Tadhg Al-Hassan, with the Oxford Zoomers,Techno 3.5

RYA Team15 – the future for club windsurfing

Much has changed since 2001 when Bob the Builder topped the charts, Tony Blair was Prime Minister and our economy was booming. It’s true of the windsurfing world too, which has also seen some radical developments over the last 10 years.  Boards have got fatter and lighter, masts have got thinner and the Team15 programme has grown to a point where the UK has one of the finest club structures for young windsurfers in the world.

The RYA Team15 (T15) programme was in embryonic form back in 2001 and in March 2011 celebrated a decade of success.

Arguably, one of the biggest developments in the world of windsurfing in the last 10 years, Team15 was set up to provide not only  a feed into the RYA competition pathway, but if not more importantly, to develop a grassroots programme that made it easier for youngsters up to the age of 15 to get involved in the sport.

It was identified that the best way to do this was by developing a network of clubs that could provide friendly, fun- filled competition out on the water combined with good coaching and supervision.

“The programme looked to ensure that windsurfing skills of all descriptions were nurtured, providing children with a good foundation in the sport, allowing them to take their windsurfing in whichever direction they wanted.

“Suitable kit is also made readily available by the clubs and, essentially, the programme was ready to go”, explained Team15 Manager and the RYA’s National Windsurfing Development Officer Gillian Wright, who has been a driving force behind the programme since its inception.

Coaching

In the formative years of the T15 Programme, a new style of coaching programme had to be developed to underpin the T15 philosophy. Coaches and organisers were ready and willing to go the extra mile in order to ensure that it was a success and the take up was extremely good. Ten years on and many of today’s young windsurfers will undoubtedly have experienced that first thrill of windsurfing under the careful supervision of a Team15 club.

Perhaps the best measure of the programme’s success is to take a look at some of the alumni who have graduated through the ranks of T15. World class sailors such as Izzy Hamilton, the Sills family – big brother Sam and twin sisters, Saskia and Imogen; Youth Olympics Bronze Medallist Kieren Martin; Freewave sailors George Shillito, Graham Woods and Adam Lewis who left T15 to form Team AirBorn are just a few of the ex-T15 sailors who have gone on to greater things and many have become windsurfing instructors of talent themselves.

“Given that the first batch of graduates from T15 are just starting to come through, it’s exciting to think who will burst onto the scene having been nurtured and helped along their way by the programme”, enthused Gillian.

Developing the windsurfing stars of the future is really just the thin end of the wedge, however when it comes to T15.  For every star of the future the programme helps along the way, there will be a hundred or so youngsters who catch the bug for windsurfing for life and will help keep our wonderful sport flourishing.  Beyond everything else, this is what makes this programme so important.

South event 4 - Windsurf fleet at Poole

Champions Cup

Another key aspect of the T15 programme is the Champions Cup.  In order to develop the grassroots competition side of the programme, clubs were encouraged to put together a team of up to 15 children, all aged 15 or under – which is how the programme got its name.

Friendly inter-club rivalry was encouraged, and to give the whole thing a clear structure, teams from the same zones took part in inter- club challenges and vied for the chance to make it to the T15 national Championships – the T15 Champions Cup. It was a foundation which has been built on with great success.

Team15’er Tom Sylvester from the 2010 Roseland Waveriders team said: “The Champions Cup is brilliant. It involves everyone from the younger ones who are just beginning right up to age 15.  I’m now in my final year and Team15 has been so good. I love getting out in the wind and getting the speed going.

“My advice for other youngsters who want to windsurf is to find a Team15 club, join as quickly as possible and get out on the water lots.”

Today there are currently some 80 Team15 clubs from a far afield as Cornwall and Scotland with many of them putting their windsurfing skills to the test in the Team15 inter-club championship and this year’s competition is set to be a corker.

But what’s in store for the future of Team15?

“Naturally I’m very proud of what we have achieved so far, and I’m sure there is more to come from T15. It’s fantastic to see the youngsters progressing from Team15 to succeed in a variety of windsurfing disciplines including racing, freestyle and waves. Whatever they go on to do, we hope that they will continue to windsurf long after their Team15 days”, continued Gillian.

