T15 UKSA Youth Week 2007 
19 - 24 August 2007 
Cowes, Isle of Wight.

"Thanks for the T15 UKSA week, really enjoyed it 'n it wos proberly the best week windsurfing I've ever had! Hope u do it next year for other people, I would like 2 do it again but I'm 2 old :(  Thankyou again" Alan (TeamAstbury)

Just one of the many emails we received about the first ever T15 UKSA Youth Week on the Isle of Wight, which we hope will become an annual event.

To give you a flavour for what the week entailed, here's a short diary from T15 Coach and Competition Organiser, Mike Roberts.

Sunday 19th August pm
16 youngsters were met by UKSA Instructors, Will and Gaz at Portsmouth. Kit was transferred to the UKSA trailers for the ferry trip to Ryde on the Isle of White – the adventure begins. It was a short drive to the UKSA, arriving in time for an evening meal. Rob, a 14 year old member of the UKSA White Cats joined the group along with Mike Roberts, T15 Competition Organiser for the West Zone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 20th August
We were joined by Isy Hutchinson – an additional Coach for the day. Kit was issued to those sailors who required it and loaded on to the trailers for the 20min drive down to one of UKSA’s best windsurfing venues at Thorness Bay. Sails were rigged and then we were ready to hit the water. It was getting close to lunch but even so, there was enough time to experience the advantages of sailing in a steady breeze on the open sea. Conditions were kind even though the light wind was blowing from an unusual direction - the North! After lunch the group was split into 2 with Isy and Will concentrating on Tacking and Gybing, and Mike and Gaz sorting out race starting. Kit was stored overnight in the UKSA containers at Thorness as it would save time tomorrow. All agreed it had been a good start to the week and worth getting back late to the centre for the evening meal.

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday 21st August
At breakfast the main topic of conversation was the wind – still from the North but blowing force 5 to 6! Were we to be tested? Smaller sail were issued to those who required them and then we discussed the problems which the sailors would encounter in dealing with the tide and waves, especially when launching. At the sailing site everyone rigged up in the shelter of some bushes – lots of help from the coaches here in getting the right amount of downhaul on the sails – this all took time and before we realised it, it was time for lunch! Fortunately after the wind had decreased but was still blowing a solid Force 4 – was this to be too much? We were joined by Gail (WightAir link to take pictures). Launching for many proved to quite a challenge but once underway the smiles appeared as everyone gained confidence from each other. Full-on planing conditions were with us for the whole afternoon – great fun! Glen was in his element on his shortboard pulling off all kinds of freestyle tricks. Even Rob with just 3hours of windsurfing behind him was mastering the conditions. Those on the Technos were getting a real exciting ride, up and over the waves – some claiming they were airborne! The coaching simply focussed on the launching in waves problems whilst Gail took some great sailing shots from the safety boat.
Over the evening meal the youngsters were buzzing having had such a great days sailing – many had never been as fast. Certainly the experience of sailing on the sea (rather than an inland lake!) was a real plus – good steady winds encouraged everyone to get in the harness and hang on!

That evening the group were treated to a session in the UKSA’s Swimming pool.

Wednesday 22nd August
Strange!, the wind is still blowing from the North, but even stronger – Force 5 to 6 with force 7 predicted. Some serious decisions had to be made. Perhaps the wind would drop slightly like yesterday? – lets start by getting out the FastFwd simulator and dealing with stance, harness work and footstraps. This proved to be very new to a large number of the youngsters and well worthwhile. We then decided to drive out to a couple of other good sailing sites on the Island. Whilst out, we saw a small number of windsurfers and kite sailors braving the conditions. We returned to the UKSA for lunch to learn that one of the UKSA Instructors had returned from Thorness having been blown off the water and that was with an 85 litre board and 4.5m rig!
Being safe was crucial so it was decided that an alternative to windsurfing would have to be found and that was Raft Building. The group was split into 2 teams helped by Will and Gaz and after an hour or so we had a couple of impressive machines which would be paddled out from the UKSA’s slipway. I’m not sure who won but it was great fun.

That evening the group were treated to another session in the UKSA’s Swimming pool – windsurfers like to get wet!!!

Thursday 23rd August
We were joined by Oli Woodcock, RYA Youth Squad Coach, and it was all systems go for a trip back down to Thorness. The wind was still, you guessed, from the North but less strong. Even so, it was back to full on planing conditions with Oli joining the sailors on a Techno for a Gybing session.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch the wind started to drop off. Rather than pack away it was time to go racing. 3 Giant Slalom races proved to be quite challenging with everyone putting into practice their starting, mark rounding and pumping skills. Sam, whilst only on a 5.7m sail dominated – perhaps helped by using his IMCO?

Friday 24th August
This was to be the day of departure from the UKSA and because we had the logistical problem of dealing with the masses of kit which everyone had, it was decided that we would have a freestyle competition in the “pool” right outside the UKSA. Using school boards and training, it made for an impressive sight. We were joined by Amanda Van Santen RYA Chief Instructor. It was fortunate that the tide was in as some of the sailors were trying some pretty radical moves in the light winds. After a warm-up the competition started with 4, 5 minute heats with the winner of each going through to the final. Hoots from the spectators and other competitors prompted some interesting tricks many of which probably could not be named! The real problem for the judges was picking the winners – oh what a nightmare that was!!!!!
A mid-day barbeque was a real reward for everyone and then it was onto to the picture review – a look on the big screen at the 150+ pictures taken during the week. Prize giving followed – everyone took away a “goody bag” of Isle of Wight souvenirs but the prized rewards were the 4 copies of WhiteAir Trophies which would be presented next week. They went t-

Sam Jenkins (12 – Oxford Zoomers) – 3 wins from 3, made him outright winner of the racing.

Tom Dickinson (15 – Covenham Cyclones) – some smooth, complex tricks and a great dismount made him the winner of the freestyle

Glenn Sullivan (15 – Bewl Blasters) – like many of the youngsters on the camp Glenn had a great attitude. Glenn made no secret of the fact that he was mainly into freestyle – even so, he never complained when we directed him into the coaching sessions and when we went racing (he even borrowed a Techno and had some success). Always smiling he quickly pitched in to help when it was needed.

Rob Pearce (14 – UKSA White Cats) - a local lad and our most improved sailor. The White Cats are a new Team 15 Club and Rob had only had just 3hours on the water before joining us. As all the other sailors were at least Level 2 he might have considered himself as being out of his depth. As it was, he rose to the challenge, listened to everything he was told and put it into action. By the end of the week he was racing with the rest of the group and using the harness.

Summary
A great week was had by all. All the sailors had extended their windsurfing experience particularly when it comes to sailing on the sea, dealing with tides and waves whilst enjoying the constant winds which they do not get a their local lakes. The adventure of travelling to the Isle of Wight, meeting other Team 15 members and living, eating and sleeping windsurfing for 5 days is an experience they will carry with them for a long time. I am convinced that many will stay with the sport beyond Team 15.

Finally...Many thanks from the T15 office to the guys at UKSA, particularly Will and Gaz; to RYA Coaches, Mike Roberts, Oli Woodcock and Isy Hutchinson, and not forgetting Gail Willows at the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership, Wight Link Ferries and WhiteAir Extreme Sports Festival.