Team15 Inter-Club Championship - Windsurfing hopefuls triumph

by RYA on 3 Jul 2010 Team15 Inter-Club Championship this week saw South coast heroes the Calshot Flyers, win the second of four regional Team15 (T15) events, held at Calshot, Hampshire, on Saturday 26th June. The series, for under-15s from the south, is held in a range of sailboard classes.

On the hottest day of the year so far a record 50 youngsters pitted their skills against four other teams, the Oxford Zoomers, the Queen Mary Skimmers from Staines, the Academy All Stars from Poole, and the Manic Monkeys from Bray, Maidenhead. They competed in a series of courses in four windsurfing classes, the 3.5m, 4.5m, 5.5m, and Bic Techno 6.8m.

The regatta enjoyed a record turnout, the highest number of competitors ever for the Calshot event. In the 3.5m class there were 14 competitors, 11 competitors in the 4.5m class, 14 in the 5.5m class and 11 in the 6.8m class.

T15 South Zone Co-ordinator Chris Lewis said: “We are really pleased with the record breaking numbers of youngsters that have showed up. It’s been a scorching hot day and there was some scorchingly hot racing on the water to match!” He adds “Team15 is all about encouraging newcomers and progression at every level, and we are very pleased to have seen so many kids entering their first major event here”.

“It’s been a record turnout for the South Zone this year, said Chris. “We had a full team of 15 from Calshot which was a big factor in enabling them to take the event win ahead of current champions Farmoor (from Oxford), who won the 2009 Series. This marks a return to form for Calshot who until Farmoor’s previous three years of dominance had been the champion team!”

There were some impressive performances amongst the youngsters, in particular Lucy Taylor, aged 13 and a member of the Calshot Flyers, who in only her second year has progressed from the 3.5m fleet last year to the 6.8m fleet finishing second. Lucy already finished third at the first T15 event of the series and she is certainly a rising star to look out for.

Nine-year old twins Lauren and Ellie Scudder, also of Calshot Flyers overcame some early nerves to complete a testing final race battling not only fellow sailors and competitors but also the Calshot tide and shifting winds, achieving some steady and solid results. Another pair of siblings Emma Wilson and her younger brother Dan both sailed well in the 6.8m fleet, Dan won the class while Emma gained a credible top ten finish in this, her first 6.8m race

Meanwhile Ben Tweedle, aged only eight, gained a top five finish out of 14 sailors in the 3.5m fleet, a position which helped Calshot secure the event and team win!

Alexei Murphy stormed to victory in the 4.5m fleet with a series of two bullets (wins) and third place.

The tides are always really tricky at Calshot with the Solent double tide phenomenon. High water was at midday and soon after that the sailors had to battle not only the wind but the outgoing tide as they battled to windward.

Supported by industry leaders Neilson, Tushingham/Starboard, Windsurf magazine, Boards magazine and Neil Pryde, T15 provides youngsters up to the age of 15 with the opportunity to learn all about windsurfing and windsurf racing in a friendly club environment. The scheme has gone from strength to strength to reach the record numbers that are now becoming involved in the training.

The T15 events are open to everyone who wants to have a go at windsurfing. Many newcomers who have only recently joined their clubs’ weekly training sessions were at the event this year for their first taste of competition. The sessions are run at RYA approved centres and clubs by RYA trained instructors and T15 coaches. All safety aspects are taken care of and equipment is provided so there’s no need to go and buy all your own kit.

Saturday’s event was the third of four rounds of regional heats from which the winners go through to the T15 Champions Cup National Final to be held at ninth - 10th October at Northampton Watersports, Pitford.

If you fancy giving T15 a go or would like more information check out the website: www.team15.org.uk