Connor is our youngest columnist at 13 yrs old and competes in racing & freewave events at a national level in the UK. He has high ambition and plenty of talent but he is also a very nice young lad! This week Connor tells us about his recent competitions and his training week/holiday in Ireland.

"It took an abnormally long time for me to get rigged up as I have no shame in saying that I was terrified about going out."

Brandon Bay Jem Hall Clinic

Being with adults on the clinic was not a problem for me, but I think at first the adults didn’t really know what to think or expect, as it is an instant assumption that age equals experience. As we were all trying the same thing and struggling on the same aspects it didn’t make any difference about age or job once we got on the water, because the great thing about windsurfing is that it makes everyone equal. So it didn’t bother me or change my week in any way that I was with adults and not kids, and as we got on so well I guess it didn’t make a difference to the adults that I am only 13 (except to push them a bit harder maybe).

My best session of the week was on Wednesday at Kilcummin in Brandon Bay because it was good wind and the waves weren’t three times as big as me as they were on the Friday! I knew the place from the last time I sailed there, so it was great windsurfing and I was getting some really high jumps. I got some really good waves which meant I could practice my new skills and the fact that I wasn’t being punished by any shore break made it 100% fun.

Friday needs a mention though as we travelled down to Gowlane beach to find logo to mast high waves even at low tide. It took an abnormally long time for me to get rigged up as I have no shame in saying that I was terrified about going out. Eventually I plucked up the courage to give it a go and with a force 6+ blowing cross-off it was really good fun but very scary. Jamie Knox himself showed me how to get out between the huge sets whilst Jem videoed the action. As the tide crashed up the beach we had to retreat to Scraggane for some high-wind bump and jump and some small wave riding. Soon everyone from the clinic joined us because it was getting just too big all over Brandon Bay. I had a great session sailing with Tom Knox (Jamie’s eldest son) on a sail that Jamie Knox was kind enough to lend me as I don’t yet have a 3m Ezzy in my quiver.

Throughout the week I learnt the fundamentals of wave sailing and how to survive in pretty extreme sea conditions. I really feel that I learnt the first steps to wave sailing.

I recommend going on a Jem Hall clinic and don’t miss out on going to the fabulous Jamie Knox water sports centre with its great breakfasts and a really helpful crew.

UKWA British Open Cup at Bridlington, Yorkshire

The venue for Bridlington is always good as you park up on the North Promenade and you look directly out over the sea. This year we have bought a caravan, called an Eriba Troll, so no more sleeping in the van at events! With its pop-up roof and rounded VW camper look it caused quite a lot of comments from passing holiday makers. One very knowledgeable man told his wife “those are amphibious you know…”. Obviously it is not amphibious, but with a forecast of three meter swells for Monday we hoped we wouldn’t need it to be.

SATURDAY

Racing on Day One kicked off in 6-7 knots so we were pumping all the way around the course on 7.8m sails. We got two races in, where I got a ninth and a twelfth place which, in light winds, is pretty good for me. But then the wind didn’t play ball and we stopped for the day at around 3 o’clock. I can’t tell you what good news this was as I am much better in stronger winds.

SUNDAY

Sunday kicked off with a 9.30 briefing and we were on the water soon after for four races. The wind was blowing and the formula fleet got out early, which was good to see. I started the day with a second place which was really pleasing, as I was only just behind Ali Masters who is the best Techno racer in the UK. The second race started as soon as the first had finished and I pulled away from the fleet and got a first which was even better.

Lunch in the caravan is luxury; a cooking stove that doesn’t go out in the wind as well as somewhere warm to sit and eat my pasta. The racing wasn’t over though and after two more, where I finished fifth and third, I was running fourth over-all behind three of my friends (and arch enemies) Ali Masters, Sam Sills and George Bowles.

MONDAY

Monday was promising a Force 8 offshore wind and 3.4m waves and fortunately that wasn’t what we got. However, we had a decent Force 6 and a tough shore-break, particularly when you are trying to launch a 205 litre Techno board and 6.8 metre sail. We only completed one race where I came in third which was highly pleasing as it put me up a place to third in the Techno One Design Fleet and made me second in the Techno 7.8 metre fleet.

My result at Bridlington has massively improved since the first UKWA event of the year at Marazion because I am much more focused and a week of coaching with Jem Hall has helped me with my light wind sailing coping better on the sea in all conditions. Since I have sorted out my food and drink I have a lot more energy on the water so I can perform to a greater standard. Also my result at Marazion (at Easter) was not helped by the fact that there was a lot of light wind pumping which is not my strong spot, but since then I have been working on improving my light wind sailing, which paid off on the first day of racing at Bridlington.

"My friends (on the racing circuit) are also my arch enemies."

"Since I have sorted out my food and drink I have a lot more energy on the water so I can perform to a greater standard."

The Long (wet) Summer

At the moment I have still got two UKWA events to do on my Techno One Design before we break for the summer: the Inland Series event at Derwent Water and the South East Cup at Eastbourne.

Due to quite a few of my recent races on Techno being in light winds and my results not being very good, I have just started a new training program so that I can build up my light wind racing technique. Whereas before if I went up to my local reservoir and there wasn’t much wind, I would go on my formula board or on my RRD Freestyle Wave 86litre, I am now doing what Jem Hall calls ‘’an hour of power’’ on my Techno. I have worked out a series of special exercises to improve my overall Techno sailing and I really push myself against the clock.

I am also hoping to do the Youth Freewave camp at Christchurch at the end of July. This will be my fourth time, as I have gone to every one since it was first set up by Trevor and Linda Funnell in memory of their son, Andy. They are great fun as well as I am learning loads and getting the chance to compete at the end of the weekend.

During August I am going be staying in Scotland which will be good as we live a short 20 minute drive away from the beach. This is a luxury, as the drive to my nearest wave beach (Rhosneigr) is just over three hours from our house in Halifax . We will also be only 20 minutes from the ferry port in Oban which links to Tiree, so hopefully we can get a couple of days sailing there if the forecast looks good.

So whilst I am in Scotland I can work on both my wave sailing and my techno sailing which will really help. I am really working hard on my Techno sailing in preparation for the Youth & Masters event in September where I am going to try and do just as well as last year when I came first in the 6.8m class. But as I am now sailing in the 7.8m class it will make it that bit harder.

Connor has a NEW sponsor – Atan Boots!!

Connor is sponsored by RRD Boards and Clothing, Ezzy Sails and Atan boots through www.seaspritesports.com and www.Surfstore.co.uk. He is personally mentored by www.jemhall.com and you can check out what it’s like to be a young windsurfer in the UK at www.rednemesisdog.com