T15 inter-club back for the new season


The first of the T15 inter-club events are due to kick-off this weekend
with the East Zone and the South East Zone leading the way.

Saturday 15 May sees the East Zone T15 clubs congregate at Alton Water,
near Ipswich home water of the Alton Water Wipeouts, the 2003 series
winners. Giving them a run for their money are the expected
teams: Redbridge Raiders, Team Jonti, Lakeside Loafers, Pitsford Pirates,
Whitecap Lakers and the Wentworth Warriors, all of whom took part last
season. It is hoped that some of the developing clubs in the zone may be
able to get a small team together and participate for the first time; we
hope to see the Stanborough Stormers and the Welsh Harp Wanderers making
an appearance, if not at this event then perhaps later in the season?

Like the East Zone, the South East Zone event is also being hosted by the
2003 series winners – the Aqua Sports Aquanauts – on Sunday 16 May at
Merstham, Surrey. The question is, will they retain their title in
2004? Not if the other teams can help it, many of whom have been
participating at their weekly T15 clubs and improving their skills to
knock the Aquanauts off their pedestal. Who will win the first round in
this four-event series; The Bewl Blasters, Lagoon Piranhas, Hythe Hotshots
or the Whitstable Wild Ones? Maybe it will be a newcomer to the
inter-club away scene, Danson Park or the Ardingly Avengers? Event
reports, photos and results will be on the T15 website next week with the
answers, so tune in…

The T15 inter-club events are all about having a go. The standard is not
high, although there are certainly some hotshots within some of the
teams. Instead the emphasis is on taking part, having fun and
representing your T15 club. The events start off with a few icebreakers
and increase in difficulty as the day progresses and confidence builds;
some participants have only just recently learnt to windsurf so the T15
inter-club events really do cater for everyone.

Bic Sport join the team this year as a new Platinum sponsor, so charcoal
grey race vests will be seen on the water in eight zones alongside the
white, red, cyan, yellow, orange and green of the other Gold & Platinum
T15 sponsors (Neilson, Gul, Tushingham, Windsurf and Gun). The race vests
are colour-coded to the teams and their sponsors, so head out to the event
locations and see if you can spot which teams are up front of the fleet
and whose T15 club sessions are proving the most effective. Not all the
T15 club members will be in the team since fun-racing isn’t for everyone,
but we hope to see other club members present and cheering on their teams.

The RYA windsurfing office wishes the T15 teams the best of luck…