Britain’s budding windsurf stars of tomorrow have the chance to show off their fledgling talents this weekend (17-18 May) when the RYA stages its first ever RYA National Junior Windsurfing Championships at Whitwell, Rutland Water.

 Seven class titles will be up for grabs in both open and Bic Techno fleets and for many young enthusiasts who have come up through the RYA’s grassroots windsurfing scheme Team15 (T15), it will also be the first time they have competed at a national standard racing event.

 Emma Labourne (North Lincolnshire & Humberside SC) and Ross Bromhead (Tamar Tigers) will be looking to taste golden success in Rutland for the second week running having won the Bic Techno 4.5 and 5.5 titles respectively at the RYA Eric Twiname Championships at Rutland Water Sailing Club last weekend.

 Meanwhile, Oliver Bradley-Baker (West Kirby Warriors) and Adam Grayston (Roseland Waveriders) will be hoping for a repeat of the form that brought them 2007 RYA Youth and Masters National Techno 4.5 and Open 3.5 crowns as they move into the bigger Techno 5.5 class this time around.

 Duncan Truswell, RYA Junior Racing Manager, said: “We are really looking forward to hosting these first RYA Junior Windsurf Championships designed specifically for the country’s youngest racers. As well as being National-standard Championships, it is also the perfect event for those less experienced sailors to be introduced to a more competitive racing environment.”

 Gillian Wright, RYA Team15 manager added: “This new national event will have a great atmosphere and show children and parents alike exactly what the racing scene is like outside of T15 so they are encouraged to continue racing and enjoying the competitive scene long after they have turned 16.”

 Some 63 competitors will contest National titles in the 3.5 Open, 4.5 Open, 5.5 Open, 6.8 Open, 3.5 Techno, 4.5 Techno and 5.5 Techno classes while all entrants must be under 17 on the 31 December 2008.

 The National titles for older children and adult racers will be contested at the RYA/UKWA National Windsurfing Championships at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on 13-14 September.