Boards Windsurfing » west kirby Windsurfing

VIDEO: Take a Ride Down West Kirby

editor — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:41:54 +0000

Thanks to the great invention of the harness mount and Steve Thorp noticing a gap in the market with the new K4 Harness Mount we now get some great angles in all disciplines of the sport. The latest to hit our screens is a ride on board as we blast down the speed strip with a QSW Team rider. Supporting his Fanatic/Severne setup it looks like he had a good session peaking at 43 knots.

We also noticed that Thorpy was on the scene during that session with his dog running around in the background… Talking of Thorpy, it looks like he is heading to Namibia later this year to take part in the the Speed Sailing World Record attempt. Considering his speeds at West Kirby in the past we certainly will be keeping an eye on him, once he hurdles over that €4000 entry fee and travel costs!

Top News This Week

Amy Carter - Editor — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 15:43:31 +0000

One of the first videos to hit our screen’s this week was this little offering from Ben Proffitt and friends; the return of Proffitt’s Training Diaries was a very welcomed one and we cannot wait for the next installment! The next video cam from a little closer to home, as SWA freestyler Ollie Acton took to the water in Hayling…and it didn’t end well. That of course reminds us that it is the Plymouth and Exeter SWA wave event this weekend too, good luck to all those attending; we’re sure it will be a raucous affair!

More action at home came from West Kirby last weekend, where some incredible speeds were notched up by some of the UK’s, Ireland’s and Holland’s finest, check out the gallery here and a video from Ant Baker here.

This week also saw the launch of a great new APP from Puravida Boardriders, making searching the latest info on their windsurfing equipment a lot easier.

And our final highlight for this week is to remind you that entry for the amazing Defi Wind is now open, all the info is here and we look forward to seeing a lot of Brits taking on the event this year!

Until next week….

Video: Ant Baker at West Kirby

Amy Carter - Editor — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 10:01:26 +0000

First Boards shared a great gallery from the 4th of Feb speed sessions at West Kirby, now you can check out this video from the day from North Sails/Fanatic rider Ant Baker…looks like he had an early start!

Gallery: West Kirby Speed

Amy Carter - Editor — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:45:03 +0000

Yesterday, Boards reported there had been some top speeds clocked up at West Kirby this weekend and now we have a gallery from the day showing many of those taking on the wall including Ant Baker, Martin van Meurs, Steve Thorp, Oisin van Gelderen and more! From what we hear it was a tough, tight course which makes the 500m speeds especially even more impressive. Fingers crossed there’s another day like this soon, even looks like the sun came out to play too!

Image credits Oisin van Gelderen.

2-Jim Crossley 3-Jon White 4-Gildas Bechet 5-Stephen Lawless 6- Stephen Lawless 7-Michael George 8-Gildas Bechet 9-Gildas Bechet 11-Martin van Meurs 12-Ant Baker 12-Pete Young 13-Ant Baker 13-Jon White 14-Pete Davis 15-Michael George 16-Pete Davis 17-Andy Holland 18-Matthew York 19-Michael George 20-Pete Davis 21-Pete Davis 22-Jim Crossley 23-Stephen Lawless 24-Ant Baker 25-Stuart Trunkfield 26-Martin van Meurs 27-Martin van Meurs 28-Jim Crossley 29-Jim Crossley 29-Jon White 30-Gildas Bechet 31-Mark Hayford?? 32-Stephen Lawless 33-Martin van Meurs 33-Trsitan Haskins 34-Martin van Meurs 35-Martin van Meurs 37-Martin van Meurs 38-Martin van Meurs 39-Gildas Bechet 40-Steve Thorp and Izzy Steve 'The Thorpedo' Thorp 43-Thorpedo Oisin van Gelderen OVG2 1-start

Video: Palmer at Kirby and Juicey Vouchers

Amy Carter - Editor — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 10:12:14 +0000

The temperatures maybe dropping, but that hasn’t stopped Juice Boardsports team rider John Palmer from taking to the water. Check out this minute or two clip of Palmer pulling off some nice shove its and no handed flakas, in what looks like some fairly cold but windy weather!

Juice Boardsports sample voucher

Juice Boardsports are also offering gift vouchers for those undecided christmas shoppers, where you will receive an extra 10% of the value of your voucher free!

Buy a voucher for £10 we will give you a voucher for £11

£50 we will give you a voucher for £55, and so on…

We have vouchers from £5.00 to whatever value you require.

Just select the amount you require by adding vouchers together, for example if you require £60 worth of vouchers just select the £20 voucher and put 3 in the Quantity box (3 x £20 = £60).

Any problems or you would like us to personalise your voucher just call us with your requirements.

Click here to order today

What to find out more about Juice Boardsports? They have some brilliant deals on offer over the christmas period; check out Juice on Boards here, or head on over to their website here.

