Scotland's Team15 coordinator Sami Poole gave us the low down on the second Team15 event at Loch Insh over the weekend of 15-16 July 2017.  Held at Loch Insh Watersports Centre near Aviemore in the Scottish Highlands, the event brought together a number of young windsurfers for a weekend of fun whilst they got to grips with lots of new skills and some racing. 

Report from Sami:

Even though the event started on the Saturday, we arrived late on Friday evening and were greeted by the an excitable group of camping Loch Insh Monsters who had been training at Loch Insh Watersports all week. After introductions (and a few very burnt toasted marshmallows) around the campfire we retired to bed so we would be ready for an early start on Saturday.

After a quick registration on Saturday morning, Jonny Freshwater of Loch Insh Watersports and his team briefed the competitors on the format of the day and the conditions. With strong winds forecast for Saturday and even stronger winds forecast for Sunday, everyone was in agreement that we should have some fleet races on the Saturday in case conditions deteriorated on the Sunday. After a quick change the team hit the water in two fleets – a 3.5 fleet and a 4.5 fleet. A fantastic day of racing ensued with both fleets completing 4 races. Both fleets did amazingly in the conditions, especially the 3.5 fleet which had two new girls that had only got on a board for the first time earlier that week and Lachlan who is relatively new to racing. 

Loch Insh kindly put on a BBQ lunch for everyone involved to recharge and refuel for the afternoon activities. Conditions picked up later in the afternoon and were irresistible so some of the parents along with Jonny, Erin Watson (one of GB's stars of the future) and myself rigged up and got on the water with the Team 15 windsurfers for some on-water coaching and an expression session. 

After a windy day on the water on Saturday there were some sleepy faces at registration on Sunday morning. It was also great to see representatives from Newborough Sea Gorillaz ready for a day of competition. Conditions were even stronger than the Saturday so it was decided that only the 4.5 fleet would partake in two races and a freestyle competition. 

Race 1’s format involved a beach start, to the buoy and back, kit on the beach and chase down Sami to secure a high-five for the win. Race 2’s format was a run to your board with your sail up the beach, to the buoy and first back to the beach wins. The freestyle competition concluded the weekend’s festivities with two heats, a play-off and a final to decide the final medals of the event. All four competitors were judged by their peers and showed off some epic freestyle moves and fantastic creativity which showed the true spirit of Team 15. Podium positions were hotly contested but a final agreement was reached. 

The weekend wound up with a prize-giving ceremony. Local press, parents, staff and competitors gathered round the makeshift podium to await the results.  Prizes were kindly donated by Loch Insh Watersports which topped off a fantastic weekend on the water. There was a real sense of achievement among the competitors and some proud parents watching on. 

The Results

4.5 fleet 

Joint 1st place - Dylan Sangster & Finlay McNeish (Loch Insh Monsters) 

2nd place - Kyle Clark (Loch Insh Monsters) 

3rd place - Finlay Raynor (Loch Insh Monsters) 

3.5 fleet 

1st place - Isla Smith (Loch Insh Monsters) 

2nd place - Katie Smith (Loch Insh Monsters) 

3rd place - Lachlan Sangster (Loch Insh Monsters) 

Day 2 Racing 

1st place - Dylan Sangster (Loch Insh Monsters) 

Joint 2nd place - Finlay McNeish, Finlay Raynor, 

Kyle Clark (Loch Insh Monsters) & Sam Hawthorn (Newborough Sea Gorillaz)   

Freestyle Competition 

1st place - Sam Hawthorn (Newborough Sea Gorillaz)  

2nd place - Dylan Sangster (Loch Insh Monsters) 

3rd place - Kyle Clark (Loch Insh Monsters)