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SIMONSAYS…
SIMON BASSETT IS THE EVER
FAMILIAR FACE OF 2XS CLUB,
SCHOOL AND SHOP AT ONE OF THE
SOUTH COAST’S BEST LOVED
WINDSURFING SPOTS: WEST
WITTERING, WEST SUSSEX.
INVOLVED WITH WINDSURFING
SINCE THE VERY START WE SAT
DOWN FOR A NATTER WITH SB TO
FIND OUT MORE.
Tell us when you first discovered windsurfing
and stepped on a board. What made you
decide to get involved and what kit were
you using?
I was dinghy sailing as a kid on lakes in the Cotswolds. My dad
bought an original Windsurfer in the south of France (1974) on
holiday and that was my first introduction to the sport. It was a
heavy board; big sail with no window and a solid teak wooden boom
and mast foot that pushed into the deck of the board.
Where was the location of your first windy steps?
When we got back from France we would windsurf on the local lakes in south
Cerney and Somerford Keynes. My dad set up a windsurf school and club in
1976 which was in a perfect location at Cotswold Water Park - I could cycle from
home and windsurf as much as I wanted. It was the start of my addiction to
windsurfing!
What was the hook that drew you in and kept you
wanting more?
The lakes where we originally windsurfed on would not allow windsurfing above
force 4 – for me this was when windsurfing came alive. We learnt to jump 12ft
boards without straps, cut the boards down in size and chopped fins to get more
speed or air. In the winter months we attached an angle iron so we could ice
windsurf! Kit choice was very limited.
Did you compete back in the day? If so, what are you
best result results and memories from that period?
Yes I competed in lots of events and classes – course racing, speed, wave and
slalom – at the time it was very exciting. You needed so much gear! I was at the
Weymouth Speed Trials when Fred Haywood broke the world speed record at 30
knots. I remember being hit by lightening with 300 others competitors at
Grafham Water and have an unofficial 30 knot World Production Record with
Klepper at a speed event in Halifax.
uk
WIND
SURFING