Spray Sprites can afford Rye smiles after a fantastic Team 15 competition at Rye Water Sports. Boards finds out more from the team…

The Eastbourne based Spray Sprites team of young windsurfers followed up their round one victory with back to back wins taking round two of the Team15 South East Inter-Club Challenge Series at Rye Water Sports on Sunday (23 June).

The Eastbourne youngsters, who previously won back-to-back regional titles to qualify for the national Team15 Champions Cup grand final in 2010 and 2011, watched Kent rivals, Hythe Hotshots, pick up the regional crown in 2012 before the Hotshots then went on to lift the 2012 overall national title too. The Hotshots success at the Champions Cup seems to have inspired the Spray Sprites to really raise their game and two wins from two events suggests that they are more motivated than ever to take the 2013 regional title.

Sunday’s event was the second of four regional rounds taking place over the summer, with the series winners again progressing to represent the South East at the 2013 Team15 Champions Cup in October, and was blessed with 20-30mph winds to test the youngsters.

And it was the Sprites who harnessed the breeze to move into pole position in the chase for regional hours at Rye Water Sports, with Megan Kraft gaining her own personal double with back to back event victories in the 3.5m class, while her team mates also worked to make the podium a golden zone (Spray Sprites team vests are gold). Sam Williams, Louis Miles-Coppard, Oscar Williams & Luke Williams all took silver in the 3.5m, 4.5m, 5.8m and 6.8m classes respectively.

Team15 is the RYA’s youth windsurfing development programme helping make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to kids aged 15 and under at grassroots level. The Team15 Inter-Club Challenge Series takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills. There are more than 80 Team15 clubs nationwide. Fun and informal Team15 sessions are held weekly, kit can be borrowed from the clubs and the cost of sessions is kept low.