There is a saying in life, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ and this race mixing pros with a mass fleet of amateurs has the perfect formula that makes it special. The organizers Project 3 have taken steps to freshen it up with the introduction of a kite race alongside the windsurfing and to be fair that has added to the carnage at the start making the first reach even more spectacular! But even with the introduction of the kites, windsurfing remains the heart and soul of this awesome event. Come the end of the race the beach is buzzing with every single participant having his or her own story and adventure to tell. Battles within battles are rife, as friends and rivals hope to get one up on each other while the pros of course have their own scores to settle. Then follows the obligatory beers on the beach, fireworks and the mother of all parties.
This is the height of the Aussie summer and just like the NWF in the UK, this is the place to be for any windsurfer in Western Australia. The Lancelin Ocean Classic is of course famous for the race but this gathering of like-minded folk runs far deeper than the antics on the water. It’s like a huge annual wedding of windsurfers and for that matter anybody who loves the ocean.
Of course the wave event is also deeply embedded into the grain of the Lancelin Ocean Classic and this year certainly did not disappoint. As luck would have it Friday delivered 3.5m waves and twenty-five knots at South Passage and I was lucky enough to shoot the pros from the event helicopter for the last hour before the sun went down. Watching the likes of Jaeger Stone, Ben Severne, Scotty McKercher, Ben Proffitt and Dieter Van Der Eyken rip up those waves from the air was without doubt a highlight of this year’s trip.
I must admit prior to leaving back in the UK I was feeling a little rusty regarding my photography but my time in Australia has rekindled the fire! A fresh start to 2017 in Western Australia amongst great friends with some of the best conditions and sailors in the world to photograph has reminded me why I love my job and has motivated me for the year ahead!”