Robin Hood Watersports Demo Day Sunday 28th October

Amy Carter - Editor — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 11:23:44 +0000

Robin Hood Watersports are hosing another demo day at West Kirby this coming Sunday 28th October with kit available from Goya, Quatro, Point-7, JP, Neil Pryde, Tabou, Gastraa, Fanatic, North – plus try before you buy 2012 used kit from the JP Test Centre.

Roho demo gear

Forecast looking good too with some strong westerlies blowing through.

Check out the shop webpage or facebook for more info.

http://www.roho.co.uk/watersports/Windsurf.html

http://www.facebook.com/robinhood.windsurfing?fref=ts

UKWA West Kirby Tow-In Freestyle Video

editor — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 08:16:36 +0000

After the successes of the weekend, here is a short and brief video of some of the tow-in that went on at the first freestyle event of the year. Pieced together by Rob Partridge, it shows some of the highlights from the tow-in rounds, including some very promising action from the juniors…

Full report soon…

UKWA Freestyle Round One – West Kirby

editor — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 08:51:47 +0000

This weekend saw the first round of the UKWA Freestyle tour kick off. With light winds the jet-ski was called in and so the first ever official Tow-In series began…

Winner - Max Rowe, sticking his final move

With a full write up to come in the following days we thought we would just share a couple shots of the pros in action. The final results of the top three can be seen below.

The Pros lining up

Results

1st Max Rowe

2nd Adam Sims

3rd Phil Richards

Adam Sims impressed with some powerful burners

All photos courtesy of getwindsurfing.com

UKWA Freestyle Round One, West Kirby 14/15th April – Event Preview

editor — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 08:56:48 +0000

It’s time to kick off the first UKWA freestyle event of the year, and no where is more fitting than the perfect flat waters of West Kirby. A chance for all the excuses to be knocked out the window as riders can perform their finest moves. Should the wind come through then expect big aerial moves, combos and much more. If it doesn’t then you can also expect the same, read on to find out more from UKWA events organiser Trevor Funnell…

2012 UKWA Freestyle Tour. Round 1, West Kirby, 14/15 April

Okay people, we’re only days away from kicking off the expanded 2012 Freestyle Tour and there are a few things everyone needs to know about the first event.

Mirror flat water with super clean winds are a freestylers dream and West Kirby has the potential to provide some of the best freestyle conditions in the UK. At the moment the forecast doesn’t look perfect but I’m reliably informed by the locals that things can change rapidly, so don’t dare miss this one.

Registration will be held at the West Kirby Sailing Centre from 0900 to 1030 on Saturday, please try to be on time but if you are delayed for any reason call me on 07764-578648 and I will put your name down.

There will be a great social on Saturday evening at the Wro Loft with music, videos and excellent food at a subsidized cost of £5.00, you can pre book your place with David Bradley on david.bradley502@o2.co.uk or you can book and pay at registration.

I’m really pleased to announce that running alongside the UKWA Freestyle Tour throughout 2012 will be an added attraction, “THE TOW IN TOUR”.

The UKWA Jet Ski will be at West Kirby to start it off and Tow In will be run throughout the season whenever conditions allow. Entry will cost just £5.00 per day and there will be a prize for the winner with an overall Tow In champion being crowned at the end of the year.

See you all at West Kirby, Trevor Funnell

West Kirby, Wirral

Letitia Hristodorescu — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 11:44:03 +0000

This is essentially 2 locations: the Marine Lake and the Dee Estuary. Arguably one of the most reliable venues in the North West, the lake provides coastal wind strengths without needing to wait for the tide so a great after work or school option in summer.
There’s also the infamous wall for speed junkies – the closer the wall the flatter the water and the faster you go if your nerves can take travelling at 35knots with your bum hanging over it! When the tide’s in there’s some good bump and jump conditions out on the estuary and sometimes waves if you know where to go. The estuary between the shore and Hilbre Island also provides a gentle introduction to sailing on the sea with shallow and relatively flat water for the first 800m or so with very easy launching.

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Beach Faces:

Launch from lake faces: South
Launch into the Estuary faces: West

Best Wind Direction:

The Lake: Anything round from North/North-west to South will work. North-west is a clean wind but relatively short runs, so it can get crowded. Between West and South/South-west is best for speed runs up and down the “wall” and also gives long runs up and down the length of the lake. South gives very short runs for gybing practice!

The Estuary: Anything from North/North-west to South is OK. South and South/South-west tend to blow you out of the Estuary towards the Irish Sea – beware on the outgoing tide, next stop Isle of Man. West through to South-west is more on shore but not a real problem; with no shore dump and waist-deep water for a good distance out, launching is easy.

Best Wind Direction For Waves:

Not a wave venue but with a big North-westerly some waves build up further out into the Estuary, particularly beyond Little Eye, and further out to the middle of the Estuary level with the south end of the lake.

