Hythe Hotshots summer solstice windsurf win

Strong winds and brilliant sunshine greeted 34 young windsurfers for a weekend of wild racing in the RYA’s Regional Team15 (T15) Youth Windsurfing Championship on Mercers Lake, Redhill on Sunday June 22nd. The four South East teams, racing in 4 classes, included hosts Aqua Sports Aquanauts, Hythe Hotshots, Spray Sprites from Eastbourne and Bewl Blasters from Tonbridge, all competing for this 3rd leg of the South East T15 trophy.

Racing was hard fought in tricky conditions for many of the kids, but all of them coped really well with the gusty conditions, showing growing confidence and determination. And it was impressive to see such good results from girls in this testing weather.

Jamie Howard from Spray Sprites led the 3.5m fleet home after 7 races in only his second ever T15 event, followed by Stan Walsh of Bewl Blasters, with Spray Sprites team mate Liam Mason in 3rd. In the Techno class, Lorna Graham of Hythe won, even though she felt unwell and had to opt out of several of the races. The 4.5m class was another hard fought fleet over 6 races, but right from the outset, Henry 'HB' Bloodworth of Aquasports looked hot favourite and posted a comfortable win. Hythe Hotshot Phillipa Hemphrey was 2nd, just ahead of a Spray Sprite Lawrence McKay. Rachael Finch was a worthy Merit Award winner for showing determination and perseverance throughout.

The 5.5m class was looking like another showdown between new kid in the fleet, Spray Sprite Charlie Holman, and seasoned T15 campaigner, Hythe Hotshot Alex Barry. Charlie had piped Alex at the last event on his home waters. Charlie took the win, making it two on the bounce for him, with Alex's team mate Katriona Hards chasing Charlie around to claim second place, ahead of Alex in 3rd. Charlie is now looking to giving the bigger 6.8m guys a run for their money, as they all shared the same course and starts throughout their 8 races!

The 6.8m Techno fleet enjoyed some high wind planing action, with really close racing throughout the day. All three competitors took a turn to lead the rest home, but when it came down to the final scores, Bewl Blaster Cameron Moffatt was third, behind the two Hythe Hotshots who finished on equal points. Conor Wells took the tie-break ahead of Thomas Addison for the fleet win.

After the racing. Jamie Howard, Henry Bloodworth, Stan Walsh, Tom Addison, Conor Wells, Charlie Holman, Katriona Hards and Zara Petts put on a sizzling freestyle expression session. It was Charlie who impressed most, winning himself a tee shirt.

Overall team winners were Hythe Hotshots, who have all-but now booked their place in the T15 Champions Cup. They now host the next event at Hythe on July 27th.

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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