Umdloti’s Wayne Smith took part in the Windsurfer World Championships in Lake Garda, Italy, last month.

Smith, who works in construction and project management, has been sailing since he was in high school.

“I enjoy sailing because its outdoors and its physically demanding. It is a lifestyle,” he said.

The Windsurfer World Championships centres around the Windsurfer LT. The Windsurfer LT was very much in fashion in the 80s, but the trend has died down over the past two decades. In fact, the last Windsurfer World Championships was held 22 years ago!

“They have reinvented the LT, and made them lighter. The equipment has improved,” said Smith.

The hope is that the windsurfers of yesteryear will nostalgically get back into the sport. The event was well attended, he said, with 180 entries from 39 countries.

“You do not have to qualify. You just pitch up, charter a board, and take part.”

There were four events: Olympic course racing, slalom, a distance race, and freestyle. Smith took part in the first three. Steven Louw, a South African friend of Smith’s, won a silver medal for the freestyle event.

There is a growing desire to grow the Windsurfer LT fleet within the country.

“I do all types of sailing, but windsurfing is the purest form of sailing,” said Smith.

“You are immediately in control of your sail and boat.”

He is part of an ‘informal’ windsurfing club of around 25 guys from Durban North to Salt Rock. For beginner windsurfers, Smith said patience and persistence were key.

“The rewards are fantastic,” he said.

Anyone interested in taking up the sport can contact Smith on 072 822 4946.

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