Not Good:

Anything with East in it so North/North-east to South/South-east don’t bother.

Tide:

The Lake: Not tidal except on springs over about 9 metres. These come over the wall and replenish the lake. Sailing around an hour or so either side of these tides on the lake can be a problem as the wall is just submerged and there’s some confused water, so not so good for less confident sailors.

Estuary: Spring tides are best and then high tide is usually 10.30am and 2.00pm. To get out at all you need at least an 8 + metre tide. Less and the sea’s too far away to be worth the walk and you may as well go on the Lake.

Go to: Easy Tide before you set out.

What’s On The Bottom:

The Lake: It was drained a few years ago – you don’t want to know – wear boots as it is only 4 foot deep.
The Estuary: Mainly sand with mud in the area to the south of the Marine Lake.

Any Hazards:

Lake: Under 10’s at 20 Knots! Look like adults a long way away then suddenly you realise they’re small people on scaled down kit very close to you! It can get crowded.
The bottom – as stated above, wear boots.

Estuary: See below on wipeout. Also some shallow water/sandbanks when the tide starts to go out – particularly to the north of the lake. Head south as the tide turns, the water’s deeper down there.

Other Water Users:

Lake: Lots of dinghy racing but mainly confined to south end of the lake.
Estuary: Increasing numbers of kitesurfers, but mainly windsurfers.

Suitability / Levels:

Beginners to Advanced

Wipeout Factor:: Lake: Like a big swimming pool so pretty damn safe. If everything goes wrong you can wade/walk back. Great for kids.
Estuary: First 800+m between the shore at the north end of the lake and the islands is pretty OK with shallow flat water at high tide, but watch the rip when it starts to go out. Out beyond the Island there can be waves and it can get a little lonely if things go wrong and then there is a risk of being swept out to sea with the tide.
Instruction:: YES for beginner to early intermediate thorough Wirral Sailing Centre. Email: ianspark@wirral.gov.uk
Kit Hire:: YES for beginner to early intermediate stuff through Wirral Sailing Centre. Email: ianspark@wirral.gov.uk
Friendly Factor:: It can get very busy, even on a Monday lunchtime if there’s been no wind for a while. No real social centre but moves are afoot to re-develop Wirral Sailing Centre. Strong T15 Club with many very keen and able U15’s out on the water.
No Wind Alternatives:: It can get very busy, even on a Monday lunchtime if there’s been no wind for a while. No real social centre but moves are afoot to re-develop Wirral Sailing Centre. Strong T15 Club with many very keen and able U15’s out on the water.

Facilities:

Toilets	Yes- on site.
Shower	Yes – on site.
Windsurfing Shop	Surf Tech & for emergencies try the chandlers below Wirral Sailing Centre north of the Lake.
Food	Morrisons Supermarket 5mins walk away, Fish & Chips 3mins walk away.
Parking	North end car park FREE to lake license holders (£10 for a day pass + need 3rd party insurance) Note: the car park floods at springs!!
Pub	The White Lion is the most relaxed + serves a decent pint.

Accommodation:

Local Hotshots:

Many good sailors, particularly freestylers including Darren Mitchell who comes for the flat water and clean wind. Some amazing kids – prepare to be humiliated by a gang of 10 year olds. And, of course, Windy John Sanderson, need we say more!

Local Knowledge / Secrets:

Stay out in the Estuary longer as the tide starts to go out by using the slipway on the sea side of the south west corner of the marine lake wall.
Look out for the Port channel marker post just off the wall at the south end of the lake – pretty well marks the end of the slipway. The water is deeper down here and you can continue to sail when day trippers are already staring to walk out to the islands at the north end of the lake.
Can be good waves a couple of kilometres out, straight off shore from the slipway.

The rigging surface: West Kirby sailor’s kit doesn’t last long so bring a rigging mat!

Extra:

Speed records have been set here and Carl from Kangaroo Poo has recently re-introduced speed events at the lake.

Webcam?
http://www.wirralcam.com/frame.htm

Real time weather:

http://cobs.pol.ac.uk/cobs/met/hilbre/

However you need to knock around 4 knots off the wind speed for the real wind at the lake. Alternatively call the guys in the blue hut on 0151 625 2510.

How To Get There:

Take the motorway spur from J2 of the M53 and follow the signs to West Kirby. The Marine Lake is signed.
As you come into West Kirby you come to a T-junction at the top of a hill. Mercedes garage on your left, you turn right down the hill. (Great view coming down the hill) As you enter the town you come to a pelican crossing with the station on your right, take second left after the crossing and follow road straight down to the beach past Morrisons on your left.
At the T-junction turn left and then right onto the car park at the north end of the lake. If you just want to go out on the tide and don’t want to pay the £10 per day lake fee, there’s a pay-and-display just after Morrisons, a short walk from the beach.

