• After a fabulous season, the final event in the 2012 RYA North Zone Team15 junior windsurfing competition came to an end at Pugneys Country Park, Wakefield on Sunday 16 September. After an exciting event in sunshine and brisk winds, the home team of Pugneys Pirates were crowned RYA North Zone Champions for the second year in succession.  

The Pirates will now compete in the national final, the Team15 Champions Cup, against the Zone Champions from other regions of the UK, at Northampton Sailing Club on 13-14 October.  

“Pugneys Pirates made it a clean sweep in the Zone this year,” said David Dobson, RYA North Zone Team15 Co-ordinator.

“They were the top team in every round of the competition and we wish them the best of luck in the Champions Cup next month.”  

14 year old Matthew Carey, Pugneys Pirates’ team captain, is quietly optimistic for their chances:  

“Last year was our first year in the Champions Cup,” said Matthew. “We have learned a lot since then. I really hope we all do well and we have five RYA Zone Squad sailors in our team so we should be quite strong. I’d really like to thank everyone at Pugneys for their support, both at this final event and all year.”  

“It’s good to end the season on a high,” said David Dobson after the Pugneys event.

“I would like to thank all the coaches and scorers for their help all season, and the parents of course whose contribution to the success of these events is often forgotten. We had 35 young windsurfers on the water today, one of the highest attendances we have had all season.”  

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.    

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.