Eastbourne College – Dolphin makes guest appearance at UKWA Cup Championships

21 May 2019

On Sunday, competitors at the United Kingdom Windsurfing Association (UKWA) Cup Championships needed all of their wits about them as light winds made for tricky sailing conditions; Eastbourne College’s Sam Williams sailed through equipment issues.

Sam Williams was in action this weekend at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, Portland Harbour near Chesil Beach, Dorset. Eastbourne born and bred, Sam attends Eastbourne College sixth form where he fits his elite windsurfing commitments around a busy and varied academic schedule.

The competition was the UKWA Cup Championships round one event for 2019, and light winds made it quite a physical battle for the windsurfers. Sam sailed very well, gaining several second and third places in each race. However, he also had some unfortunate equipment issues which dropped him to fourth in the final rankings.

The racers were treated to the harbour dolphin making a guest appearance jumping between many of the competitors.

This competition was the secondary indicator for the RYA Youth GBR squad to go to the World Championships in Russia later this year. The primary indicator for the World championships is next month in Palma, Majorca for the week-long European Championships, which Sam has qualified for as part of the British Youth Squad.