I took a stab more in hope than expectation on Friday, but it was not to be! I had hoped to see Sam Barnes fly at Brogborough with the new Hydrofoil Windsurfer from Neil Pryde. On the Sunday morning just after nine o’clock I was in time to watch Sam take to the water. I still had a few more minutes wait before being rewarded by the success of much pumping and seeing the broad board lift from the shackles of the water and become airborne.
The somewhat fitful wind meant it seemed a poor return for the effort expended in its achievement, but I nevertheless was appreciative and happy that I had witnessed the event and eagerly awaited what I was sure to come. After a few more minimal leaps came a more sustained flight, which drew spontaneous applause from the small group of people gathered at the foreshore to witness this new innovation to the world of windsurfing in Britain.
I think I can say that we all shared with Sam in the exultation of seeing his success. As we continued to watch, and in the case of four of us with cameras to capture the growing confidence and expertise displayed by his pioneering spirit in impatiently waiting for this new device to arrive. Sam had waited quite a time for the Hydrofoil to arrive, and when it came the forecast was for a severe lack of wind frustratingly, but it did mean the elation today was really obvious and after a far longer flight, gave rise to a delighted whoop of joy heard from the centre of the lake!
I left the gathering before the end of play, and having packed up the car I spotted a refreshed Sam go out once again and almost immediately took to the air in one of the longest flights I had witnessed, courtesy of a stronger wind and Sam’s short rest for recuperation, but it was going to take some time to sort through the images I already had without burdening myself with yet more.
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