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WINDSURFER LT ROUND HAYLING CHALLENGE 2026 – CLUE IS IN THE NAME!

An exhausted, but elated Roger Turner reports after completing the 2026 round Hayling challenge on a Windsurfer LT of course!

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A proper Challenge!

At the finish my initial thoughts were “thank God it’s over!” Just over two hours on the Windsurfer LT to cover the 17.5 miles sailed in tough but exhilarating conditions. Shoulders aching in new places, dehydrated, exhausted but so glad to finish. And all in beautiful surroundings. This is what a challenge should be.

Although they don’t call this a ‘race’, inevitably the competitive human nature kicks in. So, records were broken too…

The event

This event goes back to 1980 and as windsurfing grew rapidly through the decade, so did the number of competitors entering, peaking at over 500. What a sight this must have been. I would love to see this again!

Logistics

Hayling Island is a popular holiday destination on England’s south coast. The only road access is over the bridge at the northern point of the triangular island, otherwise the path is free to circumnavigate for any craft that can clear the 5-foot gap under bridge at high water. Hence windsurfers, canoes and kayaks and latterly paddleboarders and foilers flock to the annual event. The island is bounded by Chichester Harbour to the east and Langstone Harbour to the west, with open sea to the south.

The Challenge is timed to coincide with the high tides that give areas of vast expanses of water to cope with the wide angles we need to use as sailors. Also, there is a west-running current to aid passage under the bridge. The course is 14 miles as the Cormorant flies, with a couple of miles extra for sailors’ tacks and gybes. In light of the weather forecast many entrants, including windsurfers and SUPers, prudently chose the ‘bridge and back’ option, of around 9 miles in the more benign conditions of Chichester harbour.

Hayling Island Sailing Club does an extremely impressive job of putting all the infrastructure in place, covering the online entry system, facilities on the day and the all-important safety cover. All competitors carry GPS trackers, carry phones and wear numbered bibs with the balance between safety and personal responsibility being about right. An online ‘cheat sheet’ deals with all the FAQs. Overall, the event is a well-oiled machine that inspires confidence. Massive shout out to the army of volunteers without whom this would not be possible. All this whilst simultaneously hosting  another major dinghy event.

After registering, collecting bibs and trackers all attend the briefing when any remaining unanswered questions are answered and the class start times are announced.

On the day 140 different craft set off, with the forecast 15 to 23 knot west-south-west proving accurate. Starts are separated into the different categories, so that there is not too much congestion on the start line just off the club.

We set off towards the bridge in pleasant reaching conditions and flat water, but a little gusty towards the windward shore. As usual, the lighter guys pulled ahead. Quickly the bridge needs to be negotiated, tacking close, then laying rig down to allow the gentle current to carry us under. Although it sounds awkward, it is fine in reality and there are a few spectators shouting encouragement from above. From rig-down to off-again in a couple of minutes. No drama. (Apparently the leading wing-foiler managed to pump his way through, probably a significant factor in helping break the record for the navigation). A few yards further on are the partially hidden remains of the old railway bridge, but again no problem.

Now it is time to settle into the upwind slog into the chop and 20 knot wind. With wind over tide the water state was tough (especially with harness lines too far forward). Getting ’in the groove’ is vital to be fast upwind, but not easy to accomplish in the rough waters of Langstone Harbour.

Approaching the entrance to the harbour, the tide is running strongly out and the wind is more on the side. Plus, the waves here are quite big and as you enter the open sea and current is running against the wind, exaggerating the swell size. Quite an intimidating (or exciting) prospect.

With the run along the seafront being a very broad reach in quite a big swell, this is tough sailing as it is impossible (for me at least) to settle into the harness. It is tempting to sail a more comfortable tighter reach but the balance between distance sailed and speed is an unfamiliar dilemma. Preventing a nose-dive resulted in a protracted series of failed uphauls, followed by the realisation that a water start was a more efficient way to get underway again.

Fatigue is setting in, but at least the end is nearly in sight just round the corner. There is just the small matter of navigating the breaking waves caused by the tide rushing out of Chichester Harbour. Finishing amongst the OC6 s (six man outrigger canoes) was ‘interesting’, don’t get in their way, huge momentum and turning circle of a small oil tanker!

And then it’s over and the banter begins, the ‘what-ifs’, ‘should haves’, ‘I ache here, not there’. It turns out that the Round-the-Island Windsurfer LTs all finished within about 30 minutes of each other and a great sense of achievement whether it’s just getting round, a fast time or beating other competitors. Well done to the two LT sailors that completed the Bridge and Back Challenge. This is a great option for anyone lacking the confidence, fitness or experience for the full rounding. It is still a challenge at about 9 miles and the call can be made on the day.

Motley crew

Nigel, Peter, Mike and Guy

Winners

Ben Oakley, First Lightweight

Hilary Baker, First Lady

Nigel Farmer, First Heavyweight

Ben Oakley’s time of 1h 30 is impressive and may well be the record for a Windsurfer LT rounding, but other wind directions may offer flatter water for even quicker times.

