Watersports festival is a splash hit

Incorporating the sports of windsurfing, kitesurfing, kayaking and SUP (stand up paddle boarding), around 10,000 people turned up to enjoy everything the festival laid on.

With hundreds inspired by the action, they got out on the water in a variety of boats, boards and kites, the gentle breeze making it perfect for beginners and children, eager to have a go and see if they could replicate some of the moves of the professionals.

“The event has exceeded our expectations this year with many more spectators from the local area coming down to watch all the racing as well as sign up to all our taster sessions,” explained Allan Cross, events director.

“This is the ‘People’s Festival’ and we want to get as many people involved, in as many ways as possible, from racing, to having a shot at kitesurfing or just giving it a go on the canoe simulator.

“The trade tent has also been larger than previous years and the manufacturers have really pushed the boat out creating beach huts, Star Wars tributes and making sure they have the very best of the new 2015 kit available to show off. This has been a big attraction to visitors this year and at times the show has been knee-deep in visitors.”

The NWF saw the usual mix of weekend racers, alongside multiple world champions, including Ross Williams, World Formula Windsurfing Champion who hails from Ventnor.

New to this year was the Night Skate Park where the kitesurfers swapped their usual boards to wakeboards and intrepidly set out into the dark behind jet skis who pulled them onto a kicker and grinding rail, with the guys putting on a spectacular and, at times, nail-biting performance.

On Saturday night it was the windsurfers’ turn and the pros, eager to put on a show, used the jet skis to get some full-on speed to pull off their freestyle moves.

A fantastic £3,200 was raised for the official charity W4CR (Watersports for Cancer Research) following an auction.