A speed driven windsurfer focusing on experience, hard-work, attention to detail and last but not least, fun, lots of it. Speed windsurfing was an easy choice for me, living around the corner from one of the worlds top speed courses, West Kirby.

Speed windsurfing has many technical variables adding to the fun of it. Board, sail, fin combo’s, selecting the right combination is vital. Experimenting with kit, tuning and trim can take weeks to get every thing just right. To reach our own limits, every thing has to be just right, physics, mental, equipment and fitness, making the challenge even more fun. The one’s that understand the science of it all are usually the ones that are fastest down the speed course. But, speed sailing is for every body. After all, we all enjoy overtaking our mates don’t we

Latest updates from Mark Hayford

50knots at West Kirby

There is now 5 windsurfers in the world that have gone over 50k. Two of them on our own shores at West Kirby this January, Our very own Steve Thorpe @ 50.48k, and Hollands Hans Kreisel @ 50.3k. The other three are Hollands Martin Van Muers @ 50.37k at... [Read more]

Mark Hayford Update

Third day of summer and the winds are looking pretty light (for now). Ideal time to blog about Spring. With record levels of cold weather, for me the windsurf season finally kicked off during the last week in February. It started of with big kit, mostly... [Read more]

Its been a great Spring 2011

Third day of summer and the winds are looking pretty light (for now). Ideal time to blog about Spring. With record levels of cold weather, for me the windsurf season finally kicked off during the last week in February. It started of with big kit, mostly... [Read more]

Speed Fins, What’s out there

4 or 5 years ago, speed fin choice was very limited, Tectonic F1, F-Hot and Select Viper speeds where the main fins. But in 2011 we are spoilt for choice. Most fin manufactures have a couple of dedicated speed fins in there line up. Heres are brief over... [Read more]

Starboard iSonic Speed Special W44, W53 & W58 quick review

With the speed session about to kick off again at the end of January and www.gps-speedsurfing.com and boards.mpora.com sponsoring the 2011 British speed ladder, it’s time to start thinking speed again:) I’ve now had the Speed special’s... [Read more]

Starboard iSonic 107 and iSonic 137 review update

Plenty of snow around so to much windsurfing going on. Now that Iv’e had plenty of sessions on the new 2011 iSonics, now ideal time to do a quick update on how they feel. iS107 wood: Fins used: Select RS7 41cm Sails used: North Warps 7m/8m/9m First... [Read more]

Isonic 107 test

Managed to get a couple of iS107 wood session in, first impression are great. I came from a 2008 iS111 so I was looking for a few big improvements since three years had past by, I am not disappointed, the iS107 has been improved in all areas. So far,... [Read more]

Tuesday 14th Sept and Wednesday 15th Sept 2010

Wind started to build on the Tuesday, enough to get out on the Starboard W44 and North F2009 7m. Very flat waters and winds at 15k gusting 25k produced peak speeds of 38 knots. Nice easy day. Tuesday saw real winds, 40k gusting to over 50 knots. The water... [Read more]

I know that a few people are thinking of upgrading their iS133/131/144 for the new iS137/127 and it’s sometimes tough deciding if it’s really worth changing boards. So here’s a quick review of the iS137 Carbon compaired to my old 2008... [Read more]

Wind at last!

Sunday 24th Aug. Not an epic day, but was a lot of fun. West kirby delivered 20k to 25k WSW winds producing a less than perfect square/tight speed course. The usual suspects turned up, including Ian Richards, Farrel and Stu. These three were the fastest... [Read more]

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