Tenby kitesurfer Gareth Mogsy Morgan was placed third in the UK in the Amateur Hydrofoil Class at the British Kitesurfing Racing Championships held recently at Exmouth.

The class is the fastest single-handed sailing class in the world, reaching speeds up to two-and-a-half times the speed of the wind. The hydrofoil lifts the surfboard off the water and elevates the sailor above the surface, reaching speeds over 35 knots.

The class is likely to be features as the newest sailing class in the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and kitesurf racing is already featured in the 2018 Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires.

Gareth is a chartered engineer employed by Danish oil company Maersk Oil.

The British Championships consisted of six races in light wind strengths of up to eight knots. Courses were windward/leeward Olympic courses around a start and finishing yacht.

Gareth uses up to 17m square metre kites to propel him around the race course, tacking and gybing, abiding by the yacht racing rules.

Gareth explained that the Pembrokeshire coastline has been a perfect training ground for honing his hydrofoil racing skills, with consistent winds and a choice of sheltered waters. He also managed to get some mid-winter training in South Africa last winter, utilising the Western Cape’s Cape Doctor wind.

The latest Americas Cup racing boats use hydrofoil technology to revolutionise the sport of sailing, and sailing classes, including kitesurfing, have been inspired to follow suit.

Gareth, who is also a British Skiff racing sailing champion and a kitesurfing wave master champion, said he was delighted to get this placement, as the hydrofoil class attracts the presence of some of the country’s best sailors.

Gareth explained that in the difficult light wind conditions, he was several yards from winning the last race and the wind died off completely, denying him the overall win for the competition.

Gareth is a member of Surflink Surf Club, South Beach, Tenby. He gets riding sponsorship support from North Kitesurfing UK and F-One kitesurfing and is hoping to gain more sponsors after his performances in the British Championship. Any local businesses looking to support Gareth and gain logo advertising on his kite and boards can contact him via his Facebook coaching page Weskus Boardriders or his email address [email protected].

Gareth also provides coaching and instruction from The Big Blue Experience Kitesurfing centre in Newgale during the summer months. Call the BigBlue booking office on 07816169359 quoting promotional code S.W.A.N. or visit the Big Blue Experience new website for more information.