Event 1
Aqua Sports, Merstham, nr Redhill
Sunday 5 June 2005

Hotshots win a busy first event of the season

The first event of 2005 was jam packed with 4 course races, one Super X team relay and a Freestyle super session, not forgetting the lunchtime BBQ. With a little bit of wind and some sunshine in between races as well, the opportunity to go for a blast was also available.

Aqua Sports Aquanauts, Bewl Blasters and Hythe Hotshots all made the effort to take part in the first inter-club challenge of the season. The Hotshots are the current title holders having won the season's trophy last year and judging by their pet talks from their head coach are pretty keen to keep it that way.

The main challenge was round a 'box' course; with many of the windsurfers competing in their first ever event, they enjoyed the atmosphere whilst the 'all for one' charging start lines made for exciting stuff as they battled and often collided round the course. Standing out were Ben Grist (Aqua Sports Aquanauts) and Andrew Petts (Hythe Hotshots) in the 6.6m class who had some very close racings and tight finishes. William Lama (Hotshots), now in the 5.5m class, took his first ever race win, and then went on to take the overall win in the 5.5m class.

The novices in the 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5m classes were outstanding; once they had mastered the first race, Caroline Gittins and Eddy Burton from Bewl and Alex, Sam and Andy in the 3.5 class got faster each race and started challenging the top spots. (It must have been the deafening shouting from the beach spectators that spurred them on, believe me, they had no choice! At least the fishermen and geese could pack up and go, unlike the race officer!).

By the afternoon things had started to heat up; the BBQ had finally caught fire, the courses were extended and there were even more collisions as the battle commenced - Port, Starboard - no one seemed to listen or care as long as they got to the mark first. Some even lost count of the number of laps (but obviously the race officer had perfect count!).

Next up was Super X relay. This consisted of a race to a buoy and back with a 360° manoeuvre of some type on the outward leg and a jump of questionable nature on the return. Sam Latham (Aquanauts) got out his Hypersonic with a 7.0 metre sail, which he and many of the fleet took turns on. The underdogs of Bewl walked away with the honours showing a lot more organisation, whilst Hythe really blew it when their kit came apart round the gybe and the whole team went to rescue, leaving no one on the beach to finish the race - numpties?!

Next up was the freestyle (or falling in as much as possible, as it should be named!). Still, plenty of rail-riding was on show and loads of spins and ¾ made tricks. Hopefully by the next event at Bewl, everyone will have them mastered!

Hythe made up for the Super X trauma to take the Team win in the racing. The Hotshots look hot for the season but in these early days, everything is to play for. See you at Bewl on 26 June where we hope to see a few more teams taking up the challenge.

Team winners
Hythe Hotshots

All photos by Clyde Waite

For further details contact
Clyde Waite
clyde.waite@lycos.co.uk

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

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Mount Batten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 27/28 September 2008
Closing date: 5 September
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Lakes Leisure - Windermere
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
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James Hamilton Heritage Park - Glasgow
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Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
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Weekend course: 5/6 July 2008
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Wimbleball Lake - Somerset
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek course: 3/4 July 2008
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Roadford Lake - Okehampton
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Midweek Course: 4/5 June 2008
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Weekend Course: 3/4 May 2008
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Mountbatten Centre - Plymouth
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