Please select your home edition
Edition
MySail 2025

Professional windsurfing comes to Eastbourne

by Bruce Spedding on 4 Dec 2014
Laurence Carey - winner of the Wellington Windsurfing Slalom Plus in 2013 (Phil Benge) Isaac Spedding
The Wellington Windsurfing Association Eastbourne Slalom Plus event on the 29th and 30th of November stepped it up a notch this year with the presence of three competitors from the final round of the Professional Windsurfing Association (PWA) World Slalom Tour in New Caledonia.

Two kiwi sailors, the current NZ Open Mens and Youth Slalom Champion Laurence Carey (NZL-252, North/Starboard) and the veteran Tim Wood (NZL-7, GA Sails/Tabou) had just returned from the event last weekend where they both performed creditably alongside the worlds best, bringing with them Basti Kordel (GER-220, GA Sails), a PWA sailor from Germany who was 21st in New Caledonia. The anticipated matchup between these three did not occur as Laurence Carey was nursing a badly sprained ankle and under doctors orders did not race, but did a great job recording the race finishes, never an easy task.

This year the event was also the third leg in the North Island Cup series, and although Laurence had guaranteed his first place in this competition by winning the Tauranga and Auckland legs the other places were still to be determined.

As always, the event attracted over 20 sailors from as far away as Christchurch to Auckland and Tauranga, with Wellington’s almost guaranteed wind, and Eastbourne’s hospitality being hard to resist. The range other activities available in Eastbourne, both on and off the water, mean that any visit would be enjoyable in those situations where the wind was not strong enough, but expectations were high given the 60 knots that started the event last year. The event was aided this year by the recently installed wind meter funded by the community board and installed with the help of the local Eastbourne Fire Brigade. The wind patterns showed that Wellington Harbour typically has less than 12 hours out of every 3 or 4 days when the wind drops below sailing speeds of 15-16 knots, ideal for events like this.

Eastbourne delivered the goods again, delivering 17 to 20 knot winds for both days ensuring a good number of races were completed. Races were over quickly with two laps around a figure of 8 course set across the harbour between the point at Robinson Bay (opposite the recreation ground) and Makaro (Ward) Island.

Our foreign visitor dominated on day one showing why his world ranking is currently 26th, but unfortunately he had to fly out the next day so could not complete the event, leaving the door open for PWA veteran Tim Wood to take out the event. The out of town sailors dominated with Dave Steele, the best Wellington sailor in 2013 showing the way to the locals again in the gold fleet. Local William Novak also did well in the Silver fleet, sailing part of the time on wave sailing gear, the ‘weapon of choice’ for many non racing Wellingtonians.

Final results (top 3 only)
Gold Fleet - Tim Wood (Auckland), Harry Reed (Auckland), Chris Dimock (Christchurch)
Silver Fleet - Alexander Stroh (Auckland), William Novak (Wellington) and John Davies (Tauranga).

The event provided an eye catching spectacle to the beach at Robinson Bay, with plenty of flags and brightly coloured boards and sails across the beach. A windsurfing simulator was set up with a learner board, and local kids were able to try out windsurfing without getting wet. The Lions storage area in the sports hall provided a great base for the event out of the wind with several Lions members helping out with registrations and general support. The adjacent Eastbourne Sports and Services Club provided barbeque equipment for the hungry competitors, with food and snacks donated by Pak n Save, and fruit from Eastbourne Fruit Supply. On day 2 the competitors were treated to baked potatoes and carrot cake!

On the Saturday night the competitors all adjourned to the Garden Bar at the main sponsor, Brew’d Lifeboat Eastbourne for beer, wine and pizza. Windsurfing can tend to be a solitary sport, so the social events are highly valued and enjoyed, and Brew’d never fails to please in this regard.

Windsurfing retailers donated generous spot prizes including a $500 wetsuit, fin bag, windsurfing accessories and books, and vouchers, so most competitors went away with something.

The event finished about 3pm, allowing the visitors to pack up and start their long journeys home in anticipation of next year!

The event was a great success, and next year could be even better. Consideration will be given to creating a class specifically for wave sailing equipment to attract more locals to the event, and the presence of more overseas sailors could be encouraged by again scheduling the event to follow the New Caledonia PWA competition.

