My First BSA Slalom Event

My first BSA slalom event Clacton on Sea and after saying for a couple of years now that id like to try slalom racing.

I finally made it to an event Round 4 of the British Slalom Association series at Clacton on Sea as part of their Sea & Beach Festival.

So we rocked up at Clacton on Saturday morning to blue sky’s and very light winds, which was fine as it gave me time to wander and chat with all the other competitors from all the disciplines, Kite, Sup & Windsurfing. There were numerous stands along the promenade, including Punch and Judy to Magic shows for the kids, plus a music festival by the pier.

After signing on and rigging all in preparation for if and when the wind picked up sufficient for championship racing at 12 knots. We wandered to the local pub for breakfast (quite handy having a Carvery right next to where we were all parked up )
 by midday the UKWA decided to run a series of fun races on the hour in 8 knots of wind. Most of the competitors participated in an attempt to put a show on for our hosts. However, it was more of a float to the buoy and back. And by 1 pm the heavens opened with thunder and lightning and rather a lot of rain, we managed to get on the water about 4.30pm as the wind started to fill in, however, just before we could start a race the wind died. Most had to swim back to shore while others were floating to the puerile of the quicker current and some sailors finding themselves washed to the other side of the pier. With the rain still falling it was game over for day one.

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Sunday morning day 2 of the championship with a freshening forecast it was looking promising for racing so 
I was ready to go by 9 am.  Armed with my 8.6m Point-7 AC1 and Starboard Isonic 124 ISonic ready to rock! My biggest fin, however, was a Black Project fin 42.5cm Hammer was a tad small for an 82cm wide slalom board, so I had so fingers crossed.

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The sun came out and the wind built to 12-14 knots,  here we go! By now I’m getting a tad nervous as I have no idea about slalom,  I knew which fleet I was in, but nevertheless, I was totally unprepared for what followed….  We headed out, quite away as the wind was coming slightly off shore. I was nicely powered up on an 8.6 m, a bit choppy, with knee high rolling swell at times, but we were planning all the same.

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So being new to this slalom game,  I didn’t really understand how it all worked (my fault should have been more prepared) so I watched the pro fleets go (A & B ),then the first amateur A, So now my race now, (amateur fleet B) well I was in the right place, sailed out ready for my run into the start, and as I gybed I noticed the green flag up, AAHH that’s my start.  They were half way to the first buoy before I crossed the line, I had to gun it as fast as I could to catch the last few, by the first buoy id caught up with 3 of them. 

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The gybe marks were interesting to say the least, bit like the m25 at times, so I made up some places as I am pretty quick downwind being a speed sailor going broad is my thing.  

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I think I finished in 6th, so pleased with my sailing around the course just need to understand the starting sequence better.

After finishing my first race, I sailed back up wind to the start boat I got a bit confused as it said race 7 on the board, being totally new to this I sailed back to the beach to find out, thinking id get it right next time.

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After finding out race 7 was the winner final (top 5 ) in my group and race 8 which had just started was losers, doh missed that thenSo now understanding what happens, I got my arse back out there for the next race.

This time I did exactly the same and missed the start, but caught up with 6 of them who had just dropped of the plane , made the first gybe mark and was lying in 3rd at the second gybe mark , just caught the rail as gybing and dropped it, by the time I was up I was back down to 9th. THE wind was dropping, and I think I made the finish line but no idea where. They prospond the racing before the final round as the wind dropped below 10 knots. Sadly that was it as the wind never came back.

So much to learn it’s not just a case of rocking up to an event, you need to be prepared, a stopwatch is on my list of things to get, along with a bit of research on the flags and starting sequence.
 But got to say I quite enjoyed it, the racing was such a rush, the Starboard ISonic 124 had great board speed and control over the choppy seas, stacks of power from my point-7 ac1 8.6 awesome combo.

I was a bit under finned on my 42 Black Project Fins Hammer, but it delivered plenty of power and speed and good control in the turns it was a great experience, and I will be back, a bit more prepared next time. But nevertheless, it was great fun! A great event at Clacton Sea & Beach Festival, despite the thunder and lightning and great atmosphere!

I would like to thank the UKWA for doing a great job, also Allan Cross for coordinating the overall watersports championships as part of Sea & Beach Festival, my sponsors Starboard, Point-7, BlackProjectFins, Rockerline clothing, Robinhood Watersports and ADsigns for the support and of course my wife and kids.Photos were taken by my wife, Marcia Matt York K61

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Authors: mattyyork

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