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West Kirby Warriors

A hundred young windsurfers from nine teams across the UK, took to the water at Pitsford Reservoir this weekend (08-09 October) to compete in the 2011 Team15 Champions Cup, where the West Kirby Warriors from the West Zone clinched the victory.

After dominating throughout the season in their regional heats, the Warriors won their place in the final back in September. Despite fierce competition they continued to dominate at the national final and were delighted to lift the cup and be crowned this year’s Team15 champion of champions.

“I am really thrilled for the kids as they’ve worked so hard all year. They are the ones who really deserve it” commented Simon Moore who coaches the West Kirby Warriors.

“We are absolutely over the moon to have won first place and when you look at the smiles on the kids’ faces you can see just how much it means to all of us.”

Held at Northampton Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir, teams hailed as far afield as Scotland and Cornwall to compete for the title. The youngsters took to the water despite challenging conditions which included at times very little wind at all.

There were plenty of new faces at this year’s event including the North Zone’s Pugney’s Pirates who knocked out last year’s Champion Cup winners the North Lincs Invaders in their regional heats, and the Siblyback Water Warriors who also qualified for the first time.

The competitors whizzed around two courses in four different classes 3.5m, 4.5m, 5.8m and Techno 6.8m competing in nine different races and one fun race to round up the weekend.

RYA National Windsurfing Development Officer Gillian Wright who coordinates T15 said: “This year’s event has gone fantastically. We have seen some great races going on and the talent that can be seen out on the water is superb. It’s very exciting to see some new teams coming through and qualifying for the Champions Cup and there has been some really exciting battles going on throughout the weekend.”

Competitors, parents and local supporters also enjoying testing the Tushingham/Starboard and Neil Pryde demo kit which was available to try out throughout the weekend.

Winners the West Kirby Warriors picked up a BIC Techno board for their club which was presented by ex Team15er and member of the RYA Volvo RS:X Transitional Training squad, Adam Purcell. Other prizes were donated from Neil Pryde, Tushingham /Starboard and Boards Magazine.

Special merit awards were given to Oxford Zoomer Alice Read, Rowena Conway and Saskia Walsh from Norwich Force Eighth, Spray Sprite Bruce Partridge, Pitsford Pirate Zoe Bowen and Beth Mickel from the Loch Insh Monsters.

Tadhg Al-Hassan (11) from the Oxford Zoomers who was at the event for the first time said: “I would recommend windsurfing as a sport for other kids to do. It’s a lot of fun, you go fast, all you need is a board, and as long as there is water and wind you can go!

“My advice for other kids would be to learn one step at a time. Sooner or later you will find yourself with huge sails cruising along the water. It’s really fun! I’ve had a great weekend at the Champions Cup and I definitely want to come back next year”.

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde. T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches.

The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills.

Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

Champions Cup 2011 Final Results

Racing at the Team15 Champions Cup

West Pennine Team15

There was very tight racing in all classes at the RYA T15 West Zone interclub, held on Saturday 09 July. This was the third of a four event interclub windsurfing series, and was hosted by Hollingworth Hunters at the West Pennine Sailboard Club, near Rochdale.

There were four teams competing from all over the Zone, from Windermere in the North to West Kirby in the West, and competition was very tight both between teams and within teams. Hosts Hollingworth were hoping for a best yet result on their home waters, in ideal conditions of medium winds which allowed nine races in the beginners’ 3.5 metre class, and seven longer races in the other three classes.

In the 3.5 metre class, there was tremendous three way competition between the teams, with the top three competitors separated by only two points. Ollie Mulhall of Windermere Rufwinds took the class, counting four race wins in his scoreline, after a great battle with Oliver Lloyd of West Kirby Warriors and Molly Howell of hosts Hollingworth Hunters, who took second and third places.

In the other three classes, competition was equally fierce, but it was mostly within the very strong West Kirby Warriors team. In the 4.5 metres, which attracted the best turnout of twelve sailors, West Kirby youngsters took all the top three places, with just a point separating the top three, as Oliver Eastwood edged it ahead of Sam Kelly and Frances McNab.

It was the same story in the 5.5 metres, with West Kirby’s Samson King leading a giant team performance, staying just ahead of team mates Will Mooney and George Kenny home.

In the Techno 6.8 metre class, West Kirby’s Charlotte Rutter beat team mate Isaac Bradley Baker for the first time ever to take the class, with Isaac second, while Sarah Jackson of Team Astbury this time broke up the West Kirby grip on the podium by taking third place.

