Tenby to the Gower by windsurfer

Steve North reports: Four Pembrokeshire windsurfers (plus support boats) have each committed to windsurf a 30km crossing from Tenby to the Gower. The Windsurfers (in age order!) are: David Stockwell; Owen Bowen; Steve North & John Pym.

Obviously we need the right conditions (wind strength, direction and swell) but the consultation and planning are done – and now we are ready to go!

Why?

Well firstly, looking out from Tenby South beach we’ve often wondered how challenging it would be to windsurf all the way across to the thin stretch of Gower coastline you can make out on a good clear day.

Secondly, because we can do our bit for CHARITY; supporting the following great causes:

• RNLI (50%) – Should need little introduction, the RNLI have saved 139,000 lives at sea since 1824!
• Macmillan (30%) – Providing practical, medical, emotional and financial support for those affected by Cancer.
• Tenby Surf Lifesaving Club (10%) – helping everyone enjoy Pembrokeshire beaches safely.
• Liam’s Dream (10%) – A local Pembrokeshire initiative to help a young boy with Spastic Cerebral Diplegia.

And of course this is where you come in – If you feel you can help, then PLEASE donate anything you can afford.

The easiest way is online via: http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/team/TenbytoGowerWindsurfers

Or we will accept cash or cheques!

Many thanks – wish us luck (and wind!)

Steve

Not long now until the 2nd Annual Caldy Island relay and windsurfing festival will be held at Tenby’s south beach….if you haven’t already decided to come down and help us to raise money for Cancer Research then please do! This is very much a weekend for all the family….

This year you can expect much of the same, including demo kit to use from Simmer, Mistral, Fanatic, North and equipment tips from Farrel O’shea himself all weekend!

Ben and his North Kiteboarding Team will be on hand from ‘south wales kitesurfing’ to give tasters and entry level lessons/tips to give kitesurfing a go, or find out more and try the new kit!

www.southwaleskitesurfing.co.uk

Fingers crossed for good weather and 3 days of windsurfing and kitesurfing as we enjoyed last year!

Saturday Night BBQ and beers will run on at the beach like last year.

Don’t forget there are prizes to be won for the best ‘Fancy Dress’ team during the race!

Race Format for fun only!! – as before you can enter teams of 3, team names and fancy dress need to be considered! You can use one set of kit, or take out individual set ups (whatever suits you best). If you don’t have a team don’t worry, it’s super relaxed and we’ll put you in one when you arrive at sign up. One sailor out at a time in relay format.

We will aim to run the race on the saturday or sunday depending on the best forecast available. It will run no matter what the wind!! You can race on any board except formula and maximum sail size in 9m for this year.

All 3 days will run as windsurfing demo with the latest kit on hand and plenty of advice on set-up and sailing techniques….

Sign in is from 9.30am each day at the Clubhouse in the south beach car park upstairs. Cost is £20 per person including your event t-shirt and goody bag!

Help to spread the word about this fantastic annual event and help us to raise even more money for Cancer Research, a cause we all beleive in greatly.

For any information please contact Jim at: jim@puravidaboardriders.co.uk

“Mix of slalom action from an excellent first event of the season at Tenby, where competitors were treated to plenty of sunshine and good winds. Thanks to Muzza for most of the footage, apologies for the shaky camera but shooting from a moving boat in choppy water isn’t exactly ideal!”

Ant Baker

With the season starting at Tenby in Wales over the Easter weekend, the Baker Academy is offering its services to anyone who’s entering into the event for a nominal fee of £30 for a day of slalom training on the Friday before the event. To allow everyone to join in the clinic with start at 12 noon.

Ant will cover rigging, tuning, training and racing – including starting – and and will be happy to assist those who enter the clinic throughout the event itself.

Ant Baker

This year really does have the makings of a good series with the British Slalom Association (BSA) really stepping up, so don’t get left behind on the startline!

Secure your place via Ant on info@baker-academy.com or Jim from Puravida on pvbs@hotmail.co.uk

Following the UK’s coldest weather for 30 years it’s not only the temperatures that are starting to warm up. Windsurfers nationwide are itching to get back racing and blow away the cobwebs, whether it’s raceboard, Formula, RS-X, Techno or slalom, the 2010 calendar will provide plenty of action in all disciplines.

