Will’s Weymouth Warriors are a Team15 Club based in Weymouth, whilst they race they also have more important missions on their minds. This year, in just a few days time, the young windsurfers will take on a downwind challenge, in honour of their late friends trust.

Read more below and support the amazing young windsurfers in their challenge here.

All image credits Andy Stallman.

“We are raising money for the Will Mackaness Trust – a charity set up in memory of local boy (and head-boy of Wey Valley School) Will Mackaness who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2008. Will was a passionate windsurfer, so the trust aims to give as many young people the opportunity to experience the thrill of water activities and give financial support to those who have shown a particular skill in water activities to enable them to progress further.

“The local youth windsurfing club is called Will’s Weymouth Warriors in memory of Will. The group is a registered Team 15 club, which is an RYA initiative to encourage young windsurfers along the racing pathway. Yet racing is only part of the club’s activities. Run from The Official Test Centre (OTC – the windsurfing partner of the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy) the main emphasis of the club is about getting on the water and having fun, whether that be racing, freestyle or just blasting and improving your skills. Many of the young people in the club have benefitted massively from the Will Mackaness Trust. Many were even introduced to windsurfing by the trust. This challenge is their way of saying a massive thank you to the trust and mostly to Pam Govier – Will’s mother.

“Last year the Warriors raised an over £900.00 for the Trust by completeing their marathon Sunrise to Sunset Challenge. It was a real team effort with the conditions becoming increasingly severe throughout the day. The non-planing conditions that greeted them in the morning were replaced with severe gales by dusk. They certainly all slept well that night!

“For 2014, the bar has been raised higher still, with a downwind challenge set for the Warriors to complete. Within the event window of 18th-22nd August the team will leave the OTC centre in Portland Harbour and windsurf together out of the north entrance and into Weymouth Bay. How far downwind they go depends on a number of factors. It could be Overcombe … it could be Ringstead or Durdle Door. It may even be as far as Kimmeridge!

“Through Virgin Money Giving, you can sponsor the Warriors and donations will be quickly processed and passed to the Trust. Virgin Money Giving is a not for profit organisation and will claim gift aid on a charity’s behalf where the donor is eligible for this. We really appreciate all your support and thank you for any donations.”