After a hectic journey we finally managed to arrive at Calshot near Southampton for the 2008 BUSA Windsurfing Nationals.

All 11 of us registered and found our spot on the campsite, with two tents and two campervans between us we were well set up.

Being the first there we naturally put on some music and let the
drinks flow, ten minutes later we were told off by some locals in the caravans for ruining the quiet ‘weekend back garden’, if only they knew 300 students were about to descend upon this ‘back garden’!

The evening was a horrendous affair with some premature drunkeness and even our very own president having to be put to bed by 12 and let’s not talk about our new social sec, team captain and vice president getting together for some inter-committee what can only be described as stuff (involving a five minute sound recording).

It seemed that we would have to make up for this behaviour for the rest of the event, and so we did.

On the Saturday the Student Windsurfing Association (SWA) had organised individual racing for three different levels of windsurfers, with representation in the intermediates and the advanced groups we were in for a chance at doing well in something.

Due to the nature of the wind and our club being in its first year we didn’t have the kit needed for the conditions within the club and so we stood no chance against the guys who had the kit and were in the olympic development squad and couldn’t pull out a podium positions despite our best efforts.

However, that said, our very own Sam Moffatt managed to win in the intermediate group overall, and in style, with a number of firsts and seconds, winning himself a nice sparkly shiny boom.

Then it was time for the much anticipated SWA party and this year it was to begin on a boat, with the bars in full flow it was another awsome party which was taken on into one of the hangers, with some interesting drunk five-a-side being taken up and some kind of rugby with a 4ft wide ball...

The Sunday saw light winds and a nice wake up call from a massive lightning storm that passed over head and with it there was no wind and so some of us made the decision to leave early whilst others stayed for prize giving and some general banter with students from other universities.

W.S.UP (Windsurfing @ University of Portsmouth) is a club that has only just been set up this year and we have managed to attend almost all the SWA events that were put on and we go windsurfing whenever it is windy.

We also have beginner trips at the start of the year and some fun socials including a bit of dogging (not what you think, but windsurfing on the common on skateboard like boards) so there really is no excuse not to join.

It’s awsome fun and our sponsors have been a great help at getting us going so thanks to them; Camp Leaders, Turf Dog, Bodyglove and Sola.