The event attracted both amateurs and pro sailors alike, all of whom enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere and the fun master blaster racing. Heats were held throughout the day on Saturday for qualification into the Night Windsurf. A huge number of spectators gathered to watch the floodlit action and they were not disappointed.
Guy Cribb comfortably won the first two races, but race three proved disastrous when he was swallowed whole by the shore break, and despite a number of attempts got tangled up with other competitors washing around in the waves and missed the race entirely. In race four he slipped from first into third place, but remarkably fought back in the very light winds on Sunday using an 8.5m sail. With a lot of pumping, Cribby won the final race and the event on a borrowed slalom board.
In the night pro event it was Chris Audsley who claimed victory and happily walked away with the £1000 prize money. Commenting on the event Chris said, “It feels so good to win in front of such a large crowd. It brings the sport much closer to the public, normally when we race it’s just us, out their on the water with hardly anyone watching. Every year the Fat Face Night Windsurf just gets bigger and better.” Greg Dunnett managed to see off the rest of the competition in the amateur Night Master Blaster, with Ed Texier 2nd and Justin Goodwin 3rd. The evening finished off in the usual Fat Face style with a live band playing in the tent until the early hours.
Sunday came around a little too quickly for many, but even with the lighter winds there were a huge number of competitors on the water and spectators lined the shore. The lighter winds also gave the RYA a chance to get a whole load of beginners onto the water for some free windsurfing taster sessions.
Commenting on the event at the closing ceremony, Fat Face Events Manager, Ian Williams said, “The Fat Face Night Windsurf 2008 has been the best one yet. Roll on 2009!”
Check out the November/December edition of BOARDS Magazine for the full story!
