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In 1982 South Wight Borough Council put all its deckchair and beach hut sites up for tender and Ceri Williams won the bid for Dunroamin Beach mid way along the sea wall between the twin resorts of Shanklin and Sandown fighting off competition from a host of multi national companies.
We are fully recognised by all the NGB and work closely with them to develop the centre.
Ceri was into canoeing and brother Ian was taught to windsurf by his future wife Jill. In 1984 they formed a partnership with Ceri putting his Palm Surfski into the business and Ian putting his Wayler Ypsi and his wife's Surf Partner UFO into it (boards which today are antiques or museum pieces). Thus was Wight Water Adventure Sports born.
They bought two secondhand Hawke Surf Catamarans and borrowed canoes from Wight Aquatics and began hiring equipment off the beach. Meanwhile they continued to operate a deckchair and beach hut site. With groups beginning to book they took the plunge and went and saw a nice man at the bank wearing their very best clothes and careful not to say words like 'bollocks' which the bank manager probably wouldn't understand.
Having successfully mortgaged their houses, parent's house, parent's investment bonds and swept up any loose change lying around they spent a stash on new stores, changing rooms and equipment buying Palm Waveriders, Pyranha Freestyle kayaks and Mystere Pulsar windsurfers (anybody remember what a heap of junk they were!) plus loads of wetsuits.
Between 1988 (I think) and 1994 they ran Wight Rescue, a lifeguard and rescue boat service under contract to the Council. Meanwhile Ceri had clawed his way to the dizzy heights of BCU Senior Instructor and Ian to the revered even hallowed position of RYA Windsurfing Trainer (we wore ermine like Lords deciding who can and can't join our exclusive gang and pontificated on things windsurfing).
These were busy times and business brisk and they set up a shop in Orchardleigh Road, Shanklin and some years later another in Cowes. By now they were getting too cocky by half and demanded more money from the bank to build concrete beach huts, a store and boat park.
Ross and Aaran Williams learnt to windsurf at Wight Water and Ian took them and friends to the Nationals at Weymouth each year. Highlights of the Nationals include Aaran lofting his golf ball on the pitch and putt course into a crowded car park, Ross's manic display of driving on the go-karts, and the annual attempt to get them all thrown out the swimming pool in a record time. Oh they also did quite well in the windsurfing too.
Today Offshore Sports the retail part of the business is a partnership between Ceri Williams and Steve Chapman. Wight Water the watersports business is in the hands of Ceri's stepson Scott Gardner and Ian and Jill Williams loaf around running the café and beach huts.
Ian and Ceri Williams are eternally grateful to all past customers who have made it possible to live for 20 years without a collar and tie, without strict hours and the unhealthy pallor of the office. One thing we haven't done is made any money - yet.
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