RYA bids farewell to Team15's Gillian Wright

by Susie NationGrainger on 9 Jul 2013 Following 22 years at the RYA, we say goodbye to RYA National Windsurfing Development Officer Gillian Wright, head of Team15 (T15), who was instrumental in the creation of the T15 programme and developing it to become the success it is today.

Team15 will now sit within the Youth and Junior Racing Department, under the watchful eye of RYA Youth Racing Manager Duncan Truswell in an effort to further enhance and evolve the progression of T15 windsurfers into the RYA Performance Pathway.

Duncan explains: 'Team15 is a fantastic programme and there is no doubt it will continue to play a pivotal role in introducing youngsters across the country to the sport and feeding young windsurfers into the RYA Performance Programmes as well as more broadly into the sport.

'There are no radical changes taking place this year with T15 Inter-Cub events continuing to run as normal thanks to the invaluable support from the clubs, training centres and volunteers.

'We will also continue to encourage enthusiastic windsurfers to consider attending national events in order to develop their experience and skills'.

Team15 has produced some exceptional talent over the years. World class sailors such as Izzy Hamilton, the Sills family – big brother Sam and twin sisters, Saskia and Imogen; Youth Olympics Bronze Medallist Kieran 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.

'It’s fantastic to see so many talented windsurfers progressing through Team15 and achieving such great things in their chosen disciplines. Once again we are expecting to see a really high standard of competition out on the water at this year’s T15 Champions Cup' Duncan concludes.

The Team15 Champions Cup final will take place at Northampton Sailing Club on Pitsford Reservoir on the 12th and 13th of October. To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit Team15 or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

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.

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