Bryony Shaw is a first-class windsurfer who won a bronze
medal for Great Britain in the 2008 Olympics. She is currently the World No. 1
female RS:X windsurfer. What makes her exceptional is her dedication to winning
with much preparation, including ‘off-piste’ sailing at secret locations, such
as out-of-the-way places on the west coast of Ireland. The freedom she gets
from this experience of being in tune with the wind and waves adds a zest to
her life beyond competing against her rivals.
I find this approach refreshing when I consider the emphasis
that is given to racing by official bodies such as the Royal Yachting Association
and the International Sailing Federation. They have an almost myopic focus on
racing, and pay lip service to cruising with little active promotion, and as
for recreational day sailing little is said.
I know of no one apart from Tim Batstone who has done
coastal cruising on a board. No doubt there are others. The practicalities of this sort of minimal
cruising clearly limits what can be done, but with the right backup and support
it is feasible, as Tim makes plain in his book, ‘Round Britain Windsurf: 1800
miles on a 12ft board’.
Links
Bryony Shaw
Bryony Shaw at Facebook
Bryony Shaw – Wikipedia
Bryony Shaw YouTube Channel (Contains old videos going back
to ¾ years ago)
First Up, First Down: Bryony Shaw windsurfing of the west
coast of Ireland
RSX Surfing
UK Windsurfing Association
ISAF Sailing World Cup Final, Abu Dhabi - Bryony Shaw
& Sophie Weguelin-Eilidh McIntyre
Bryony Shaw introduces winsurfing
Royal Yachting Association
International Sailing Federation
Round Britain Windsurf by Tim Batstone
Tim Batstone – Round Britain Windsurf: 1800 miles on a 12’
board
Windsurfing – Wikipedia
RS:X Class
RS:X Official Supplier for the Olympics
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