Final preparations are being made for Easter weekend and the annual Good Friday round Hayling Windsurf Race and stand up paddle board challenge.
Every year hordes of enthusiasts descend on the island and head to HISC to do battle and test themselves regardless of the weather.
In years past weve had everything from 50 knot squalls on the start line to sublime warm and sunny weather. This year at this stage its looking fine and dry fingers crossed.
The Round Hayling Windsurf Race has quite a prestige among the windy community with the concept conceived back in the 80s. After disappearing from the calendar for a while it re-emerged a few years ago and now marks the start of the summer watersports season each April.
Stand up paddling was introduced to run alongside windsurfing and while SUPers dont marathon around Hayling there are challenges of varying levels of difficulty using the many tidal creeks found in this area.
The whole gathering is one of a social leaning with regular participants only happy to encourage and help out newbies. If nothing else it makes for a great spectacle watching hundreds of sails heading off passing under the bridge at Langstone rounding the headland near the Ferryboat Inn and before landing back at the start.
For more info check out www.hisc.co.uk/sailing-racing/open-events/windsurf-round-hayling-island/
