text: James Briggs wins the British Open Championship on VMG Blades. Chris Bond, also using VMG Blades, wins the National 11m class.
  Congratulations to both James Briggs GBR848 and Chris Bond GBR697 for winning their respective classes of the British Open Championship and the National 11m Class. We know you’ve both worked hard this season and hope you take the time to savour and enjoy your victories.
  “Just wanted to let you know that VMG Blades are the fastest fins in Great Britain… I found that I had height, depth and speed on everyone. Not a bad combo…”
  “I feel very happy with the performance on the water of my kit … making this a superb way for me to end my 2009 season.”
  James Briggs, GBR848, British Open Champion 2009
  Well Done James & Chris! We hope you continue to win many more races with VMG Blades.
  British Open Championship Report from James Briggs
  The first day initially saw all racers afloat as the promising breeze dropped to 6 – 9 knots and the AP was flown. The breeze shortly returned and the start sequence was underway. The course being two laps of a box in 9 – 11 knots of breeze.
  The first start was away clear with Keith Atkinson (GBR56) reaching the windward mark a boat length ahead of James Briggs (GBR848). Across the starboard reach, Keith and I were matched for pace. Keith was using the Neil Pryde RS Racing Evo2 10.7 on the SB160 with a Virus fin. I was using VMG Blades K70 with Evo2 12m and Starboard 162.
  Unfortunately I had a small incident on the slipway the previous day. I slipped whilst in the water, kicked out to regain balance and slashed the base of my left foot on the fin. This lost me a little power on starboard as I was not able to fully pressure the fin owing to a dodgy taped up foot!
  Completing the downwind section, I took the lead from Keith. Keith gybed early on the downwind leg and came off the plane whilst I came in wide with speed and power. Then followed a further solid lap of the course, hunting for clear air and gusts, to pull out a convincing 2 minute lead over Keith.
  The second race had one attempted start which saw the wind drop and swing by 20 degrees making the the pin end of the line very favoured. After a short wait on the water, the race was then successfully away with most of the fleet starting on port. The course was an alternate course of windward, leeward followed by a box then an upwind finish. Those closer to the pin sailed to the middle of the course area gaining against those on the right side of the course. Keith led most of the fleet pushing an early start to the committee boat end. I held back from the pack to start closer to the pin.
  Tim Gibson (GBR40) was first to the windward mark. I followed closely behind, a powerful downwind leg saw me gain 500m sailing deeper at the same pace compared to Tim, taking the lead by the leeward mark which I then extended until the finish.
  The second day of racing presented very contrasting conditions with gusts of up to 50 knots through most of the day. There was a slight lull in the middle of the day to an average of 25 knots which unfortunately only allowed time for kit to be rigged and the course laid prior to the wind returning to full power again.
  More information can be found on this from the UKWA website at http://www.ukwindsurfing.org.
  Visit http://ukwindsurfing.com/results/2009/cup5_weymouth for the full breakdown of the British Open Championship results.