Courtesy of the RYA’s Sail for Gold initiative, there were a couple of gold medals up for grabs in a final race, and Oliver Lloyd and Sam Kelly won gold in the 3.5 metre and 4.5 metre classes, both sailing for West Kirby.

Overall the strength of the overall West Kirby Warriors performance left little chance of a giant killing, and West Kirby duly took their third event victory of the year. On their home waters, Hollingworth Hunters were always in the hunt for second place, but eventually had to concede by just four points to Team Astbury, while Windermere Rufwinds took fourth.

The teams stayed on at West Pennine for a day of coaching the following day with RYA National Coach Ian Roberts, who said, “I’m most impressed with the standards, I’ve got plenty of talent to work with here!” RYA Regional Development Officer Sally Kilpatrick also enjoyed watching these top young windsurfers in action.

The final West Zone interclub will be at West Kirby on 17 September, and the series result will determine which club will go to represent the Zone at the RYA T15 Champions Cup in October.

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde, T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches.

The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills.

Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

Windfest 2010 winners, by Si Crowther

Renowned for its consistent sunshine year on year, the Windfest team are hoping the surf gods will look upon them kindly again for 2011. The annual free watersports and beach festival, held in the second weekend of September at Sandbanks, Poole is due to be another action packed event hosted this year on 9-11 September.

Wowing the crowds last year, the Red Bull Matadors return in 2011 with their three gleaming gravity-defending planes. Tricks and turns with smoke trails and growling engines bring the event to its peak on Sunday afternoon.

Sponsored by Breeze Volkswagen, FCWatersports, and Fruit, the many sports represented include windsurfing, kitesurfing, paddleboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding, slacklining, sailing, Frisbee, volleyball, surf ski and sea swimming. Many of these sports will be represented competitively by UK and International professionals and amateurs throughout the weekend and, where possible, free demo or trial sessions will be made available to the visiting public.

With plenty of showing off on the water there is also lots to see and do on dry land. The beach and promenade becomes a showcase of all things relevant to the watersports and beach community, including a Kids Zone to keep the juniors entertained. A dedicated marquee will provide activities, face painting, colouring and even acoustic live music for young families.

UKWA British freestyle returns to showcase some of the UK’s best windsurfers, battling it out to be crowned the champion of this year’s event. The RYA Team 15’s is an opportunity for young people to compete for the South Zone interclub championships, while the ‘Master Blaster’ is fun racing open to anyone who simply wants to have a go!

The usual popular evening events are also ready to go; Friday night’s more formal ‘black tie and board shorts’ charity ball will once again raise money for the Richie Keefe Life and Soul Trust amongst other charities. The Saturday night legendary party will feature the usual selection of live bands, DJ’s, silent disco, and beach bars for the full sandy feet effect.

Gary Willingham, event organiser, says: “As each year goes by we try to up our game and this year is no exception! Windfest has become so established in the annual calendar that we always aim to bring something new to the mix, whilst maintaining its free status making it accessible to all. We’d like to see even more visitors have a go at something this year and perhaps try a sport for the first time or reconnect with an old hobby – there will be lots of free opportunities for them to do so. The hope is they might get hooked!”

Google Windfest for the website and images from past events. The website includes entry forms for competitors and latest news about evening party tickets. Also follow Windfest on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates. Or just click here!

The victorious Pitsford Pirates

After losing out to championship rivals the Carsington Comets in round one of the Midlands Team15 2011 Inter-Club Championship, Pitsford Pirates battled their way through the torrential rain and windy conditions to clinch the round two win, held at Draycote Water Sailing Club on Saturday 18 June.

Competition was close all weekend in all of the classes despite the testing conditions. “It was really wet and windy, but it was great”, commented James Bulson from the Croft Farm Flyers.

In the 6.8m Techno class it was Pitsford Pirates’ Joe Patrick and Croft Farm Flyers’ Nick Welsh who put in a stunning display both fully planning as they raced to the finish line, with Joe finishing just inches ahead to take the win by just one point!

Robin McAllister (Pitsford Pirates) continued to dominate in the 5.8m fleet, winning every race in the class at this event.

