Event 3
Saturday 30 July 2005
Windtek, Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy

Team15 goes Olympic
No, I don't mean that T15 will be part of the next Olympics. That is not likely to happen; not for a long time, anyway. But Event 3 of the South West(n) Zone Inter-Club Series was held at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy which will be the sailing and windsurfing venue for the 2012 Olympic Games. The Axbridge Animals were keen to have a team photo on the steps on the magnificent new building before team coach, Bob Shillito, took them on their warm up run. After the welcome and the briefing, marks were laid which would serve as the course for all the races, with a bit of adjustment throughout the day.

The coaches set their teams off towards the south west corner of the harbour for the warm up event in the form of Race 1 - a paddle round the marks and back. Race 2 was a true team effort; Trimaran Racing. Three boards tied at the front propelled by a combination of sail and paddle. A test of skill and power. It looked as if the Axbridge Animals had practised this as they romped home for an easy victory.

After a lunch break came the serious stuff. There is no convenient beach near the launching area (I found this out when I stepped out of my boat, Ever Freddy, into what I thought was knee deep water a sank up to my chest!) so a line start was the only option. With my trusty assistant, Ady Davies, standing on the rocky shore with flag and whistle, I took to the water shouting encouragement, whilst checking to see fair play and offering a free taxi service to anyone unable to get back. Two laps of a tricky triangle with the windward mark tucked up in the corner of the harbour testing the up-wind skills, and the choppy water testing the gybe.

Windtek's Sam Rowles dominated the 6.6m fleet with 100% firsts. Laurie Finch held sway in the 5.5m fleet for the Axbridge Animals leaving Bella Jezard (Animals), Will Rowles (Windtek Rippers) and Aleks Sedgewick-Wilde (Durleigh Devils) fighting for the minor places. Callum made it a clean sweep for the Finch brothers from Axbridge by winning the 4.5m fleet whilst in the 3.5's Amy Barkus (Animals) and Jo Knight (Windtek Rippers) could only be separated by a couple of points.

Ben Lewis and India Heaslip of the Animals had a little bit of coaching during the event thanks to Windtek T15 Coach Alex Sergison and it was agreed that India should have a special award for the most improved sailor on the day. Pippa Hambling (Animals), fairly new to windsurfing, was given a special award for determination.

It was a shame that Windtek could only raise a team of 4 on the day, due to holidays, etc. keeping many away. With a first, two seconds and a third, two more half decent results would have put them in with a chance of the team prize. As it was, the team trophy was won by Axbridge Animals, sponsored by Bic.

At the prize presentation, Geoff paid tribute to the hard work done by host T15 Coach, Alex Sergison and hoped that more Windtek Rippers would come to the next (and final) event at Croft Farm. He thanked the sponsors of T15 (Neilson, Tushingham & BiC), all the T15 coaches, supporters and helpers, then, to make the day extra special our Olympic medallist, Nick Dempsey, presented the T15 trophies and certificates. Nick said how impressed he was with the standard of windsurfing and he was sure that one day many of the clubbers there would be in the national squads and, maybe, one of them would represent GB at the Olympics.

Team winners
Axbridge Animals (Bic Sport)

Photos courtesy of Bob Shillito

For further details contact
Geoff Pook
geoff.pook@rya-online.net 

We are the Champions!
West Kirby Warriors
T15 Champions 2008

Congratulations!

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Coach Courses


T15 Coach-Red courses
will now be known as
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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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