The National Watersports Festival delivered another superb three days of windsurfing, stand up paddle boarding, diving, kayaking and new this year, dinghy sailing at Rutland Water, East Midlands over 8 – 10 June.

For the first time in the event’s 12 year history dinghy sailing was added to the line-up with the RYA supporting the event by running the taster sessions with Rutland Watersports.  Over 500 visitors experiencing  the thrill of being on the water in dinghies, windsurfers, kayaks and SUPs.

In the usual packed style for the NWF the water was a hive of activity with racing, demos, taster sessions, sprint races, distance races, SUP Polo, mass starts and families simply enjoying Rutland’s only sandy beach! With the GP SUP National Race Series and Team 15 an integral part of this year’s festival, there was action across the whole three days.

Everyone donned their best party gear for the party nights (the 90’s making a revival on Saturday) and partied – hard – until the small hours. The music provided by NWF Sponsor, The Grainstore Brewery included Top Banana and Dirty Rumour, alongside resident DJ Al Cross! The Grainy also produced a guest NWF ale for the weekend – Daggerboard.

Allan Cross, events director of the NWF comments: “We’ve closed the curtain on another successful year for the NWF and would like to sincerely thanks everyone for their support in coming and making the event the brilliant weekend it was.

“We’re looking to grow the event year on year and there was definitely a step change this year with inclusion of the RYA, whose foiling displays helped show what the future of sailing looks like.

“Our thanks to hosts Anglian Water, our sponsor The Grainstore Brewery and our whole exhibitor family. Also, the biggest shout out to the competitors and visitors who travelled from far and wide to make this event so special again.”

RYA Shows and Promotions Manager Celia Edgington said: “It was great to be part of the NWF and to bring dinghy sailing to the event for the first time. The atmosphere was buzzing all weekend and it was fantastic to get so many people out on the water experiencing a new sport. With foiling taster sessions, a clinic, boat demos from RS,  Fusion, Laser and Hartley along with the family friendly taster sessions there was something for everyone.”

The date for the NWF 2019 has been booked for the 7 – 9 June.

 

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