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The Sea Panther Class originated in the early 80's, whilst the windsurfing boards are no longer in general use some have not found their way to the tip. The Statistics compared to todays lightweight windsurfing equipment make interesting reading, they weight up to 3 or 4 times as much as an equivalent volume board, support a 6.5 m rig which feels like 12 m of uncontrollable cloth, but they bring back memories.

The Sea Panthers returned to their spiritual home in Nottingham a mere 15 miles from where they where originally manufactured over a weekend in mid September. Many of the sixty or so Panther & ex Panther windsurfers who attended wondered how we ever learnt on such boards, let alone sailed them in waves on the sea, whilst state of the art at the time they are a little like dinosaurs now. However the partying spirit which went with the fleet hasn't died.

So what is it like to sail a twenty four year old board… interesting is the word. The sail is very unstable if you misjudge going to windward (or the wind swings) you find yourself involuntary tacking as the sail takes control. The bagginess of the sail means you automatically adopt the stance from twenty years ago, arms wide apart and legs wide apart, it is the only way of staying on board, as the centre of effort moves about a foot along the boom. You remember that perhaps it wasn't a windy as you thought in the old days - it just felt that way because you were out of control and seemed to be going fast.

The vintage windsurfing event at Notts County saw twenty pre 1990 boards taking part, saw about a dozen original Sea Panthers, on the line. Whilst the top spots went to non class boards in the hands of Mike Playle with a Sea Panther board & Sailboard rig & Penny Wilson (nee Way - no relation to the makers) sailing a Mistral Superlight with Panther rig.

The Saturday racing took place on the Notts County Sailing Club Training lake, due to the high winds (force 3 to 4) which provided some close intense racing and lots of banter, along with good spectator sport. Mike Playle, Penny Wilson, and Ian Boast all winning a race.

The short races proved quite tiring enough, as the booms are so wobbly that harnesses where difficult to use, most where complaining about aching muscles even the top sailors, showing how far equipment has moved on. The following day saw similar winds and it was decided that more of a challenge was needed for the final two races, so it was sailing on the main lake. Whilst short boards were zipping around only a few managed to plane, and one or two hitched a lift back having struggled round a lap or two in the winds.

Again it was Mike & Penny who dominated, but Ian's consistent results gave him a first in the Sea Panther class, with Paul Salt second, and Gordon Way third. Mike & Penny won overall, Fenella Longstaff winning the Panther ladies.

Results: Overall: 1st Mike Playle - Hollowell (Panther/ Sailboard), 2nd Penny Wilson - Notts County (Mistral/ Panther) Sea Panther: 1st Ian Boast - Burton, 2nd Paul Salt - Burton, 3rd Gordon Way - Staunton, 1st Lady Fenella Longstaff