For the first time in six years, the University’s Windsurfing Club (SUWC) hosted a National Student Windsurfing event in Southampton Water against the University of Portsmouth. Over 150 students competed in a variety of beginner sessions, intermediate clinics and advanced racing events earlier this month.
In the morning, there were high winds and choppy seas – ideal conditions for freestyling and manoeuvres such as the Vulcan and Spock 540. Team Southampton won 2nd and 3rd place with some incredible aerial tricks. The wind soon eased off making it possible to continue with beginner sessions.
Later that day, team racing also took place which saw Southampton miss out on 1st place in a close call, followed by individual racing where the team secured four out of the top five positions.
Windsurfer and third year Aerospace Engineering student, Corentin Jego, positioned 2nd place for team racing and 5th in the individual racing. Corentin, who has been training in the sport for eight years, was welcomed to the club and invited out on the water just a few days after he arrived at the University from France.
Corentin said: “At the beginning, the club made me feel like I instantly belonged, and I believe we have accomplished a lot over the years. This national student event was the result of three years involvement in the SUWC and four months of intense planning.”
James Topping, University of Southampton Operations Manager Sport and Wellbeing, said: “Overall the event went really well with the weather given. Our student Windsurfing Club have worked hard to setup this event and have proved that Southampton is still the premier University for Watersports in the UK. Well done SUWC!”
Corentin added: “During my time at the University, I have seen the club go from a small society to now being the largest university Windsurfing club in the country. If you’re thinking of starting windsurfing, you’ll be welcomed by an incredible bunch of people that will make your years at the University of Southampton more worthwhile.”
Find out more about the Windsurfing Club and contact the team to get involved or try out a session.
For interested staff and members of the public, find out how to get involved on the University website.
The University of Southampton would like to thank Netley Sail Club for hosting the event, SUWC for organising the events, the volunteers for ensuring safety cover on the water, and James Topping and Paul Hopkins for their support.
