Gerroa has once again lived up to its title as the spiritual home of windsurfing, with the 2026 Severne East Coast Titles finally crowning champions after a week-long wait for the right conditions.

Following an earlier postponement and a nervous eye on the forecast, competitors were rewarded on Sunday when the long-anticipated north-easterly filled in at 15–20 knots, sending shoulder-high sets marching into Seven Mile Beach.

“It was worth the wait,” local sailor James Hayward said. “When that NE kicked in, even though it was still a bit marginal at times, it gave us a proper window to run it. That’s all you need here.”

While winds across the weekend remained on the lighter side, Sunday’s weather window allowed the NSW Wave Sailing Association to run a dynamic expression session format - a crowd-pleasing shift from traditional heat draws.

All competitors first hit the water together, throwing down their best carving turns and aerial manoeuvres in an open expression session. From there, the top performers advanced to a final shootout to decide the champion.

In a spectacular finale, Logan Haggerston emerged with the East Coast Title. Duncan Osborne finished second, with Laurie Menviel rounding out the podium in third.

“Notably,” said Hayward. “Laurie Menviel’s podium finish further cemented her reputation for delivering a level of superb wave riding that rivals the very best in the field.”

In a fresh addition to the program, organisers also introduced the East Coast Wave Rally - a high-energy format that quickly became a crowd favourite. 

Sailors raced out through the break on their wave boards, rounded a buoy set offshore and charged back to the beach in a test of speed, timing and versatility.

Photo: Brian Scott

Dean Hendrie took out the Wave Rally final, ahead of Haggerston in second.

Hayward said the new format added another dimension to the weekend.

“It shows how well-rounded these sailors are,” he said. “You’re not just talking about surfing a wave - you’re talking about fitness, tactics and board handling. It brought a real buzz to the beach.”

Also running alongside the main competition was a youth training session and in a landmark moment for the association, several of the youngest “groms” caught their first waves under the guidance of seasoned mentors.

“For me, that’s the best part of the weekend,” Hayward said.

“Seeing the kids get their first proper rides out there - that’s how the sport keeps growing. There’s a real sense of passing it on.”

Photo: Brian Scott

Whilst the event marked the grand finale of the 2025/26 NSWWSA season, Hayward also pointed out Gerroa’s ability to always have a community vibe.

“You’ve got elite sailors pushing through tough conditions, but you’ve also got families on the beach, mates catching up and kids getting involved,” he said. “That’s what makes Gerroa special. It’s high level, but it never loses that community feel.”

The NSWWSA extended its thanks to long-time supporters including local icon Natural Necessity Surf Shop and Severne for backing the event.

Photo: Brian Scott