Who forgot to tell the weatherman it wasn’t a bank holiday weekend, boy did it rain, but then I’ve always said I’m lucky, had so many phone call telling me how bad it was just hours after I’d left. Went back to Rutland to see what was going on the inland racing scene and still made it back for an evening sail before heading of to Worthing for Sunday.
Pulling into the car park I was amazed by how many people had camped over night, tents, vans, and motor homes squeezed into every spot available. There was over fifty youngsters competing on sails as small as 2.4m, but was only when everyone took to the water I really got a feel of how big this event is.
All the fleets were out from long board to formula, but having never been a big sail man I saved my time for the water for later. Four races and a marathon was more then enough for most, but while they made there final turn on the lake I was heading out on the sea at home.
No home pictures this time, just wanted to catch what was left of the day on the water not behind the lens, plus Sunday was looking good on the south coast. Mike from Worthing Watersports asked me months ago if I would join him for his demo day and with that forecast I couldn’t resist.
Both the run down and back the roads looked more like rivers than motorway, but once on the south side of the Downs the rain cleared and the sun broke out. The last six weeks the winds been working in our favour so I guess it was time for it to let us down. It hovered around the planning mark, a couple of people were planning on big stuff but the real action was happening next to the beach with small or no sails.
Ant Baker was running one of his new clinics, while full, not everyone was keen to get wet, but then that’s where his persuasive nature kicks in. Booking events like this is never going to give one percent wind success, but as all our windsurfing guru instructors will tell you, it’s not just what you learn on the course, it what you take from it that really counts.
