The UKWA has had a terrific year. A year when very few sailors dared moan about the lack of wind. The UKWA Inland Cup series incorporates the main racing classes which includes the TECHNO and RSX fleets.  One class in particular has fared well with numbers – the RACEBOARD CLASS. 

This year, 52 competitors participated on the circuit.  The series championship covered 5 events. Outside the TECHNO fleet,  it’s now the second largest fleet under the UKWA racing umbrella.  If the RSX is never re-instated as the Olympic board then Raceboarding will ultimately take over as the key course racing discipline for all competitors above the Techno Camp age.  Starboard and Exocet have helped the class by delivering brand new boards.  The new Starboard Phantom 377 – has certainly been dominating the head of fleets on the UKWA tour. 

These high performance racing boards deliver the fairest racing for the widest range of venues, and the broadest spectrum of ages and abilities in windsurfing.  The new kit is comfortable, the boards plane easily, they carve gybe and the sails now have such a wide wind band that there is no need to shop for two or three rigs to win regattas.  One is enough.  In fact, Rob Kent who clocked in 4 first positions on the Inland series (winning on minimum points) with just one sail – The Tushingham XR Race 9.5. 

‘Ken Black introduced a few changes to last years 9.5m XR sail as a result of a sail measurement rule change.  The luff is longer and with a higher aspect ratio it is getting the board planing quicker downwind and pointing slightly higher upwind.  The new shaped Phantom Raceboard is a dream to sail and without question faster downwind than the previous years model.  The only problem is that pretty much everyone at the front of the fleet is now on the new board – so there is no kit advantage against my nearest rivals’ says Rob.

Annette Kent won the Inland Cup Series using the 8.5m XR race sail. 

Winning Ways

Final Results:

UKWA INLAND CUP SERIES

Men

1. 1.       Rob Kent   ( Starboard Phantom / Tushingham XR sail)
2. 2.       Mark Kay  ( Starboard Phantom/ Demon)
3. 3.       Chris Gibson ( Starboard Phantom / Tushingham and Demon)

Women

1. 1.       Annette Kent ( Starboard Phantom/Tushingham XR)
2. 2.       Harriet Elles ( Starboard Phantom/Demon)
3. 3.       Emily Kent ( U20 class board)

For more info on Raceboard Competition check out the UKWA website:

www.ukwindsurfing.com.

On Tushingham’s Racing sails.  Check out www.tushingham,com

On the latest BATWING Phantom check out www.star-board.com

Event round-up

The Round Hayling Marathon marks the start of the racing season. In its new form the event lands on Good Friday, and by including the new SUP fleet over 100 competitors arrived at Hayling Island Sailing Club under crystal blue skies. Being one of the few events not governed by wind speed minimums the race happens (Apart from zero!).  This year the winds were in the north and light, but plenty enough to get the race underway promptly at midday. Windsurfers and Stand up paddleboarders left the line at the same time for a spectacular start. Even the BBC radio reported on the start as one yachtsman phoned in to describe the event happening live on radio from his yacht. Windsurfers reached Langstone harbour in good time – just around 25 minutes, but the final leg was a slog against the spring tide rushing out past HISC. Rob Kent racing the brand new Starboard Phantom 377 and powered by the Tushingham XR race sail 9.5 led the fleet to the finish, and Annette Kent won the women’s fleet with a superb overall second. Tushingham and Starboard were sponsors of the event, but the overall awards must go to Hayling Island Sailing Club for being a superb host and the passionate organiser John Message.

Another account of the day comes from or very own Print Mag Co-Editor, Amy Carter.

Glorious sunshine graces the shores of Hayling Island for the annual round the island race.

Though some may have wished for stronger winds a large fleet flocked to the island for the now iconic race. Windsurfers used all available equipment from longboards and freeride gear, right through to the customary tandem. Whilst the racing may not have been fast and furious, it was enjoyed immensely by both participants and onlookers.

In the light, and at times, shifty winds, the longboards were victorious with Robert Kent taking the win, closely followed by Annette Kent, with Jon White in third for the full circumnavigation race. Full results available at hisc.co.uk

Stand Up Paddle boarders joined the race this year, a variety of classes took part in at 7.5 mile race in near perfect conditions. Ryan James, Mike Ellicott and Paul Simmons taking the wins in their respective categories – full results available at standuppaddlesurf.co.uk

Final Results:

Rob Kent:  Starboard/Tushingham
Annette Kent;  Starboard/ Tushingham
Jon White: Starboard/ Hot Sails

The winning machine

More photos can be found in the following galleries:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/flowatersports/sets/72157629778641345/ – Photos by Amy Carter

http://www.flickr.com/photos/emsgems123/sets/72157629389949626/ – Photos by Emma Burton

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bsidethec/sets/72157629761035083/ – Photos by Julia Hill

Rob Kent

Dave Hackford reports on Tushingham taking the honours at last weekend’s British Open Championships…

The 2011 Raceboard season has been dominated by strong winds making it the most exciting for many years. The light winds had to come, and sure enough at the British Open Championships on 1st and 2nd of October at Portland, the high pressure and unseasonable hot temperatures set in. Light wind tactical racing, to the experienced  sailor, is as much a challenge as in the strong stuff – if it is not, it should be, because that is what makes a champion.

Rob Kent sailing on the latest Tushingham  XR Race 9.5m clocked in his most impressive set of results all year.  He won the Raceboard National Open Championships on minimum points, 3 firsts to count.

“The versatility that the new XR racing sail gives is amazing.  Tushingham wanted to design a sail that spanned a wide wind range at the highest level of competition.  This weekend we had winds as low as 3knots on the course.  At the start of the season Dave Hackford showed that this sail is blisteringly quick in planning conditions, and now having had the lowest wind regatta of the year this sail has proven to perform in all wind bands. Well done Ken Black”, reported Rob.

BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIPS: Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy

Men’s:

1. Rob Kent  – Tushingham XR 9.5m/ Starboard Phantom 380

2.  Chris Gibson – Starboard Phantom 380

3.  Mark Kay – Starboard Phantom 380

Women:

1.  Annette Kent – Tushingham XR / Phantom 380

The top of the British Raceboard fleet is now hugely competitive.  Mark Kay finished 4th in the recent World Championships in Spain – and Harriet Ellis returned home with the World title crown.  The Starboard Phantom 380 is the board of choice for pretty much all serious competitors.

If you would like to know more about the racing in 2012 log onto www.ukwindsurfing.com. The UKWA is the association responsible for National racing.

If you would like to know more about the championship winning kit then log onto:

www.tushingham.com to learn more about the XR racing sails

www.star-board.com for more about the Phantom race board. They have a new radical concept for 2012.  Check it out!