Pugneys Pirates, winners of the North Zone Championship in 2011 are all set to take the title again in 2012 and hopefully many of their supporters from Wakefield will be there to cheer them on.

Even though team Pugneys is miles ahead, the 2012 season has been very successful for our North East Team15 clubs and there has been plenty to build on for 2013. This year was a foundation year for the “Kielder Kestrels” the newest Team15 club in the North Zone competition and Kielder coach, Brian Coates, is very happy with the development and enthusiasm at the club.

We had some great individual performances throughout the season. Back in June, brother and sister duo, Joseph (13yrs) and Isabelle (10 yrs) Palmer from Prudhoe, sailing for the Derwent Devils, made it a successful one/two in the 3.5m fleet, ahead of fellow Devils James and Rory Davis. Plus 14 year old Gustavo Takiguchi from Morpeth sailing for the Coquet Crushers has had a very successful season in the 4.5m class, gaining in skill and confidence all the time.

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.

North Zone teams taking part this year include:

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.