Other fleets

Of the 35 wing foilers entered the vast majority made it round. Kuba Staite’s incredible rounding in 43.36 is easily a new record, but how long will it stand? Also impressive

Is Charlie Baker’s circumnavigation in 46 mins on IQ Foil gear second fastest time overall and also beating the previous record. Without the bridge obstruction, could a foiling windsurfer be faster than a wing foil?

The Raceboard windsurfer fleet had over 20 entries with only around a half completing the rounding. Never-the-less the fastest race boards were only 15 minutes quicker than the fastest LT. Considering the difference in cost and complexity is a big positive for the ever-growing Windsurfer LT fleet.

The assorted paddlers (SUP, kayak, outrigger) faced truly brutal conditions in Langstone Harbour and off the front. From the huge SUP entry only two paddlers completed the circumnavigation in over 3 and a half hours of pain.

Windsurfer LT

Rigged correctly for the conditions and the individual, the kit is very well suited to endurance events like this. The light rig and wide, easy-handling board are effective on all points of sail. The lack of foot straps, often seen as a shortcoming is a boon when sailing downwind as there is so much freedom with foot placement. Setting the rig right is simple, once you know how, very different to a modern fully battened sail, but it works so much better than you can believe! For this sort of challenge, and fast cruising, the Windsurfer LT with its large and stiff daggerboard and ease of sailing is a great tool.

Personal take-aways

• Set harness lines in right position before start (2 minute penalty and accelerated muscle fatigue (AMF))
• Don’t get too close to wind-blocking obstacles (2 falls, 4 minute penalty plus AMF)
• Don’t try to uphaul in rough condition when there is enough wind to water-start (10 minute penalty, AMF)
• Upwind I managed to catch up and overtake a few others only to throw it away with falls later on
• At least 15 minutes could have been shaved off my time.
• Consider hydration/energy drink in Camelback

Ben Oakley, Fastest Windsurfer LT – Round Hayling Challenge

Windsurfer LTs thrive at Round Hayling Challenge

“The largest fleet in recent years of 140 craft, including 11 Windsurfer LTs, took up the challenge of sailing 14 miles around Hayling Island in a Force 5. Whilst a strong breeze is the friend of sail powered classes; it is the enemy of those attempting to paddle. Respect to the only successful paddleboard on the full course taking 3 hours 32 minutes – a true challenge! But … everyone is reassured by the satellite tracker you wear as a competitor meaning a large rescue fleet know where you are.

The simplicity of the Windsurfer LT one-design with one 5.7sq m sail and fin came into its own with minimal pre-launch decisions. Those in other wind powered classes often prevaricates over sail or foil combinations. The start is carefully timed by an experienced Hayling Island Sailing Club race team to allow favourable current for two thirds of the rounding. Near perfect conditions allowed Kuba Staite on a Wingfoil to record the fastest ever rounding, a staggering 43 minutes.

The Windsurfer LT fleet, like other wind powered classes, started by blasting on a 3-mile reach before navigating the island’s road and former rail bridge assisted by a strong favourable current. The versatile board came into its own with the long upwind towards the Langstone channel into the open sea and two long downwind legs back towards HISC including punching through steep waves at the harbour entrance. Ben Oakley lead the LTs around in 90 minutes, whilst Hilary Baker succeeded in the shorter ‘bridge and back’ course.

For competitors across classes the satisfaction is in completing the rounding, meeting like-minded peers and learning a bit more about how to sail their craft in varied conditions. The LTs thrive with this type of open and social approach to competition. As part of its inclusive ethos, additional prizes were awarded to first newcomer (Guy Willaims), lightweight (Paul Leone) and heavyweight (Nigel Farmer), courtesy of H2O Sports!”

Ben is an ex RYA Olympic Coach and now works as an academic in Sports Performance at the Open University. Plus, a very good windsurfer, author and big fan of the Windsurfer LT

Paul Leone

“Some interesting stats which make the case for the LT.

Top race-boards were only 18% faster that top LT, yet more LT sailors finished the race in less than 125 minutes (8 sailors), than race-boarders (5 sailors). 

As you know you can use statistics to tell the story you want, but we had a good story yesterday and a good “time”. And they get that 18% extra speed on a raceboard by having a sail which is 70% larger, a 50cm carbon fin, a 5.80 100% carbon mast, a carbon boom, 100 litres extra of volume. “

Guy Williams

“What a great days windsurfing! Fast reaching, long beats, surfing downwind in lumpy seas around the 14nm course in 15-20knts of wind of wind, fantastic!!”

Mike Craig

“A real test of endurance for me, but I’ve already signed up for next year!”

Nigel Farmer

“Had a brilliant time at the Round Hayling Island Challenge. Great conditions. Learned a lot and really enjoyed being on the water. And met some great people I will also sign up for next year.”

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