WITH the challenge of the tail of hurricane Bertha passing over the county, eager windsurfers grabbed their boards and headed for the water.

Surfers from Lagoon Watersports braved the crashing waves and howling winds as they caught air and did tricks in the sea off of Brighton.

Spectators gathered as pro windsurfer Nik Baker turned up to raise the level of the competition as they all battled it out for the £100 cash prize.

In June Lagoon Watersports announced when wind speeds got to at least 25 knots a stunt-off competition.

They got more than they bargained for when they faced Bertha.

Judged by their peers, the surfers worked their way through heats.

Nik Baker won the crown of the biggest and best stunt, Rune Saerensen won biggest air and John Yeomans won biggest bail.

Today the Met Office has forecast the rain will subside and gales will become simply a stiff breeze of about 15mph.

To find out more about windsurfing, visit www.lagoon.co.uk or call 01273 424842 and dial extension 2.