DIFFERENT EVENT
Kevin Greenslade – “This is a windsurf event with a real difference for sailors from competent freerider to pro with an opportunity for the two to mix and form teams. Racing takes place on any of Mauritius’s three main lagoons on the island with the destination decided by the best forecast and wind direction for the following days to come. This year’s race format was set over 5 days with 4 days of competition and one day of rest. As with Défi wind the emphasis is on long distance and giant slalom races with rabbit style boat starts.
Christopher (Christo) Tyack is the event organiser and Mauritian windsurfing guru. The event is a real family run affair with Christo’s brother Emmanuell as race officer, sister Lydia on admin. and Natasha (local sailor Julian Maurel’s wife) and the rest of the Mauritian windsurfing family pulling together to make the event run smoothly.
LOGISTICS
Travel from the UK to Mauritius is fairly easy with direct flights flying daily from Heathrow with one of the event sponsors – Air Mauritius. Air Mauritius provide a 10% discounted flights to all competitors pre-entered through the event registration system online. These competitors also benefit from one free windsurf bag and a second bag at the price of 100 Euro return. Fights are roughly between £600-800 and accommodation £60 and up per night. Entry fee is around £80, which is an incredible bargain when you consider it includes a couple of meals, a fair few free beverages, free hoody, t-shirt and rash vest!
Christo has limited the equipment that can be used for the duration of the competition to 4 pieces – 2 boards and 2 sails or 1 board and 3 sails. This makes travel for international visitors easier and with a bit of creative bag weighing it’s almost possible to take 4 pieces of equipment in two bags at the allocated weight of 23 kg each (Christo is trying to get this weight limit increased for next year). With the nature of the trade wind conditions at this time of year, kit selection is actually quite simple as the wind comes through in anticyclones giving consistent winds of anything from 12 to 25 knots max.
TEAM BREXIT
Our team consisted of –
Myself – Kev Greenslade! (Gaastra, Tabou, F-hot, OTC, Pro-limit, AFS Foils and Portland Beach Crossfit) – engineer, 6 x British speed champion, 2nd UKWA pro fleet Slalom 2017.
Simon Pettifer (North, Fanatic, Ion, F-hot and Puravida Boardriders) – carpenter and regular UKWA podium performer in slalom and speed pro fleet.
Chris (Jersey boy) le Masurier (Patrik boards, Severne and Zulu fins) – oyster farmer, lover of long distance races in exotic locations, occasional UKWA pro slalom racer.
Simon (Chippers) Chippington (RRD, Fluid Lines, F-hot) – a berth-op team leader on C shift working out of Felixstowe docks, UKWA Slalom regular, 2017 amateur ranking 8th.
Danny Geereedhary – social media guru, former UKWA regular in the amateurs before moving to Mauritius to look after his parents.
