Trent Windsurfing Club, based at Long Eaton, between Nottingham and Derby, has run a very successful beginners kit hire scheme for the last 3 years. The scheme has been adapted and expanded since its inception so that now a raw beginner gets everything to get on the water right down to the easy rig and fin screwdriver, along with two sails, harness lines and footstraps for the adventurous. All they need to provide is a wetsuit and a means of transport.

Getting your first board has always been quite an outlay and the present climate has not made it any easier, but the commitment to the scheme is such that the club has gone one step further, brand new intermediate boards in addition to a phased replacement for the original gear. A new Starboard RioM, and two Starboard GO boards are now part of the 5 board fleet, supplied by Dave Nobles Windsurfing in Wymeswold Leics, the clubs’ local shop. A special thanks to Rich White at Dave Nobles, for the support they continue to give the club and the hire scheme: www.nobleboards.co.uk

Now, after having hired the beginner kit we are able to offer the two new Starboard GO boards as the natural progression to small and light kit. These boards are very easy to sail, are more durable than large freeride kit and will allow the early intermediate windsurfer easy access to the joys of planing in the footstraps. The hirer will at this stage purchase their own rig to use with the boards, thereby cutting the outlay considerably. The cost for the beginner gear has always been very attractive and the cost for the intermediate gear will remain so. For the club the benefits will be more tentative beginners converted into hardened addicts!

The club is embarking on its most ambitious year for a long time with many events planned for the season, including a subsidised trip to Tiree, a weekend of training sessions for all abilities (free to members), a trip to Club Vass, a club demo day and a club trip to the National Windsurfing Festival amongst others. The club offers much for the keen windsurfer, waters that are open all year, very attractive membership rates, social events, and whenever it is windy someone to sail with, especially for an after work quickie!. For more information please visit www.trentwindsurfing.org.uk