There was good news too for new team on the Midlands Circuit, the Croft Farm Flyers.  Youngster Tom Cave, who is competing in his first ever Team15 event claimed a finish in every race, with three top three finishes in the difficult conditions.  With team mates Ben Bulson and Nick Welsh both claiming three bullets in the 6.8m fleet, meaning they finished the event on equal points. Ben also had some friendly sibling rivalry out on the course with his sister Laura (Croft Farm Flyers) as they raced head to head in the 6.8m fleet.

It was a great weekend for other sibling competitors Adam and Dominic Meylan-Stevenson, competing in the 6.8 and 4.5m fleets respectively.  Adam was awarded his Team15 Ambassador rash vest at the event, as a Team15’er who has made the transition to the RYA Zone Squad.  Part of his role as an Ambassador is to help promote the Zone Squads and the RYA competition pathway to T15 sailors, answering any questions which T15 sailors may have about the zone squad, RYA pathways or open training opportunities.  Dominic, on the other hand, won a special merit award for entertaining the committee boat with a trick as he crossed the finish line in every race.

The next event will be hosted at Northampton Watersports, Pitsford Reservoir, home of the Pitsford Pirates, on Saturday 9 July.

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde. T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches.

The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills.

Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.

Full race results and details on how to get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

Sarah Jackson of Team Astbury

Six teams fielding 38 members came to Wigan for its first ever RYA Team15 (T15) interclub windsurfing event, on Saturday 18^th June. The event was the second round this year of the RYA T15 West Zone interclub championship, and was held at Scotsman’s Flash Watersports Centre, hosted by Wigan Youth Services supported by Wigan Sailing Club.

The teams came from all over the West Zone, from the Lake District in the North to Lancashire, Derbyshire and Cheshire in the South. One team, the West Kirby Warriors, was so big that some of their members had to be excluded from their maximum 15 person team, and entered as individuals, so not all of the West Kirby’s surfers’ scores could be counted towards the team trophy.

The young windsurfers, all aged 8 to 15 years old, competed in four different classes, with different sizes of sails, so all from beginners to experts could join in. The beginners’ class, with 3.5 metre sails, was the most popular, and the most closely contested.

Rosie Pearce, of Team Astbury, and Ollie Mulhall of Windermere Rufwinds scored equal points after taking three wins each, and could only be separated, in Rosie’s favour, on the tie break. Molly Howell of the Hollingworth Hunters took third as three teams put points on the board early. Two additional teams gained prizes, with Maya-Ray Cross of Scotty’s Piranhas and Shane Stott of Hollingworth Hunters both gaining Merit prizes at their first event, while Jack Matthews of Glorious Glossop took a Techno prize.

In 4.5 metres, there was another close contest, with Sam Kelly of West Kirby Warriors fighting off team mate Frances McNab, while Matthew Fleming of Windermere Rufwinds took third.

In the 5.8 metres, Will Mooney of West Kirby Warriors had the day’s best performance of all, taking all six races. He was followed home by Ben Stone of Team Astbury and Maddy Hughes of West Kirby.

Another Warrior gave a very impressive performance in the fastest class. Isaac Bradley Baker, aged just 11, used a small 5.8 metre sail in the Techno 6.8 m class, but beat all his elders, who were using the bigger sail. Mark Reynolds of Team Astbury took second, and Charlotte Rutter of West Kirby took third. However Isaac’s scores could not be included in his team’s total, as he was one of the excess team members, so Team Astbury gained that class win.

Last race of the day was a combined race for the 4.5, 5.8 and 6.8m boards with a Gold Medal, courtesy of the RYA’s Sail for Gold initiative, up for grabs. The slower boards were given a shorter course, and the faster ones had to chase them down. There was a thrilling finish on the final leg as the fleet of slow boards fought to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Sam Kelly of West Kirby, sailing a 4.5m board, just hung on to grasp the gold by seconds from the fast charging Isaac Bradley Baker.

In the event overall, West Kirby gained their second team win of the year, but by just four points from Team Astbury, who had scored well in three of the classes. Hollingworth Hunters took third, while in fourth, Windermere’s two person team both took podium positions.

