National title for Ali

WINDSURFING - CLEVEDON'S young windsurfing star Ali Masters sealed off his windsurfing season in style, scooping the national title in men s RS:X class at the annual RYA/UKWA national windsurfing championships.

WINDSURFING - CLEVEDON'S young windsurfing star Ali Masters sealed off his windsurfing season in style, scooping the national title in men's RS:X class at the annual RYA/UKWA national windsurfing championships.

Having picked up a bronze medal at the world championships in the Youth Raceboard class back in August, 18-year-old Masters was keen to add a national title to his silverware haul.

Hampered by impossible winds gusting up to 40 knots on the second day of the event, the championships, held at Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, were decided by Saturday's racing which saw contrasting light shifty winds making for some challenging conditions across the classes.

Taking it in his stride, Masters, who now trains in the elite Skandia Team GBR stable, put together a faultless three-race performance on the sole day's racing winning all his races, finishing top of the leader board, proving himself untouchable and securing the title; RS:X Men's National Champion 2009.

The event, run jointly by the RYA and UKWA, traditionally rounds up the competitive windsurfing season and saw over 120 of the UK's top windsurfers battle it out for national titles in their respective classes with Masters' fellow RYA squad sailors picking up an impressive haul of silverware.