MASTERING THE
33
MASTERS
BWA RHOSNEIGR 2017 EXPERIENCES
WORDS: MARK DOWSON
PICS: MARK DOWSON, BWA, OLLIE LADDIMAN
VIVID IMPRESSIONS OF WAVE SAILING COMPETITION WERE FORMED WITHIN ME FROM
WATCHING A TAPE OF A BBC PROGRAMME ABOUT THE TIREE WAVE CLASSIC BACK IN
THE DAY. STARING A CERTAIN YOUNG DUNCAN COOMBS, I WATCHED IT TIRELESSLY
OVER AND OVER ON A VHS VIDEO RECORDER. My kind old Dad had managed to record
it for me and the tape was worn out and chewed up long before I’d finished with it. I
made the pilgrimage up to Tiree with some fellow Yorkshire men in the 90s, however,
being part of the teaching profession I’m blessed with many holidays, but sadly they
don’t fall in the particular week when this hallowed competition takes place. One day,
maybe… The Rhosneigr event is a completely different story.
From my fuzzy recollections (probably highly
inaccurate) the first opportunity for competing in a
wave sailing competition that I took was in Rhosneigr.
It was so far in the mists of time I can’t even
remember if Bucky was installed as the proud owner
of the shop, which he renamed Funsport or if it was
before this great era? Regardless of this haziness,
some form of modest competition was organised at
Rhosneigr, although it was not an official BWA event
and many local sailors didn’t enter.
On my side of the ladder I was pitted against my
French friend Alex Tritten. Across the other side was
Graham ‘Gump’ Turner (he can’t remember either!),
the current owner of Juice Boardsports who,
deservedly, in everyone’s minds was the favourite to
win the contest. The result was a relaxing sunny
afternoon sail with friends I windsurfed with all of the
time. I managed to pip Alex with a forward and a few
wiggles on a small wave to take our side of the ladder.
Then I was rescued by the wind promptly switching off
which somehow left me in joint first with ‘Gump’. The
final was never sailed but we had a great evening in
the Sandy Mount Club, and for me at least, it was a
memorable experience.
Thereby followed years and years of mostly enjoyable
free-sailing until a conversation at Fraisthorpe Beach
on a Juice demo weekend, with none other than Dave
White, rekindled the spark and set me on a journey
into the Masters fleet.
Dave’s enthusiasm and advice proved simple, but highly
effective: “Don’t go to win, just go and have fun!” Three
years later I am still loving every moment. It’s given me a
focus that I previously lacked, enabled me to meet and
re-acquaint myself with some very cool people and
taken me to locations and great conditions that I would
otherwise never have laid eyes upon. Both the
competition and the surrounding days have delivered
magic, all time sessions. We’ve had setbacks, failures
and conditions that lack oomph to inspire, but ultimately
we’ve had a great deal of fun and it’s enabled me to
progress in ways I’d previously not thought possible.
So the 2017 BWA Masters Rhosneigr event had 15
entrants and marked the third season of my personal
involvement, though in previous years work
commitments and injury only allowed me to do a
couple of Rhosneigr events and three Cornwall
comps. 2017 was on! Big Salty, the official BWA
weather sponsor, was giving a promising forecast and
excitement was high. I had a smile to myself as I
noted just how many K4 Fins adorned the Masters
fleet boards in the morning sunlight. (Steve Thorp’s
obviously doing something right!).
uk
WIND
SURFING