RYA West Zone T15 organiser Mike Roberts said, “Wigan Sailing Club really did us proud here, laying on full use of their clubhouse, changing facilities and a galley. Another strong turnout and great sailing conditions made for a very memorable day. Everyone is looking forward to our next event at West Pennine Sailboard Club on 9^th July.”

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde, T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches.

The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills.

Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

Champion Cup winners, North Lincs Invaders. Pic: RYA / Jon Parker

In near perfect conditions, sunshine and lots of wind it was victory for the North Zone Champions the North Lincs Invaders this weekend (9-10 October) as they reclaimed their title of Team 15 (T15) Champion Cup winners and lifted the 2010 trophy

After dominating throughout the season in their regional heats the Invaders clinched their place in the final and were determined to reclaim the Champions Cup. North Lincs coach Mark Butler commented “It is absolutely fantastic. We won last year and the kids have all been training really hard in preparation. We feel really great and we are chuffed to bits to be taking the trophy back home once again.”

The competition in action. Pic: RYA / Emma Slater

With a change of venue for 2010, Northampton Sailing Club at Pitsford Reservoir, the event saw over 100 young windsurfers in nine teams hailing as far afield as Scotland and Cornwall take to the water. There were some new faces at this year’s event including East Zone’s Norwich Force Eighth attending the final for the very first time. In Team15 spirit they were made to feel very welcome by all the competitors and proudly chanted their motto wherever they could: “Norwich Force Eighth- small but mighty!”

The competitors whizzed around two courses in four different classes 3.5m, 4.5m 5.8m, and Techno 6.8m competing in nine different races and one fun race to round up the weekend.

Smiling member of the Pitsford Pirates. Pic: RYA / Emma Slater

T15 Manager Gillian Wright commented “This year’s Team15 Champions Cup has been absolutely brilliant. The kids have been working really hard out on the water and they have all had a fantastic time.

“We have been in a new venue this year, it’s a lovely piece of water and they have really looked after us.  The standard of sailing has been really high and each year the competition goes from strength to strength. We will be looking forward to next season starting again in April/May 2011 and we hope to see even more youngsters windsurfing with Team15.”

Winners the North Lincs Invaders picked up a ProKids Formula Board for their club courtesy of Tushingham/Starboard with other prizes coming from Neil Pryde, and Windsurf magazine. All the competitors were also presented with goody bags from Animal who sponsored the event.

Special merit awards were given to Spray Sprite Heidi Jabbari and Lucy Budge from the Norwich Force Eighth. The Oxford Zoomers picked up prizes in the fun race and the North Lincs Invaders also won the quiz.

Tom Sylvester from the Roseland Waveriders said “The Champions Cup has been brilliant. It involves everyone from the younger ones who are just beginning right up to15. I am now in my final year and Team15 has been so good. I love getting out in the wind and getting the speed going.

“My advice for other youngsters who want to windsurf is to find a Team15 club, join as quickly as possible and get out on the water lots.”

Spray Sprite Heidi Jabbari said “I love taking part in a sport that is different and I want windsurfing to be a part of my life. I will definitely keep sailing after Team15.”

“One of my favourite things is the BBQ after windsurfing and meeting other people at the Champions Cup, the other teams are really friendly”

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine, Neil Pryde and Boardwise, T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches. The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills. Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

Champions Cup 2010 Final Results

Monster!

It was time for the final countdown at Lochwinnoch on Saturday 21st August, with the fourth and last of this year’s RYA T15 Scottish interclub series. This event would decide which team won the Scottish series, and would qualify to enter the RYA T15 Champions Cup alongside winners from every UK region. RYA T15 windsurfing clubs are based all over the UK, and are for kids up to the age of 15 to learn to windsurf and to race.

Wind was a healthy 9/10 knots for the morning racing but dropped to 6/7 in the afternoon, much to the relief of Alexander Walker of Clyde Barracudas, who in the morning pleaded, “This is great seeing all these windsurfers here but can someone turn the wind down?”

There were over 30 young windsurfers, from five different Scottish clubs, at this final. They ranged from sailors with only a couple of months windsurfing experience to old hands of three years. And it was the newcomers who excelled in the 3.5 metre class. This class was closely contested by two sailors who only started windsurfing three months ago with their team, Largs Sail Training Association. Kate Lennie just pipped team mate Alex Mackie to first place, with home team sailor Beth Wilson of Clyde Barracudas in third place. With a dozen sailors, this was the most popular class, suggesting that T15 clubs are helping many newcomers into the sport.

