Ben Murrin competes in last year's competition. Photo / File
Ben Murrin competes in last year's competition. Photo / File
For Tauranga's Darren Nicholas, windsurfing is a sport where you can genuinely switch off from the world and enjoy the moment.
The secretary of the Tauranga Windsurfers Inc has been windsurfing for about 35 years and one of the reasons he has done it for so long is because it truly is a sport where it is just yourself, the elements and your gear.
"The freedom you can get from windsurfing is like nothing else," Nicholas says.
"Once you're out on the water you leave the rest of the world behind."
This weekend, Nicholas and about 50 like-minded athletes of all abilities will be out on the Tauranga Harbour enjoying the elements as part of this weekend's annual two-day Tauranga Windsurfers Carbon Art Harbour Jam.
Nicholas, who has sailed various locations around the world and competed in international events, says this weekend's event has been running for at least 10 years and will act as a fun opening event for the New Zealand windsurfing season, with sailors from around the North Island attending.
Although there are top windsurfers attending the Harbour Jam, the aim of the event is to have fun out on the water. Among those top athletes include Auckland's Laurence Carey, Jack Holiday and Jon Cameron.
Windsurfers flock to Kulim Park for Tauranga Windsurfers' annual 2 day windsurfing event this weekend last year. Photo / File
"It's a good fun weekend where people can get together ... we set it up originally to have fun.
The Harbour Jam started out with about 10 participants, gradually morphing into what it is today, he says.
There are three divisions, including the Gold Fleet for the professional sailors, the Silver Fleet for those who want to compete but not at the top level and then there is the Bronze Fleet for first-time sailors.
"We cater for pretty much every body ... It's trying to encourage people to come along and have a go."
He can't express enough that it is a event focused on people enjoying themselves with events such as fun races, team relays and flat out downwind slalom races with lots of action all included over the two days.
"We don't just do serious racing."
Nicholas says the location of the event will be based on weather forecasts. On Saturday, windsurfers will head to Kulim Park and on Sunday, depending on weather conditions, it may move to Fergusson Park, he says.
"We know which park works the best in wind conditions."
Overall, Nicholas says this weekend will be packed plenty of fun, lots of slalom action and prizes.