Report By:

David Bradley

Breaking 40 Knots – A New Approach

editor — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 11:57:02 +0000

Sam Ross interviews Kev Greenslade on a new approach to speedsailing…

Following an instructor course down at Portland Harbour, Sam Ross catches up with Kevin Greenslade. The Weymouth Speed Week Champion for the last two years, Kev certainly knows a bit about going fast. With some great winds and a revolutionary new approach to speedsailing equipment and setup, Kev explains how he managed to break the 40-knot mark.

Also spotted recently was this clip from West Kirby. As hallowed ground for speedsailors all over the country, Chris Bates provides a great onboard view as he really pushes 40 knots, using a handy Flymount.

Zara Davies – Smashing the Womens GPS Record

editor — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:56:05 +0000

More GPS headlines and 2011 UKWA Windsurfer of the Year, Zara Davies has been out showing why she is worthy of that very title.

Pushing the level of women’s speed sailing to new heights is one achievement but to do it on home ground is another. This once again proves that West Kirby is the fastest speed spot in the world and the UK boasts the fastest windsurfers in the world.

‘Great day for me new PB and putting womens GPS speedsailing on the map! Thanks to all the guys at WK for all their support’ – Zara Davies

The stats say it all

Check out the video where you can find all the details of her GPS record run as well as some serious speed, as Zara Davies flies down the strip, to smash the 40knot barrier… Congratulations Zara.

Find out more on zaradavies.co.uk and gps-speedsurfing.com

Jim Crossley – Another Speed Demon Breaks Records

editor — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:00:52 +0000

After yesterday’s account of Steve Thorp’s confirmed world speed record. It seems the UK sailors are continuing to push the speed bar higher and higher. This time Jim Crossley has pushed himself right up the world ladder to 6th overall in 2012, smashing his own personal best to stake claim as one of the fastest windsurfers of all time. This may well be the year for speed…

: Jim Crossley charging – Photo, Steve Thorp

Read on for Jim’s account of the day

‘I got home on Friday night after a long week at work and I had a call from Ian Richards “West Kirby is going off tomorrow”. To be honest the 4.5 hour drive was the last thing I wanted but I know how it feels to miss out on an epic day. After all, speed sailing is about being in the right place at the right time.

We arrived and the wind was strong and at just the right angle. I quickly rigged the 5.2 North WARP, got on the 42 wide custom MOO with a K4 20cm asymmetrical fin and hit the water.

Due to the fantastic winter of wind the UK has been experiencing, I have been tuning this settup for some time. Suddenly the whole combo hit the sweet spot. I couldn’t believe it when I saw 46.63knots on the dial as my peak speed. The GPS takes the fastest 10 seconds from the run and averages the speed. The result for the day is the average of the best 5, 10sec runs.

Finishing with a 45.08 average I couldn’t believe it. Totally stoked! I couldn’t wait to upload the data to www.GPS-speedsurfing.com. It gave me a world ranking of 6th in 2012 and the 14th ‘all time’ time. In the UK I now have only speed legends Dave White, Farrel O’Shea and Steve Thorp above me. I’ll probably settle for that…or maybe not!

I’ve been windsurfing for 28 years and the GPS sailing has given me the biggest buzz ever. Its not all about ultimate speed. Its about getting the best out of your kit and improving your sailing…oh, and going faster than your mates! ‘

Jim Crossley K198 (Puravida boardriders, Fanatic, North)

A very nice video account of the day filmed by Alan Jones and Chris Bates, portraying the blistering speeds.

The Thorpedo – Now The Fastest Man in the World

editor — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:28:23 +0000

Steve Thorp officially takes the fastest ever maximum speed whilst sailing at West Kirby…

: Steve Thorp hanging out at the wall – Photo, Will Rogers

The UK’s very own Steve Thorp is well known for his commitment to our sport. Almost putting more miles on the clock than the average aircraft pilot, he has got more dedication than we can even begin to describe. This might explain why he can rig up, and be on the water, before even the sun shows a glimmer of its face, just to get the perfect speed run.

It has at last been officially confirmed that the Thorpedo is now the fastest man in the world. If you follow his blog you would have already noticed that he modestly quotes ‘my second gps was fine, and still gave me the fastest ’2 second max’ time ever on gp3s of 50.48 knots! Obviously I’m beyond chuffed with that’.

We all know only too well that this is not the goal for Thorp and he will continue scouring the nation for the perfect forecast in both waves and speed. So don’t expect it to stop here and was that 54knots he had recorded really just a brief defect in the satellite signal…

All the finer details and the stats on Thorps blog here – stevethorp.co.uk

Ant Baker at West Kirby

editor — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 11:46:42 +0000

Ant Baker shows commitment to speed-sailing by getting up super early and driving for hours and hours to score the perfect conditions.