In the 4.5 metres, Stefan Goldbeck, age only 11 years, but with two years experience under his belt, took the class for the Loch Insh Monsters, but in second place was another newcomer from Largs, Rhys Warwick. Kirsty McCorkindale from Clyde Barracudas took third, ensuring that three teams were represented on the podium.

The stand out performance in any class was by Tristan Levie of the Monsters. Tristan took four out of the five races to record a perfect score after the discard. Nonetheless, he was pushed hard especially in the fourth race by team mate Rory McKeachan, who took second, with a third Monster, Eilidh Sutherland in third.

The Monsters were also to the fore in the fastest class, the Techno 6.8 metre. Jan Goldbeck won from fellow Monster Dean Hargreaves, while Holly McPhail of Clyde Barracudas took third.

So the Monsters excelled in the faster classes, while the Largs team, formed just this year, did very well in the introductory classes, where they often overcame much more experienced opponents. The Monsters duly recorded their fourth win to make a clean sweep this year to take the series, while Largs took the runner up spot in their debut season, with Clyde Barracudas third.

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine, Neil Pryde and Boardwise, T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches. The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills. Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA on 0845 345 0400.

Ruben Lansley gets off to a flying start leading the fleet in the final race

Forty one young windsurfers battled for supremacy at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club on Sunday 27^th June when the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Team15 Championship arrived in the north east of England. The young windsurfers, from clubs throughout the north east, Yorkshire and Humberside regions, were all taking part in round one of this year’s Team15 Championship.

The competitors, all of whom are 15 years of age or under, sail for their local team and the team with the best score at the end of the summer wins the RYA North Zone Team15 Championship and gets to compete against all the other RYA Zone winners for the UK Team15 Champions Cup.

Seven teams from the RYA North Zone have entered this year’s competition:

Pugneys Pirates (Wakefield)

Coquet Crushers (Amble)

Covenham Cyclones (Louth)

Ellerton Scouts (Richmond)

Rother Valley (Rotherham)

North Lincs Invaders (Barton on Humber)

Derwent Devils (Newcastle upon Tyne)

“The event on Sunday was great,” said David Dobson, RYA North Zone Team15 Co-ordinator. “The weather was just right. All the kids enjoyed it and there were some fabulous performances. 12 year old Lewis Russell from the North Lincs Invaders was outstanding. He has only been windsurfing for a year and he won almost every race in the 4.5m class. 13 year old Ruben Lansley is another great talent from the North Lincs Invaders, putting in a fantastic performance to win the 6.8m class.”

There were some good individual performances from youngsters from Pugneys Pirates and the Derwent Devils but the team to beat were definitely the North Lincs Invaders, 2009 UK Team15 Champions, and they stamped their authority on this year’s competition from the word go.

“Our youngsters have been training hard all winter, even in the worst conditions,” explained Mark Butler, the new team coach for the North Lincs Invaders. “I’m really proud of their performance this weekend. We have lost a few members due to National Squad selection so we have a young team and we are looking forward to the rest of the season.”

Overall Results RYA North Zone Team15 – Round 1 (to 5^th place)

3.5m class

1.            Fiona Anderson (10yrs) – Pugneys Pirates

2.            Sidonie Graham (12yrs) – Derwent Devils

3.             Joseph Thompson (11yrs) – Pugneys Pirates

4.            Jacob Collett (12yrs) – Pugneys Pirates

5.            Harry Pulham (15yrs) – Derwent Devils

4.5m class

1.            Lewis Russell (12yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

2.            Jack Bramley (12yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

3.            Joe Wallbank (15yrs) – Derwent Devils

4.            Lottie Phillips (15yrs) – Derwent Devils

5.            Eve Collett (13yrs) – Pugneys Pirates

5.8m class

1.            Harry Davis (11yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

2.            Jordan Howram (12yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

3.            Jack Lennon (12yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

4.            Sarah Labourne (11yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

5.            Kathryn Durham (14yrs) – Pugneys Pirates

6.8m class

1.            Ruben Lansley (13yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

2.            John Davis (13yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

3.            Max Butler (15yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

4.            Charlotte Seal (13yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

5.            Jacob Newton (13yrs) – North Lincs Invaders

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine, Neil Pryde and Boardwise, T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches. The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills. Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

The next round of this year’s North Zone Team15 Championship is on the Invaders home waters at Barton upon Humber on Sunday 11^th July.

