent the whole winter away so this is pretty much the first big event of the season – certainly the first big event of the European season.

“You often turn up here and you don’t really know just how well that winter’s gone. You’re probably at your most nervous at the beginning of the year and it’s quite a relief to see that I am on the pace and I’m sailing well.”

“It’s not such a big outcome regatta,” Dempsey continued. “it’s not all about the result. It’s more about testing myself in the different conditions here and so far that’s all going really well.”

Beijing Bronze medallist, Shahar Zubari (ISR) got to second while Dorian van Rijsselberge (NED) drops to third after suffering in today’s conditions. Today’s races went to Mashia Nimrod (ISR) and 2008 Olympic champion, Tom Ashley (NZL).

The RS:X women fleet has a new leader with Marina Alabau (ESP) racing consistently to a fourth and a second placing: “I am happy with my day, the wind was difficult, light and shifty. I stayed fourth during the whole first race and started the second in the same position but was able to catch up two places and pass Blanca before the finish.”

Alessandra Sensini (ITA) didn’t perform in the lighter conditions adding twenty points to her score today. She is now in second position overall. Charline Picon (FRA) who had suffered from equipment failure in Monday’s windy races, was undefeated today with two bullets. She seats in 12th position overall but could come up in the front when the discard comes in.

Izzy Hamilton is the leading British female windsurfer in 14^th overall. Olympic bronze medallist Bryony Shaw hit back from a disappointing first day beset with kit breakages with a third in her opening race of the day but is in 18^th overall

Racing at the Princess Sofia Trophy will start on Monday 4 April and continue through until Saturday 9 April.

For the latest news and information, visit www.skandiateamgbr.com or follow the British sailing team on Twitter (@skandiateamgbr) for race updates during the regatta.

Nick Dempsey all alone at the front of the fleet!

Izzy Hamilton

Exeter University student Izzy Hamilton is on top of the world again after scoping a second gold medal at the windsurfing RS:X Youth World Championships. Having been crowned Britain’s first ever windsurfing Youth World Champion at last year’s event in Bodrum, Turkey, Hamilton defended her title in style this weekend racking up an impressive 16 point lead to be crowned Double Youth World Champion at the 2010 edition of the event held in Limassol, Cyprus.

The 18-year-old beat 38 other up and coming young stars to the RS:X Youth World title after six days of racing in the Cypriot venue, adding gold to her two silver medals from the multi-class Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship in Turkey and RS:X European Championship in Poland, back in July.

Hamilton, who is a member of the RYA Volvo National Youth Squad and Skandia Team GBR Development Squad, made no mistake in asserting her rank, leading the pack for the first two days in what were the young sailor’s un-favoured light conditions.

Poland’s Hanna Zembrzuska, who was revelling in the marginal winds, pushed Hamilton hard on the third day overtaking her lead by one point. But with stronger winds promised for the end of the week, Hamilton’s forte, she held her nerve, kept it consistent and racked up a huge lead on the penultimate day guaranteeing herself a silver medal or better from Saturday’s double point medal race.

With absolutely no wind on the racecourse on Saturday the medal race was cancelled. Titles were decided on Friday’s results handing Hamilton an emphatic victory and a second consecutive Youth World Title.

She comments: “I’m so happy at this moment in time and after all the events I’ve done this summer it’s so good to finish it off on a massive high.”

“We had a complete mix of conditions and I had good results most days so that’s why I’ve come out on top really – consistency,” she added.

“I’m really really happy to finally have made first this year after coming second in Turkey at the ISAF’s and second at the Euros – I’m just so happy to finish on top at my last youth event,” she concluded.

Halifax’s Connor Bainbridge was the top ranked Brit in the 70-board men’s fleet finishing an impressive fourth overall.

“It feels amazing, fourth is brilliant. I was hoping we could have gone out for the medal race – I could have jumped up to second so it was unfortunate there was no wind,” Bainbridge said.

“We’ve had everything this week unlike the Euros in Poland which was mostly light winds. It’s just been nice because it’s really been about who’s the best in everything rather than who’s the best in just one condition.”

Other British top ten finishes included Launceston’s Sam Sills in men’s seventh and Bude’s Sophie Bailey in women’s class ninth.

To see full results and find out more about the event click here

Photo: RS:X Class Association

http://www.rsxclass.com – In the final day of the regatta, the wind decided that 12 races were enough to define the Youth World Windsurfing champions. The windsurfers waited for some breeze to build up and had to time to enjoy the nice weather in Limassol, Cyprus

For more info you can visit http://youthworldwindsurfingchampionships2010.rsxclass.com/

www.rsxclass.com – Stronger winds during the 4th day at the 2010 RS:X Youth World Championships in Limassol, Cyprus. In the 1st day of the finals the windsurfers had a chance to go head-to-head with their main competitors. Stay tuned for the 2nd day of the finals, which leads to the medal race!

More at http://youthworldwindsurfingchampionships2010.rsxclass.com

http://www.rsxclass.com – 3nd day of the 2010 Youth World Champioships and the low winds prevailed. The top windsurfers had to take risks. Some of them paid of – some didn’t. The key thing is that windsurfers entered the finals with small point differences.

For more info visit http://youthworldwindsurfingchampions