The RYA North Zone Team15 junior windsurfing event got off to a flying start at North Lincs and Humberside Sailing Club on Sunday 20 May.  

The young windsurfers, all 15 years of age or under, battled through cold conditions as they competed in a series of races to get their team name to the top of the leader board.  

Right from the start, last year’s Zone Champions, the Pugneys Pirates team from Wakefield threw down the gauntlet to the other teams and held off the best of the competition. The North Lincs Invaders tried to use their home waters to their advantage, but although there were some excellent results for the Invaders, especially in the junior classes, the main prizes in the senior classes went to the fleet from Wakefield.  

“We went over to North Lincs feeling quite confident,” said 14 year old James Battye from Pugneys Pirates.

“We all went out to defend last year’s Zone win and compete again at the National Championships. Everyone put in a great team effort and eventually we took round one quite comfortably.”  

Across the board, there were some star performances, with 11 year old Remi Barker taking the honours for the Invaders in the 3.5m class, fighting off the competition from 13 year Joseph Palmer from the Derwent Devils.  

In the 4.5m class, Cameron May kept the North Lincs Invaders in the running with a fabulous effort, winning 7 out of 10 races, with 13 year old Thomas Sambrook coming in overall second for the Pugneys Pirates.  

In the 5.8m class, Pugneys made a clean sweep, with Joseph Thompson, Joshua Carey and Fiona Anderson sharing first or second place throughout the ten races. Eventually the top slot in this closely fought class went to Joseph Thompson with his team mates close behind.  

It was a Carey and Anderson, one two in the 6.8m class too, as Oliver Anderson and Matthew Carey put up a great display of windsurfing for Pugneys Pirates, beating Jack Bramley of North Lincs Invaders into third place.  

“The best thing about windsurfing is when it’s windy and you get really planning,” said James Battye.

“You can really get some speed up. It’s fun to be able to do some new tricks, especially when you get them right!”  

 The competition moves on now to round two which will be held on Sunday 10th June at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club on the Northumberland/Durham border, the home waters of the Derwent devils.  

Team15, which is now in its 11th year, is an RYA initiative set up to make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.  

The young windsurfers, all of whom are 15 years of age or under, will be sailing for their local team and the team with the best score at the end of the summer wins the RYA North Zone Team15 Inter-Club Championship and gets to compete against all the other RYA Zone winners in the National Final, the Team15 Champions Cup.  

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard 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.