Heres the lowdown from Steve.

Friday April 22nd / Saturday April 23rd 2011

The Hayling Island Stand Up Paddleboard Challenge race, April 2nd 2010, attracted 35 competitors and proved to be a resounding success, helping to provide a catalyst for other events following on from it as 2010 progressed. Competitor numbers would have been higher if the weather had been warmer and the forecast better and so it is with typical British optimism that we trust this years weather will be better!

Hayling Island SUP Event

The 2011 event will once again coincide with the Round Hayling Island Windsurfing race now in its 31st year, a race I’m proud to say, I co-founded with Peter Williams in 1980. Today its an enervating feeling being able to contribute to the development of Stand Up Paddleboarding through the staging of this event.

Whilst windsurfing and SUP are diametrically opposed in view of their respective need for wind, the added atmosphere of having the two sports combine on the same day, respects the fact that all watersports are connected at some core level. Last year at the starting gun, 52knots was recorded at 12pm. Thankfully we delayed until 1pm and by divine intervention or meteorlogical fluke, the winds abated, the sun came out and we managed to get our 3 races completed.

THE IMPORTANT STUFF

FORMAT: Considering 2 races on Friday (medium), 1 on Saturday morning (distance)

WHERE: Hayling Island Sailing Club Hot showers, restaurant, bar, car parking etc.

HISC ACCOMMODATION: HISC.co.uk

ACCOMMODATION: hayling.co.uk

ON LINE REGISTRATION: We hope to have this up by Feb 14th and will notify you.

ENTRY FEE: £30 (Up £5 from last year due to rising club running costs)

INCLUSIVE: World Class Facilities, Racing, Safety Cover, Race Vest, Dinner, Live Band / Party

FRIDAY 22ND

9.00am: CAR BOOT WINDSURF / PADDLE BOARD SALE
10.00am: REGISTRATION OPENS (Register you arrival/intent to race/late entry)
12.00pm: RACE BRIEFING
1.30pm: RACE STARTS ONWARDS

BOARD DIVISIONS: 12’6″ and Unlimited
GENDER: MALE / FEMALE
CRUISER / NOVICE DIVISION: To cater for entry level paddlers and to encourage participation, we are going to stage a guided afternoon session of participation, which shall include a technical beach session, followed by a relaxed guided paddling tour of the creeks and estuaries surrounding the sailing club area which will cover approximately 4 miles group paddling, led by an experienced paddler who will offer advice during and after the session. We hope to have a separate rescue craft on hand. At the conclusion of the session, participants are then invited to be a part of the evening dinner and party festivities. Entry fee for the SUP Experience will be £30 as for those racing. Participants in this division will need to register and attend the race briefing at 12pm as this event will start at the same time as the racing.

LATE AFTERNOON / EVENING from 6.30pm: Dinner, drinks, live band

SATURDAY 23RD

1 x 8-10 mile race heading up towards Hayling Island Bridge,
around a turn marker and back to HISC.

8.00-9.00am: Recovery breakfast
9.30am: Briefing
10.00am: Race Start:
12pm onwards: Prize Giving / Lunch

At the race briefing in the morning the weather looked anything but good in fact with force 7 push force 8 winds it was far from ideal and I could tell some of the racers were thinking long and hard to themselves..

The Race start was pushed back from 12 midday to 1.15pm … well what can I say someone must have had a crystal ball because as the race started the sun came out and the wind started to drop.. well at least to a force 6. The race fleet was in the region of 30+ paddlers which made this event one of the biggest in the UK…

The event overall was well organised and a fantastic venue and I for one truly hope to see more events like this over the course of 2010… well done to all of you that took part everyone made it a truly great event.