Calshot Flyers

Sponsored by BOARDS magazine, Calshot Flyers windsurfing club had a roaring success, achieving first place, in the second round of the south zone T15 events last Sunday, 27^th June.  Having come a close second in the first event a few weeks ago, this makes the club a strong contender for the Regional Champion crown and to go on and represent the South Zone at the Team 15 national final, the Champions Cup, to be held later in the year.

Solent startline

Held on home ground on the Solent, it was a scorcher of a day with light southerly winds.  There were 42 entrants from the five South zone clubs: Calshot, Oxford, Queen Mary, Poole and Bray.  The Calshot Team triumphed in three of the four classes with Dan Wilson coming 1^st and Lucy Taylor 2^nd in the 6.8m Techno, Nic Hibdige got 1^st and Zack Henry 3^rd place in the 5.8m class, and brother Leon Henry came 3^rd in the 3.5m category. Four of the team: Megan Lawrence, Ewan Lloyd, Lauren and Ellie Scudder were competing for the first time and Sam Jarvis was awarded a merit award for best effort.

Close racing

The next event will be on Saturday, 17^th July at Queen Mary Reservoir, London and the last in the series will be held at Poole during Windfest on 12^th September at Poole.

The Calshot Flyers Team included: Sam Jarvis, Dan Wilson, Emma Wilson, Sebastian Round, Marina Round, Megan Lawrence, Nic Hibdige, Lucy Taylor, Matthew Duffin, Lauren Scudder, Ellie Scudder, Zack Henry, Leon Henry, Ben Tweedle and Ewan Lloyd.

More on the RYA’s Team15 initiative here.

Axbridge Animals T15 elite group

The Team15 coaches for Axbridge Animals at their reservoir near Bristol have been using Navi GPS devices to hone the racing skills of the race team. Most windsurfers would know these units for measuring speed but they are useful in so many other ways for racing.

For example as you can see from the tracks below the angle of beating to windward, did they tack too early or too late on the lay line to hit the mark and of course speed at all points of sailing not just on the reach can be analysed. Even starts can be scrutinised for timing and speed over the line on flying starts.

All this data can be downloaded straight after the training and used by the coaches Pete Davis and Keith Sheppard to give feedback and pointers on how they can improve. Obviously the board speed is a main talking point and of course bragging rights over who was fastest, the peak speed at the moment is held by Joe Barnes who hit 24 knots but the fastest over 500m is Isabelle Savage at 20 knots both on BiC Technos.

The team are hoping this together with regular training and hard work will pay off for them qualifying for upcoming T15 championships and move them from their 2nd place last year to the coveted top spot.

Units used where Navi GT31s from www.gps-speed.co.uk and the software was GPS Results from www.gps-speed.co.uk

Joe Barnes' track

Techno293

The Techno Steering Group is organising open training aimed at all T15 sailors across all the regions this summer

These events are at:

Llandegfedd Reservoir, Sat 15^th May

Roseland, Sat 5^th June

East Kilbride, Sat  5^th June

Derwent Reservoir, Sat 26^th June

Calshot Activity Centre, Sat 26^th June

West Pennine, Sun 27^th June

Spray Watersports, Sat  25^th July

Alton Water ,  Sun 1^st Aug

Croft Farm, Sun 15^th Aug

Carsington,  Sun 5^th Sept

These specific T15 training events are all attached to a Regional inter-club challenge – so why not make a weekend of it. There will be camping available at all venues either on-site or close by.

If you are looking to develop your windsurfing skills further, to be able to enjoy your inter-club challenges more or thinking of trying for a place on the zone squads, why not come along to one or more of these events

Training at all events will be led by an RYA zone squad coach with support from a Fast Forward Instructor. The training will cover all aspects of windsurfing from freestyle through to racing, also covering wave sailing if we get the right conditions

The cost for these training events will be £13 per sailor

You will need to bring a Board and Rig with you though some venues do have charter equipment available for hire

At some events there will be demo kit available – details to follow

Entry details are on the Techno website  www.techno293.org.uk