Kielder Water Family Fun Regatta
by Judy & John Scullion 28 Aug 2014 08:10 BST
23-25 August 2014
The Kielder Water Family Fun Regatta took place over the bank holiday weekend, Saturday the 23rd to Monday the 25th of August 2014. This annual windsurfing event saw Kielder members joined by windsurfers from Pugneys, Wakefield for three days of competition, both serious and fun, including racing, freestyle, treasure hunt and 'total wipe out' style games and challenges.
30 windsurfers participated. The winds were good, with the winds becoming lighter for the freestyle event on Sunday, and stronger again, although gusty, on the Monday, giving exciting conditions for free sailing for those who still had the energy!
The games included on-board jousting, go-kart relay, water volleyball, water balloon catch, and this year's new challenge: the inflatable whale relay race!
Linda Dinsdale, from Pugneys said 'We've had a great time, everyone at Kielder Water makes you very welcome, especially all the kids'.
Gabby Littler, one of the team captains, when asked about the free sail on Monday simply said 'Awesome'.
Windsurfing Results:
Race
Junior – Jonathan Dodd
Youth – Tom Atkinson
Adult – Ed Pike
Freestyle
Junior - Jack Chelley
Youth - Luke Stewart
Adult - Christina Coates
Overall Regatta Champion
Luke Stewart
The Little America's Cup also took place on Bank Holiday Monday: match racing in Toppers and Optimists. The wind was easterly, giving some shelter for most of the course, but the gusts got wilder as the day went on, causing the final rounds to be very exciting indeed as the frequency of unexpected capsizes changed the situation and provided some very entertaining spectator sport.
Six youngsters competed in the Optimist fleet, each racing against every other competitor. Some of the duels were very closely-fought, with competitors showing great control of their boats both on the start line and as they jockeyed for position during the race.
Optimist Results:
1st Luke Stewart
2nd Ben Russell
3rd Archie Dodd
OOD Steve Gibbon allowed juniors and adults to race together in the Topper fleet, and the juniors certainly proved their worth. Those who raced in both Optimists and Toppers managed to spend practically the whole day on the water, and outclassed many of the adults in the process.
Former many-times LAC champion Viola Scott commented that "the junior competitors showed excellent speed and control of the Toppers, making us 'mature' competitors look very creaky. We had to depend on cunning instead."
Adrian Langford took first place, with Robbie Langford second, and Viola Scott third.
The rest of us may have to do a bit of work on speed and control, as well as on cunning, before next year.
Many thanks to all who took part and who helped out, too many to mention here, but special thanks to Brian Coates for organising the Regatta and Steve Gibbon for masterminding the Little America's, not forgetting all the helpers, galley volunteers, RIB drivers and all those who turned up and made it a great weekend on the water. We look forward to welcoming old friends and new again next year.
Full results will be posted here.