Slalom

The most accessible form of competition sees an exciting new race series for 2010 with the leading UK brands and retailers working together to bring eight events to some superb locations. BSA Round One begins on Easter Saturday 5th April at Tenby in South Wales, hosted by Tushingham, Starboard and Rat Rigs, who will combine to bring some superb prizes and entertainment. It’s one of the finest slalom locations, positioned to catch good wind yet sheltered from the worst of the Atlantic swell.

In addition to Pro and Amateur fleets, the Master Blaster fleet, with its simple “round the buoy and back” format will cater for freeride sailors and provide the less experienced with the perfect introduction to racing, with the emphasis on fun, without the pressure of high octane ‘full-on’ racing. More great racing will be held later in April at the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, supported by the OTC.

Course Racing

April 17th & 18th is the start of the popular Inland Series beginning in the Midlands at Pitsford, the first of four events. Then a couple weeks later the first of the national Cup Series takes place, again at the smart WPNSA facilities in Weymouth over May Bank Holiday weekend.

One-Design

British racing caters for younger riders very well, with the Techno 6.8 and 7.8 fleets, which boast the largest fleets of all UK racing. Then there’s the One-Design RS-X class, which provides a challenge for those with golden dreams. As one would expect from the Olympic class, it’s an incredibly competitive fleet that races in a huge range of conditions.

Longboards

Last year saw a real resurgence in raceboard, where tremendous battles took place all through the fleet over the whole season. A few old faces have been tempted back plus a number of newcomers have appeared on the scene too, looking to upstage their experienced rivals in 2010.

Formula

Remains the fastest form of course racing with exceptional equipment that improves year on year. The UKWA sees a solid Formula fleet which is sure to be helped by Keith Atkinson, who is working hard on promoting the Formula Experience class in the UK. It’s also the chosen racing discipline of the Armed Forces and there’s always healthy Formula competition between the RAF, the Royal Navy and the Army.

From racing novice to seasoned pro, the UKWA 2010 calendar brings windsurfers the opportunity to compete in exciting, competitive fleets. Pre-entering events offers significant discounts so check out the pre-entry page http://ukwindsurfing.com/events/entry/

The full racing calendar is available at http://ukwindsurfing.com/events/

Tushingham Sails and Starboard UK have teamed up with Rat Rigs Watersports to host the very first event of the new British Slalom Association series on the beautiful South Wales coast.

Tenby is a little further to travel than your local sailing spot, but well worth the extra miles. It’s a beautiful location that delivers superb slalom conditions in a wide range of wind directions and offers shelter from the ocean swells. The Surflink building, which hosts the lifesaving and rowing clubs, provides excellent shower facilities and there’s an abundance of good campsites and hotels nearby.

Held over the Easter Holiday Weekend, racing will take place from Saturday lunchtime to Monday lunchtime, allowing competitors and families plenty of time for travelling and to avoid Bank Holiday traffic.

A significant change to the slalom series for 2010 will be the racing format for newcomers to racing and those a little nervous about giving it a go. The BSA series will see a ‘Master Blaster‘ class, high on enjoyment without the pressure of battling experienced racers. It’s simple round-the-buoy-and-back racing, following the massive success of this format at the National Windsurf Festival. In between these races, competitors can watch top-level national racing while team riders will offer coaching and demo gear. Every new racer to enter the Master Blaster fleet will go into a draw for a new Tushingham sail, which will be drawn at the prize-giving.

Tushingham’s Paul Simmons comments: “The location is absolutely stunning and a few years ago hosted some of the most exciting slalom racing seen in recent years on UK shores. As well as catering for the elite racers, one of the main aims of the BSA is to provide accessible and fun racing for everyone. Whether you’re a serious racer or just want a good weekend of windsurfing, there’s no better location to give it a go – so come along and make a holiday weekend of it!”

Tenby Slalom Easter Weekend – Sat 3rd to Mon 5th April

More info at www.ukwindsurfing.com and the new BSA website – coming soon.

Or to keep bang up to date with this event, join the MPORA group here