25/09/2026
Announcement from our RO Karen Battye:
With Speedweek fast approaching, like the rest of you I'm getting packed up to come over, I would like to take this opportunity to make an announcement.
This year will unbelievably be my 10th Year as Race Officer for WSW and this year I will be hanging up my Musto's as it will be my last. I have absolutely loved my years doing this job with so many amazing memories and so many genuine friendships as some of the photos show, things we gained and many things we lost, but great times all of which I hold very close. Some windsurfers have known me much longer than others as James is now fast approaching 29 and he started Slalom at 16/17 after doing Formula for several years prior and then decided to do both, joy of joys for our bank balance🙄 But sincerely and honestly some of you have been through the wringer with me and it's been tough but you kept me together so many times and there are truly no words that could ever actually say how much you did for me or how much I truly appreciated it. James was not altogether happy when I said I would do the RO job, let's be honest who wants their mum out there giving out orders 😂 but fortunately for me he decided I was okay at it so all's well that ends well, I have though missed seeing him on the water for the last 5yrs, but as they say life moves on, James is very settled running a successful business and I am trying to forged a new life in France.
I will obviously come and see people during the week to say my personal goodbye's and thank you's but this decision is a final one and I will not go back on it, you did get me for an extra 3 years and I think you can thank or curse Pete and Zara Davis whichever you feel appropriate, it was them who asked me to stay on after Pete went .. oh and obviously Starbucks opening so close by 😂
See you on Saturday and hopefully we will have a great last week together 😊
Words from Nick Povey
"For 10 years Karen has brought her positive no nonsense northern pragmatism and joyous personality to tirelessly ensure that the WSW riders got the best possible sailing for any given day - for that we are truly grateful, she will be greatly missed"
