David Eberlin reports from the Seavets competition, at Rutland this weekend and encourages anyone old enough to come and join the fun!

Seavets are an organisation that caters for ‘over 35s’ who still want to race and, just as importantly, socialise; most are the wrong side of 60 but still active. One of their elder statesmen (Ron) suggested we may like to join them for a meal in the evening … and then there was can you assist with race organisation, the ladies are going on a shopping trip to Stamford. As we know a good number there and we could walk back to the camping after the meal; we thought why not?

We were amongst the youngest at under and just over 60, it is great to see so many 60 and 70 year olds still competing and enjoying the sport – and there is plenty of room for more.

Though the turnout was a little under the normal there was a good crowd, lots of banter for the 6th event in the prime series, and a great atmosphere. The first race got under way at about 11am, in light winds, which backed to destroy the notion of a beat. Mike Playle won by a good few hundred yards, with Russ Towns second after catching Tony Goodwin on the line. The second race got under way after much debate about how to get a beat in and so a reaching start was agreed, and the wind swung and then slowly petered out by the finish, never to return.

Lunch was followed by waiting and at 4pm it was decided that was it, prizegiving was followed by the bar opening as we gathered round Ray’s motorhome. Then it was off to the local pub for a pre-arranged meal.

Next weekend the Seavet competition will head to Bala, then Carsington (1st August) with Grafham and Datchet in August, and Mersea Island for a social sail after that.

Why not join some of the elder statesmen / women of the windsurfing world in the UK, to race or socialise?

Details http://www.seavets.co.uk