Windsport Multihull Regatta in Falmouth
by Peter Stephens 3 Aug 2019 10:46 BST
22-26 July 2019
A five day event with a difference, sponsored by Gul Clothing, RWO Marine, English Braids, White Formula UK and Love Cornwall the Cornish Tourist Board. This event had been created to be a good balance between the sailing and the socializing and offering something for those afloat yet also providing the opportunity to engage their family and supporters ashore in all the activities.
This uniquely informal format offers sailors and their shoreside family and supporters the opportunity to share and enjoy a variety of experiences both on and off the water. This event encompasses challenges, Coastal raids, round the cans racing. With a lay day in the middle of the event from the participants own multihull, a taster session was on offer for those that were interested the opportunity to take flight with the help of the Windsport Multihull Foiling Academy in the centres F101 or Phantom Elite platforms. The objective throughout for participants was to enjoy the experience without feeling a need to take it too seriously.
Day 1 - The 'harbour challenge'. Varied catamarans flying all around the harbour in search of selected hotspots.
Day 2 - Harbour Raid ending with Lunch in St Mawes.
Day 3 - Lay Day Tom Phipps, Windsport's head multihull foiling coach, made sure everyone who was keen to go flying, got their first taste of whizzing across the water, above the waves.
Day 4 - Coastal Raid to Helford Passage and Frenchmans Creek for lunch and return. The day ended with everyone attending a group meal at the Castaways bistro in Mylor Yacht harbour to discuss the days sailing and the highlights of their day's Helford River Raid.
Day 5 - Short course racing with various starts, courses and 'alternative sailing rules were included giving everyone an opportunity to shine. In response to a special request by the fleet the foiling F101 was launched back on the water providing further introductory 'flying' session for even more of the multihull regatta group.
By early afternoon many of the sailors and teams were back on the beach refreshed but a little weary and ready to call it a day. With Windsport still basking in some amazing summer sun the competitors soaked up the last few hours of the "Cornish Experience' as their minds to the inevitable packing up for the trip home to all corners of the UK.
The very nature of the event was not about the competition or the prizes, and although awards were given on the last evening social, it was about the experience. All the competitors felt the variety of sailing challenges kept all them fresh, yet without feeling the need to be constantly competitive it gave opportunities to the few multihull newcomers to really feel involved in every aspect of the event.