RYA announces new Junior Windsurfing Championships for 2008
 
Britain’s top young windsurfers will have a new stage on which to show off their talents this year as the RYA stages the first ever RYA National Junior Windsurfing Championships.
 
Run alongside the UK Windsurfing Association (UKWA) inland series event, the inaugural RYA National Junior Windsurfing Championships will see the youngsters pit their wits against each other at Whitwell, Rutland Water on 17 – 18 May.
 
Seven class National titles will be up for grabs at the event in both open and BIC Techno fleets.
 
Helen Cartwright, RYA National Windsurfing Coach, cannot wait to see the talent on show at Whitwell.
 
She said: “This is excellent news for junior windsurfers and allows all Team15 (T15) and Junior windsurfers the chance to enter a National Championships designed specifically for them.
 
“We look forward to welcoming the top Junior windsurfers in the country to Whitwell for what is guaranteed to provide a thrilling weekend of racing.”
 
Gillian Wright, RYA T15 manager, added: “The new Championships offer a fantastic opportunity for Junior Windsurfers and we look forward to giving them a great weekend of racing and socialising with other team15 clubs and Junior Windsurfers from around the UK.”
 
The annual RYA Youth and Masters Windsurfing Championships will also have a slightly different feel for 2008 as the RYA has joined forces with UKWA to run a combined National Championships at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on 13-14 September.
 
Helen Cartwright said: “Having the best racers in British Windsurfing all brought together can only be a good thing. We look forward to a weekend of high-quality racing at what is a World Class venue.”
 
The following fleets will race at the RYA/UKWA National  Windsurfing Championships, Weymouth (13-14 September):
·         Techno 6.8
·         Techno 7.8
·         RSX
·         Raceboard (with class divisions)
·         Formula (with class divisions)
 
The following fleets will race at the RYA National Junior Windsurfing Championships, Whitwell (17-18 May):
·         3.5 Open
·         4.5 Open
·         5.5 Open
·         6.8 Open
·         3.5 Techno
·         4.5 Techno
·         5.5 Techno