Windsurf racing boost at OTC 

The Will Mackaness Trust received a Sport England grant in 2014 to encourage youth windsurf racing

A small grant from Sport England has helped to make windsurf racing more accessible to young people around Weymouth, thanks to the Will Mackaness Trust and the Official Test Centre (OTC), an OnBoard club based at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy.

The Will Mackaness Trust has helped introduce many young people to the world of water sports over the last few years, from the grass roots of organising swimming lessons, to sailing classes and even windsurfing competitions for the more experienced. This fantastic local charity makes a real difference to many people's lives, changing them for the better.

In 2014 the Trust was awarded a Small Grant from Sport England and invested in some windsurfing race equipment made by Neil Pryde, with the clear aim of make racing more accessible. With the help of the OTC, 16 youngsters got involved regularly in the year-long project, having initially learned to windsurf through OnBoard. It was a resounding success with some notable results.

Race club regulars Scotty Stallman (13), Lily Young (16), Sam Anstey (13), Alex Blackmore (11) and Reed Russell (13) all honed their skills during the Thursday evening races and have taken their performances to the next level. They all competed in the British Slalom Association (BSA) series finale which was hosted by the OTC last October and involved over 60 entrants.

In fact, there was a clean sweep in the Masterblaster fleet, with Sam Anstey taking the honours, followed by Reed Russell in second and Alex Blackmore third. In the same event Scotty Stallman proved that, at just 13, he was a match for most in the Amateur fleet. He is certainly one to watch in the future. And to cap the year off on a high, Lily Young has recently claimed her place in the RYA Olympic youth development squad for RS:X windsurfing.

Speaking about the effort the Trust has gone to, OTC Director Tris Best said: "2014 has been a fantastic year for windsurfing in the area, largely thanks to the support from organisations such as the Will Mackaness Trust, and individuals such as Pam Govier. There is a real hotbed of young talent coming through now, which the results clearly show. It will be exciting to watch how their futures in the sport develop in years to come."

Photo: Andy Stallman