Windsurfing teams prepare to battle in Team15 Champions Cup 2013

The Team15 Champions Cup takes place at Northampton Sailing Club this weekend © RYA

Youth windsurfing teams are preparing to hit the water at Northampton Sailing Club in Pitsford, Northamptonshire this weekend (12-13 October) to compete in the Team15 (T15) national final, the T15 Champions Cup.

The event will see around 90 young windsurfers from across the UK take to the water to battle it out in a bid to win the prestigious title of Team15 National Champions 2013.

The seven windsurfing teams have earned their places after winning a series of highly competitive regional heats in the T15 Inter-Club Championship that took place throughout the UK this summer.

Amongst the teams desperate to win the title are the representatives from the South East, the Spray Sprites who have reclaimed their regional crown from 2010 and 2011 after beating their Kent rivals- current T15 national champions the Hythe Hotshots.

The Southern Zone's Axbridge Animals finished 2nd place in last year's Champions Cup and have enjoyed another very good season winning all four of their regional events in the T15 Inter-Club Championship.

Joining the Sprites and Animals out on the race courses will be the Polkerris Pirates (Cornwall), Pugney's Pirates (Wakefield), Pitsford Pirates (Northamptonshire), West Kirby Warriors (Wirral) and the Loch Insh Monsters (Scotland).

The competitors, all aged under 16, will compete in four different windsurfing classes, each with different sail sizes proportionate to their age and ability (3.5m, 4.5m, 5.8m, Techno 6.8). The youngsters will race against the very best of their peers from across the country, trying to post the best individual results and assisting their team to contest for the overall trophy.

RYA Youth Racing Manager Duncan Truswell says: "Windsurfing is a great sport. It's inclusive, exciting, and dynamic and teaches young people all sorts of valuable life skills as well as developing their confidence and independence.

"Team15 provides a platform to introduce large numbers of young people to the sport, inspire them and develop their skills. It also helps us to identify and encourage those promising windsurfers who will be the backbone of the British Youth and Olympic Sailing Teams in the future. I'm delighted to say we've seen some superb competition so far and we're looking forward to seeing some exciting racing and a thrilling climax to the competitive windsurfing season this weekend."

T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level. It delivers fun and informal training and competition opportunities which take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15. These are run weekly at minimal cost by specialist RYA qualified coaches and instructors.

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 deliberately kept low to maintain the accessibility.

To get involved with Team15 and locate your nearest local club visit www.team15.org.uk or contact the RYA 0845 345 0400.

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