Home team Hythe Hotshots dominate T15 windsurfing event

A great performance from windsurfing team the Hythe Hotshots secured their win in the third event of the regional Team15 (T15) Inter-Club Championship.

The T15 South East Zone Event 3 was held last weekend (21 July) at Hythe and Saltwood Sailing Club in perfect wind conditions.  The 29 competitors came from four teams from around Kent including the hosts Hythe Hotshots, Spray Sprites, Rye Rebels, and the Bewl Valley Vipers. Some were experiencing the thrill of sailing on the sea for the first time.  

William Marsh of the Rye Rebels, the 3.5m class winner, summed the experience up:  “Team15 rocks! This is my first time on the sea and I’ve loved it! All the other teams are awesome.”  

The young windsurfers, all of whom are 15 years of age or under, sail for their local team and the team with the best score at the end of the summer wins the RYA South East Zone Team15 Inter-Club Championship and gets to compete against all the other RYA Zone winners in the National Final, the Team15 Champions Cup.  

 The youngsters competed in four classes of windsurfer, the 3.5m. 4.5m. 5.8m and 6.8m. In a sunny Force 2, some great performances where put in by the Rye Rebels.  “As a team they are really developing,” said organiser Craig Coupe.  

“It is great to see more and more of them at the events. As their experience grows they will be a team to be watching.”  

Meanwhile 13 year old Galahad Wisbey of the Hythe Hotshots showed himself to be a very strong contender in the 4.5 class. He won all but one race in which he came 2nd. Guy Carney also from the Hythe Hotshots put in a great performance winning every race quite convincingly.

Luke Williams, aged 14, of the Spray Sprites, who has improved massively this year, has risen up though the RYA Zone training fleets, to win all apart from one race and is getting better at every event. “He shows great sportsmanship and passion,” commented Craig.  

The largest class was the 3.5m with 15 competitors, so William Marsh’s win was all the more victorious.   

Credit should also go to the Bewl Valley vipers. Only a couple turned up to represent their team on the day but they loved it and showed enthusiasm for the sport.  

“We did have a parents and coaches race which was highly amusing and great fun,” said one of the other organisers Julian Williams. “The kids loved it! There was even a gorilla that took part. This was pretty funny to watch.”  

Supported by industry leaders Tushingham/Starboard and Neil Pryde, T15 was set up by the RYA to help make windsurfing more accessible and appealing to youngsters at a grass roots level.  

Fun and informal training sessions take place at T15 clubs all over the country for kids up to the age of 15, which are run weekly by specialist RYA coaches.  

The T15 inter-club championship takes place regionally over the summer adding a competitive edge and race training for those keen to hone their skills.