THE BIG LOCAL RACE – SUNDAY 24 JULY 2005
A local challenge to race hard and fast had been laid down by Christchurch Boardsailing Club in association with the UKWA.
Sun, wind and warm sea greeted the bunch of 15 who looked very green around the gills, most having never raced before.
Simon Bell, Eugene Kennedy, Dave Stokes, Tim Rushworth, Mike Sprague, Bill Littleboy, Geri Robinson, Nigel Runnalls, John Vesey were the club sailors taking instructions on a short simple slalom course, gybing 75 metres from the beach; their sail sizes ranged from 5.2 to 7 metres squared using big wave boards right through to one formula board.
Three races were started under grand prix orders and the shore was chaos until those who missed a fin full of weed shot away, ahead of the pack. Gybing was difficult in a knarly Solent that day and sailors were not used to gybing to a mark especially with a sea covered in rigs following failed gybes. Adrenelin pulled them through and several bruised heel beach dashes later the scores were added up and divided.
Overall, Geri Robinson was the first club member, winning the CBSC/Spot-on-Water Cup, followed by Bill Littleboy, winning the 4 Boards harness and Mike Sprague came third.
Significantly, John Vesey on a 5.2 and wave board combination was last winning the Ocean Sports powerkiting lesson. Dave Stokes gave us the worst gybe winning the South Coast Windsurfing weekend clinic. Eugene Kennedy created the biggest pile up winning Spot-on-Water wah wah pad and roof bar pads but Warren Rowe from Spot-on-Water did the best gybe winning, well, a Spot-on-Water prize!
Out of the non club members, Adrian Vanderleesonberger (not a local guy you may be surprised to note) won the CBSC/Spot-on-Water cup and Robin Penna is now the proud owner of a Naish wave boom provided by Solent Sailboards (was that reinforced aluminium in that boom Rob?).
What a great experience and fantastic fun. We are so grateful to the weather, the UKWA and our sponsors for their kind involvement. The two cups will be engraved and kept in our new trophy cabinet in the Club House which you are all welcome to visit anytime.
For any further information please contact Simon Bell, CBSC Chairman on 01425 240 268.
