A Love Letter to a Sport: Windsurfer Magazine, in rude good health!
- Team OTC
- 15 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Emma Maguire.
Windsurfers know how to celebrate their own. The Beach Café at Bracklesham was bursting with communal pride as the brand-new Windsurfer Magazine was unveiled. A full-blown love-in. Two glorious days on the water had left everyone glowing, and former pro turned café owner Jamie Hawkins kept the free drinks flowing. Three generations of windsurfers stood shoulder-to-shoulder, swapping tales and dancing under one fabulous collective banner.
Alongside the revelry, an impressive quiver of retro windsurf boards created an impromptu shrine to the sport’s wild visual history. Out on the patio, past legends mingled with excitable newcomers. Inside, a freshly printed magazine became the star, passed around reverently like a relic.
"a freshly printed magazine became the star, passed around reverently like a relic."
Peter Hart was front and centre, hosting the launch Q&A with mischief and affection, joined by Oli Sergeant (financial backer), Tris Best (editor), Dan McCaulay (enthusiastic promoter), and Lucas Meldrum (designer and serial wave-contest winner). Hart could barely contain his delight.
Here are his own words on the return of print, the response from the community, and the state of the sport:
On the launch atmosphere
Peter Hart: “It was a right old lovefest. So much positivity not hindered in any way by two great days on the water where all the classes got to perform, and a very generous free bar provided by former pro and café owner Jamie Hawkins. What was especially encouraging was that there were three generations of dedicated Windies there all partying under the same fabulous umbrella.”
"three generations of dedicated Windies there all partying under the same fabulous umbrella.”
On what print means
Hart: “The smell, the feel, the permanence. Magazines stand like historical documents in a way that fleeting digital posts never can. So many sports would dream of having a printed publication as classy, intelligent and thorough as Windsurfer. It makes the sport look in rude good health. Whether or not you’re a devotee, you couldn’t resist picking it up. If you’ve been in the sport a while, you forget how incredibly photogenic it is and how well served it is by both the athletes and the photographers. Those images come alive on the printed page.”
On early feedback
Hart: “The feedback was overwhelmingly positive. You don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone, as they say, and suddenly people realised how much they’d missed a proper publication. With only a handful of copies available, not many had had a chance to read it but I think they’re going to love the authentic, in-depth features, which are absolutely not driven by advertising.”
On the editorial approach
Hart: “Our esteemed editor Tris is especially good at getting people to open up and many of the features will offer a fascinating insight into many aspects of the sport. Personally I’m relishing the prospect of researching and submitting some hitherto unseen content.”
On what keeps windsurfing unique
Hart: “Far be it from me to criticise our wonderful sister sports of kiting and winging, but on my courses I’m getting a lot of windsurfing returnees. Early winging adopters who loved experiencing a new sensation but admitted nothing matches the thrill and unremitting technical challenge of windsurfing with its multiple disciplines and avenues of enjoyment.”
" joy, laughter, tears and shared celebration."
As Hart summed up on the night: joy, laughter, tears and shared celebration. Windsurfing has always been a lifelong relationship. This magazine reminds everyone just how much the sport still beats with heart, beauty, and unstoppable curiosity.
Subscriptions are now open. The future arrives in print.
📖 Subscribe: windsurfer.co
🌊 Next up: 2XS Wave Classic 2025
24–26 October | West Wittering
Presented by Windsurfer Magazine
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