This is the first RYA Team15 event to be held at Kielder and the young Kielder Kestrels junior windsurfers are looking forward to it. Team15, which is now in its 12th 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, sail 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, earning a place in the National Final, the Team15 Champions Cup.  

The RYA North Zone covers a large area and teams arriving at Kielder include:

• Coquet Crushers (Amble, Northumberland)
• Kielder Kestrels (Kielder Water, Northumberland)
• Derwent Devils (Durham)
• Pugneys Pirates (Wakefield)
• North Lincs Invaders (Barton on Humber)  

The team to beat so far is Pugneys Pirates from Wakefield who were last year’s Zone Champions. New kids on the block, the Kielder Kestrels, are not far behind though and they could not have wished for as good a start to the Championship.   “We have had a fantastic start to the year,” said Brian Coates, coach of the Kestrels. “As a team we came third at Derwent and second at North Lincs, better than we could ever have imagined. Archie Dodd won the 3.5m fleet on both occasions and our team captain, Jane Vallance, won the 4.5m fleet at North Lincs.”

“More importantly, all our team members have really enjoyed the experience and learnt from it. Having achieved so much more than we were expecting it is now time for us to run our own event and share a fantastic location like Kielder with the rest of the region.”  

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. 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.   Love Windsurfing?  Then why not join the association that promotes and protects, safe, successful and rewarding British windsurfing.  Join today and support the RYA in protecting your rights and freedoms.  Take advantage of free advice and support on a wide range of windsurfing topics; enjoy free third party insurance, as well as a fantastic range of personal member offers.  Find out more by calling 0844 556 9556, or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.