Event 2
Alton Water
Sunday 14 June 2008

Winning Team
Alton Water Wipeouts
Tushingham sponsored team

Newcomers give Wipeouts a run for their money

Some of the closest racing seen so far in this year’s four-event RYA eastern region Team15 Youth Windsurf Championship series took place at Alton Water Sailing Centre, Stutton, near Ipswich, last weekend.

Nearly 30 youngsters, up to the age of 15, from four clubs across the eastern region took to the water in conditions that sometimes proved exhilarating for the older children on the bigger boards but downright hard work for some of the younger and less experienced windsurfers.

Eventual winners of the team trophy was the home club, Alton Water Wipeouts, who clearly used their knowledge of the water and shifting winds to their advantage. However, competitors from newly formed Stanborough Stormers (Welwyn Garden City, Herts), and established teams from Norwich Force 8ths, Norwich, and Peterborough-based Lakeside Loafers individually gave them a run for their money, so Alton’s eventual victory was closer than in previous events.

While the home club fielded a team of 14 sailors, Stanborough Stormers, who were attending only their second event, fielded three. The first round of the series at the end of May was held at Stanborough Lakes, Welwyn, where the team put up one competitor, Chris Wright, who so enjoyed the experience he vowed to bring some friends along next time – he did, pals Jamie Earle and Jordan Harvey joined in, and have promised to bring yet more to the next round at Grafham Water, Cambs, on July 5.

RYA East Team15 coordinator and regional windsurf coach Graham Colam said: “This is really good news. We’re trying to encourage more T15 clubs in the Herts and Essex areas. Although these events are competitive, we like to keep them low-key and encourage the youngsters to enjoy themselves along with improving their skills.”

With warm, sunny and light breezes until late morning, the younger competitors in the 3.5m and 4.5m classes were enjoying some close racing. In the afternoon as ominous black clouds bubbled up and threatened showers, and a gusty, stiffish North-to-North Westerly breeze picked up, so the older competitors in 5.5m, 6.8m and 6.8m Bic Techno classes began to shine. To add to the drama several ‘hot-shot’ racing dinghies also on the reservoir turned turtle!

The deterioration in the weather had the greatest effect on the 3.5m and 4.5m classes, where the youngsters were toppling into the water like ninepins – none complained almost all smiling enthusiastically to the end. Indeed many said it was warmer in the water than out by the end of the afternoon. As the wind rose and threatened to blow away the T15 tent and a good many of the competitors were half-packed to go home, there was a barrage of comments such as “can we go for a blast?”

Competition wasn’t just confined to the water, while the shore-side crew were totalling up the places and sharing out the prizes, Alton Water Wipeouts coach Ian Haywood organised a series of energetic races, which seemed to involve eating large quantities of cake!

The 3.5m class was won by Chris Ray (12), of Taverham, Norfolk, (Norwich Force 8th), with local girls Jessica Counsel (13) and Harriet Galley (12) in second and third. Home for Harriett and her sister Charlotte (14) is in Holbeach and both are pupils at Ipswich High School.

The 4.5m class, which was won by Matthew Barton (12) who lives in Bury St Edmunds and goes to school at St James Middle School, Bury (he’s in his second year of competitive windsurfing), was a clean sweep for Alton Water Wipeouts. Simon Jam (14), from Ipswich, who has been windsurfing a year, took second and Zoë Deal (15) from Colchester took third; she’s in her third and now final year of T15.

Ryan Middleton (15) from Norwich came third in the 5.5m class, stopping Alton achieving another clean sweep. Winner was Chris Harley (13), a pupil at Colchester Grammar and a member of the East Zone Windsurf Squad; second was fellow Alton team mate Dean Taylor (13) from Milton, Cambs.

There were no entries in the 6.8m class, but the 6.8m Bic Techno attracted five competitors and Norwich Force 8th’s Tom Bennett Lloyd (15) won the four race series, with Harriett White (14) of Sudbury second (Harriett won the Alton Water Wipeouts Improvement Trophy and has been a zone squad member for two years). Third place went to Charlotte (Charley) Sissons (14) who until this season was the sole competitor from Tallington Lake windsurf club to compete. She moved to Alton Water Wipeouts at the beginning of this season.

Registration deadline
18 September
for RYA Zone Championships
27/28 September 2008.
A must if you want to
try for a place in your Zone Squad
Register online now

Win a board!

Help your T15 club
to win a Techno board & rig
by taking part in
T15 inter-club events.

Every time your club enters
a team of 15 sailors,
(with at least two people
sailing on Technos)
into your zone 
T15 inter-club events,
then your club goes
into a prize draw.

Each T15 club therefore
has up to 4 chances
of winning the prize.

The draw will take place
at the Champions Cup
in October.

Tell your mates & all
sign up to the team.
The events are great fun
& your windsurfing
will really inprove.

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For information
(previous courses in 2008)

Mount Batten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 27/28 September 2008
Closing date: 5 September
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Lakes Leisure - Windermere
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Fully booked

James Hamilton Heritage Park - Glasgow
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 30/31 August 2008
Closing date: 15 August
Cancelled: lack of candidates

Gwent Adventures - Wales
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 9/10 August 2008
Closing date: 25 July
5 candidates on course


Grafham Water Centre - Cambridgeshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend course: 5/6 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
Spaces available
6 candidates on course

Wimbleball Lake - Somerset
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek course: 3/4 July 2008
Closing date: 30 June
4 candidates on course


Roadford Lake - Okehampton
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 4/5 June 2008
Organised by South West Lakes Trust
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Freestyle
Weekend Course: 3/4 May 2008
Fully booked


Carsington Watersports - Derbyshire
Course type: Racing Instructor
Midweek Course: 1/2 May 2008
6 candidates on course


Mountbatten Centre - Plymouth
Course type: Racing Instructor
Weekend Course: 12/13 April 2008
Cancelled: lack of candidates

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