Sailing and Windsurfing

Contact: L Watson

 

Sailing and windsurfing continues to thrive at Hampton, with twenty members this year, comprised of 5th and 6th formers.  Every Wednesday afternoon, we make our way to Queen Mary Reservoir in Staines, whose excellent facilities, equipment and staff have served us well for many seasons now. 

The sailors sail a mixture of Picos, single- and double-handed Lasers, and remain under the instruction of Queen Mary Reservoir staff.  Within this group, some pupils are currently working towards their Associate Instructors’ qualification, and we hope to enter some SSSA regattas this year.

Meanwhile, the windsurfers are instructed by Mr Watson, a qualified RYA instructor.  As relative newcomers to the sport, pupils start out on HiFly beginner boards, whilst working towards their Start Windsurfing qualification, before moving onto the less bouyant and more advanced Starboard Carves as they aim for their Intermediate Windsurfing qualification.

As a club, we have been fortunate enough to receive some considerable HSPA donations in recent years, enabling us to refurbish various sailing boats and purchase a number of windsurfing boards and sails, and we look forward to another successful year of sailing and windsurfing.

 

NEWS: Ollie Cooper claims top honours at European Championship

Ollie Cooper not only won the Surrey Schools Sailing Association main Handicap Fleet in his Laser 4.7 at the Hayling Island Regatta in July, but then went on to win an extremely competetive and close-fought event at Lake Garda in Italy. There, he and his crew, Callum Ellis, beat 80 other boats from across Europe over the course of 6 days to become the 2009 RS Feva European Champions.  Many congratulations go to Ollie, who continues to race in the GBR Youth scheme.

L Watson, September 2009

 

Sailing Movie clips - These can be viewed using Quicktime:

Clip 1 (3.2k)

Clip 2 (1.7k)

Clip 3 (1.6k)

Clip 4 (3.9k)

Photo gallery update coming soon