Champions crowned in the ‘Thrills and Spills’ of Porthcawl surf.

The gale force winds of the Welsh coast saw the most accelerating racing in the 2009 season... Fantastic surf saw the finale of the ThunderCat racing RYA National Championship.  Thanks to the local community of Porthcawl and their excellent surf safety teams that joined our own the ThunderCat community can celebrate the closure of two years with no racing accidents, a credit to everyone involved.The weekend started with a few hesitations on Saturday as the winds reached gale force, marquees and flags being destroyed thus the racing was cancelled after competitors competing in only four heats… Sunday saw everyone in the pits bright and breezy to experience the gale force winds prevailing, watching the surf breaking over the harbour walls and sand storms rolling across the beach – not forgetting the rain, was nothing going to go right – after discussing with teams and safety we felt that the weather would subside and we should get ready to race… Racing started, with P750S withdrawing as championship points.  The hard and fast were going for glory actually more of a challenge of the surf cats ‘Teams Aquarius’ with the knowledgeable South Africans Sean Fisher and Grant Pittard, reigning National Champions Team ‘Voom Voom’ James Tapp and Christian Fletcher Walker and Microlink PC Darryn Harrison and Sam Lane fought like gladiators of the sea for the title of National Champion… Thus surfing cats we saw; the teams showed how safe yet competitive they were, understanding that contact and tail-gaiting would only cause accidents, being competitive, feeling the adrenaline rush and wanting to be a winner meant you needed to survive and cross the line – not fall out; tension mounting and points so close that one mistake would give the other the National title; their audience watched with baited breath, screams could be heard especially from Karan, Darryn Harrisons mother as her son’s boat looked more like a NASA rocket rather than a vessel that is supposed to be in the water. Team Aquarius had engine problems so the title came down to the final heat between Team VoomVoom and Microlink for the P750 title – Gasps of disbelief as Voom Voom were in the lead but missed a mark thus safely had to re enter the course and round the mark giving team Microlink the lead and the championship. In twenty five years of racing I have never seen two teams drawing on championship points and the deciding factor was what team had the most wins in the Season… On that account Team Microlink have won the RYA P750 Championship! Well done guys that was nail biting moments and very close competitive racing. The National title in P750 Standard class goes to Bligh Julius and Simon Butters from Southampton Solent University – Congratulations to everyone for their participation this season.  Unfortunately local boys ‘Team Relentless’ had engine problems and unable to compete on Sunday which was a shame but never the less it was good to meet the team and get to know them. Further Press releases to follow regarding the event and the RYA National Champions including photos and video.

TEAM 'AHMAD TEA' - Driver and new father Mike Littler was with his Co-Pilot and newly wed Naomi Williams. Naomi has now proved that she has more 'balls' than her husband Gareth Williams after competing in Sundays surf racing; Gareth who kindly took these photos was asked if he would change positions with his wife? the answer was firmly NO... Gareth will be competing in Key West World Championships in November with Vee Ganjavian a far cry from the conditions that Naomi had to deal with; luckily for Naomi she can watch her husband racing whilst in the sunshine sipping cocktails at the bar!! Good luck to the boys hope you bring a cup back for us!