New look for T15

More coaching, new Academies and a revamped Champions Cup event are among the exciting changes to the RYA's Team15 windsurfing programme for 2014.

Team15's goal is to introduce young people into windsurfing in a fun and friendly environment, but the programme will now have a greater emphasis on introducing young windsurfers into racing.

To encourage more sailors to take part in the Team15 Interclub series, The Team15 Interclub competition regions have been changed in some areas - this has reduced the geographical area of the region making for shorter travelling distances for clubs to attend Interclub events.

Team15 Academies have also now been appointed within every Team15 region and these Academies responsible for running and hosting the Team15 Interclub series within their region, where Team15 clubs come together to race against rival teams within their regions.

An exciting new development for Team15 will see more investment in coaching, with coach development workshops run by RYA Coaches, and hosted at the new Team15 Academies for all Team15 club coaches within each region.

The final major development for Team15 for 2014 will see the Team15 Champions Cup joining forces with the RYA/UKWA Junior and Youth and Masters Championships which will take place at Rutland Sailing Club from 13-14 September 2014.

The event, known as the 2014 National Windsurfing Championships, will combine these events resulting in a high profile celebration of competitive windsurfing, which will enable young windsurfers to see a more transparent progression within the windsurf racing pathway. The top two teams from each region will be invited to attend the Champions Cup, and in addition, individual sailor entry would be open to all Team15 sailors, although sailors outside of the top two teams from each region will only be eligible for individual prizes and not the overall team prizes.

Chris Blackburn, RYA High Performance Manager, commented: "There are some significant and exciting changes for Team15 moving forward into the 2014 season. One of the key changes is the additional investment into coach development within Team15 clubs, both up skilling current coaches, and qualifying new Team15 coaches with additional Instructor courses planned throughout the year.

"The changes to the Champions Cup will allow more young windsurfers to take part in the Team15 end of season finale, and allow them valuable experience of taking part in a national multi class event.

Blackburn concluded: "The Team15 competition season starts this weekend, with several of our new Team15 Academies hosting their first Interclub event of 2014. I would like to encourage all Team15 clubs to attend and take part in the Interclub series within their region."

The Interclub dates and venues for each Team15 region are available on the Team15 website.

If you would like to find out more about trying windsurfing at a Team15 close to you, you can find your local Team15 club on the RYA website at www.team15.org.uk