Windsurfing - The Winds of Change

Following on from the success of the 2015/2016 Boardcrazy National Raceboard Titles, which was an amazing success by all accounts, I'd like to take the opportunity to thank the people behind it and the fantastic crew behind the massive success story happening down at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. I don't mean to take anything away from the other clubs who are all doing amazing work in promoting our sport but I haven't seen any publicity re what's happening at RQ aside from the latest event and I feel you will all be interested to hear what is happening

I know there were many, many people involved in making the Raceboard Titles successful but I'd like to thank Brendan Moore, Cameron Whitford and Tony Matta in particular for their motivation and hard work in getting the event off the ground and making it so successful they doubled the participation from last year.

The Raceboard Regatta was incredibly well organised and amazingly professional. The backing from RQYS (the sixth and most recent club to affiliate with WQ) has been fantastic and having the events there really takes it all to the next level. Although I missed it I was told the same could be said about the recent Bayside Slalom event that was also held there.

The work that is happening behind the scenes down there has to be seen to be believed and Cameron Whitford's learn to windsurf program is simply booming. Cameron said he had 20 new faces there the other week learning to sail and YA has donated a whole heap of new gear for use in that program.

Max Wojcik is also starting a Windsurfing School of Excellence out of the club and the YA gear will be used there as well. I am sure he will write more about it once it is fully established but he had 36 students there the other day from Moreton Bay Boys College and has other schools involved as well. This is a very exciting development that he hopes to replicate in other Yacht Clubs around the country and this will undoubtedly give Windsurfing a massive boost to its profile.

Again I risk missing people out as there are lots of people making this whole scene work but there have been a core group of people working behind the scenes at RQ for a number of years now and they deserve a lot of the credit for getting Windsurfing noticed at the yacht club. These people include John and Pat O'Brien along with Wayne Bailey and Dave and Michelle Stirling who have been working tirelessly on the support boats doing starts and helping to run events for many years now and it has really paid off.

There is plenty more to come with Max Wojcik's Windsurfing School of Excellence taking form and more facilities being installed so I will keep you informed as new developments come to pass.

As the heading suggests I am really feeling that we have turned the corner here in Queensland when it comes to our Windsurfing scene and I am really looking forward to seeing what happens in the coming years. I am getting a lot of new enquiry from people wanting to learn to windsurf and seeing a lot of new faces on the water. It's funny but I just love seeing the newbies flopping around out on the bay because I know they are all people I will soon be sharing the stoke of a good day on the water with.

It is also great to see the wider community supporting the clubs and their volunteers. It has been a long haul but I couldn't be happier with the affiliation program and the clubs and passionate volunteers we have who are all doing an incredible job of getting people on the water and that in the end is the best indicator of how well things are going.

I hope you all have a great season and I hope to catch up to you all at some point on the water.

Regards, Scot Farley (President Windsurfing Queensland).

Very well said Scott,

I have competed in a number of event over the years, local, national and on the world stage, and this rates right up there with the best.

Courses were laser straight and the timing and organisation was first class.

The fleet was sooo competitive this year, and everyone was very very fast.

Its should be mentioned what a friendly fleet this is, wether in the bar, in the carpark or crossing port starboard on the race course, huge grins all round.

Well done to all involved! I can't wait for next years worlds!

Simon

Thanks Scott,

We have recently received an email from the GM of RQYS stating that the club is 110% behind windsurfing.

On top of this there are also a couple of other events coming up at PPSC. They are:

WOD National Titles in January 2016 (I think this is a great little venue for the WODs)

PAN PACIFIC Masters Games in November 2016 (Windsurfing Course Racing is a part of the Sailing program)

Also LCSC will host the Raceboard states in May 2016

Also, Speedfest is coming up in March!!

Are the Slalom Nationals planned for Green Island again this year?

Thanks Scott,

We also have the State Freerace One Hour and Distance event coming up in January hosted by WindWanderers - http://www.freeracequeensland.com/

And the Jetty to Jetty Marathon in February hosted by WindWanderers and Surfconnect followed by

as DeVecta mentioned Windfest in March the 10th Anniversary hosted by WindWanderers - www.windfest.info/

I completely agree that in the last few years Windsurfing is experiencing a fantastic Reneissance.

I'd also like to mention the low profile but highly talented wave sailors and local organizers that have recently held a great event in Northern NSW with the guys and girls living on the north and south coasts from Brisbane getting great results.

I hope to come up there for a sail on Saturday. Getting my final bit of kit this week. Not sure i will get around the course if its windy but will give it a go!