Pitsford Pirates team of young windsurfers will be hoping to serve up more of the same when they travel to Gloucestershire for round two of the 2012 Team15 Midlands Inter-Club Challenge Series this Saturday (9 June).

Pirates, who have won the Midlands regional Team 15 championship for the past two years, got this season off to the perfect start at Carsington Water, Derbyshire last month, not just winning the opening event but dominating with some stand-out performances.

David Lett put in a stunning show winning five out of six races in the 5.8m2 board fleet while Lewis Bowen won every race in the 4.5 m2 fleet with his sister Zoe claiming a clean sweep of seconds behind him.

There was even time for some of Pirates’ more experienced campaigners, including Dominic Meylan-Stevenson, to turn their hand to coaching their younger teammates once they had finished their own races. Dominic picked up special merit award for his efforts.

Team15 is the RYA’s youth windsurfing development programme, enabling kids aged 15 and under to learn new skills and develop under the guidance of specialist RYA coaches whilst having fun with their mates.

“We smashed it! Pitsford are the best!” Pirates’ Lydia Howley proclaimed after her team’s comprehensive victory, and you wouldn’t bet against Pitsford repeating that success when event two takes place at Croft Farm Water Park in Tewkesbury this weekend.

Jon Sweet, Pitsford Pirates’ Team15 co-ordinator, said: “We have improved every year and having qualified for the national Team15 final for the past two years, finishing a best ever third last year, we would love to walk away with not only the regional title but the national crown too. To do that in Olympic year would be pretty special.

"We have got a great team spirit demonstrated by the older sailors being so keen to help the younger ones out. It bodes well for the future that the younger sailors are already picking up good habits and, most importantly, enjoying their windsurfing because we want them to windsurf for life.”  

This year’s Team15 events are being held under the banner of Sail for Gold, the RYA’s nationwide London 2012 initiative celebrating Britain's unmatched Olympic sailing heritage and inspiring more people to get out on the water more regularly. Sail for Gold aims to bring the buzz of the Olympics as close as home to possible for everyone, wherever they live.

Fun and informal Pirates sessions are held weekly from April to September. Kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low. There are more than 80 Team15 clubs nationwide.

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard and Neil Pryde, Team15 was set up to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at grassroots level.   

For more information about getting involved in Team15 at Pitsford Pirates visit www.northamptonwatersports.com or www.team15.org.uk