Acknowledgements

Eastbourne Lions Club for providing the premises and the registration personnel.
Eastbourne Sports and Services Club for the use of the BBQ and their premises and services.
Eastbourne Fire Brigade for installation of the wind meter.
Eastbourne Community Board for ongoing support and funding
Hutt City Council for support in developing the area for wind sports

Brew’d Lifeboat Eastbourne for their generous hosting of the social evening - they rock!
Leo Sullivan / Petone Pak’n’Save for providing all the BBQ food plus snacks, drinks & sunblock - epic!
Eastbourne Fruit Supply for fruit - sweet!

Vic Crookes (windsurfer) race starts (racing next year Vic!).
Sam Price (windsurfer) boat driver/course setting (Ocean Academy - also racing next year we hope!)
Isaac Spedding (kiteboarder) general wingman & BBQ operator and foodie.
Laurence Carey (National Champion / injured) starter (racing next year unless he’s competing overseas in the PWA!)

Spot prizes
NZSailing.net (http://www.watersports.net.nz - water sports gear) - wet suit
Epic Surf (http://www.epicsurf.co.nz/ - water sports gear) - fin bag and windsurfing accessories
A’nd Distribution (http://gaastra.co.nz/ - windsurfing and SUP) - books and harness lines
Ocean Outfitters (http://www.oceanoutfitters.co.nz/ - windsurf, kite, SUP) - vouchers
Isaac Spedding (http://isaacspedding.com/ video production/ consultation) - voucher
Team 10 (http://www.meanlinefins.com/ ) - T-shirts

More info
Wellington Windsurfing Association http://wwa.org.nz/
Wind meter http://www.windguruspot.cz/189
PWA http://www.pwaworldtour.com/
Windsurfing NZ http://windsurfingnz.org/

Contact Bruce Spedding winzurf@gmail.com / 02102974741

Rooster 2025Selden 2020 - FOOTERBoat Books Australia FOOTER

Related Articles

SP80 kiteboat reaches a top speed of over 58 knots
100 km/h barrier is smashed in Leucate The SP80 kiteboat has reached a top speed of over 58 knots, or 108 km/h. This new personal best makes SP80 the second fastest sailboat ever recorded, behind Vestas Sailrocket II and its 68.01-knot top speed.
Posted today at 10:04 am
Italian SailGP Team acquired by investors
The consortium includes Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway SailGP has today announced that the Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, has officially been acquired by a consortium of accomplished investors and sports industry leaders, including Hollywood royalty, Anne Hathaway.
Posted today at 8:53 am
Armstrong Foils: On tour - Home of Armstrong II
Join America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders on the tour of NZ's Far North Join three times America's Cup champion, Blair Tuke and Armstrong team riders Olivia Jenkins, Naumi Eychenne, Bowien van der Linden, Cash Berzolla, and Reo Stevens, on the Home of Armstrong Tour II, as they explore NZ's Far North.
Posted today at 4:46 am
America's Cup entries open on Sunday
A Cup in turmoil - has Grant Dalton dodged a bullet with the new Cup organisation? America's Cup gets underway in Rome with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton apprears to have dodged a bullet with the formation of of new AC organising body.
Posted on 26 May
Italian PM welcomes America's Cup in Rome
Prime Minister Meloni set out a bold vision for the regeneration planned around AC38 The magnificent setting of the Casino del Bel Respiro, commissioned by Pope Innocent X in 1644, in the grounds of Villa Pamphilj, was the outstanding and historic setting for the formal presentation of the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup.
Posted on 26 May
Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta preview
Sørvind to debut at this edition, in Sardinia The Mediterranean superyacht racing season will kick off on 27th May with the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta, organised annually by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda since 2008 and supported by title sponsor Giorgio Armani since 2022.
Posted on 26 May
Winning Sails for Every Sailor & Every Program
Beer cans or the big leagues, North Sails perform From one design sails to custom inventories, trust the experts at North Sails to elevate your performance.
Posted on 25 May
72nd Melbourne to Apollo Bay Race overall
MRV stifles Ambition to take line honours and overall win Margaret Rintoul V (MRV), skippered by Damien King from the Sandringham Yacht Club (SYC), has sailed a fast and furious race to win the 72nd Melbourne to Apollo Bay Race (M2AB).
Posted on 25 May
The link between two great Australian sports
A unique connection between brute strength and beauty James Joseph Giltinan was one of Australia's great entrepreneurs of the early 1900s, and the man most responsible for creating a unique link between one of the most confrontational football codes in the world and the beauty of sailing.
Posted on 25 May
Records smashed at SCIBS 2025
Officially the Largest Ever Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show Massive crowds enjoyed a spectacular 36th Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show with a record number of boats delivering an unsurpassed display of marine innovation, luxury and lifestyle.
Posted on 25 May