Welcome to the windsurfing section of the RYA East website. This section is designed to keep windsurfers up to speed with the latest training courses, techniques, and news from around the clubs. New Regional Club Coach (Windsurfing) Philip Winfield is keen for all Team 15 and club windsurf sections to make full use of this facility and encourage more people to take up the sport. He said: “Please email me in plenty of time should you wish to inform others about an event or activity that you or your club is staging. If you have any news or information you wish to share let me know so I can keep this site as current as possible.

 

Project Windsurf takes off in the East

Project Windsurf is starting to make an impact in the Eastern Region. There have been a number of windsurfers signing up from the region onto the website – http://www.projectwindsurfuk.org.uk  – reports Regional Windsurf Coach Philip Winfield. In addition he has several other clubs or groups interested in joining the site. Brogborough Windsurfing club, for example, has established a site that links members of the group to the Brogborough website; the club has been actively using the site to publicise its events and activities. full story

Five new windsurf instructors

Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre (Norwich) hosted a successful Windsurfing Instructor Course During the Half Term week in October. The five trainees, Dominic Parker, Lucy Budge, Sam Gosforth, Rowena Conway, and Harriet (Harri) Hudspith worked hard over the five days being trained, instructed, coached, and finally assessed. The general standard was high and all are expected to be active in the region shortly. Many candidates for these courses now emerge from the RYA T15 programme, though this time four out of the five were from the Norwich Sea Scouts in addition to the Norwich Force 8 T15 Club. Undoubtedly this will have a big impact locally on grass roots windsurfing training.

Competitor’s eye view of Team 15 Champions Cup

The weekend of Oct 8th/9th saw Norwich Force Eighth’s return to Team 15 Champions Cup for the second year in a row, with some of the best racing we’d seen all season – especially from the younger sailors experiencing a national event for the first time. Report and Pictures

 

Windsurfing catch up

Catch up with the latest news on the windsurfing front with Philip Winfield, Regional Club Coach (Windsurfing) - full story click here  

Team 15 Parents guide

This guide has been produced by Philip Winfield, the Regional Club Coach for Windsurfing (Eastern Region). It is designed to support parents, especially those of new Team 15 members. This guide will cover commonly asked questions, explain how T15 works, your role in the process and demystify the whole process by explaining more about T15 and attending interclub events. This guide does not replace discussions between parents and their coaches at local clubs nor does it cover every eventuality or piece of information you may want or need, but I hope it helps you in supporting your T15er. Some of the contents are my observations and are not RYA policy or guidelines. For more detailed information please click the link >>>link

Activate Your Windsurfing.

A number of clubs have expressed interest in either starting or developing windsurfing. The RYA is keen to support these clubs with development and coaching on an individual basis. An ‘Activate Windsurfing’ day is planned to help interested clubs in promoting or starting windsurfing for their members. The event will bring together active windsurf clubs and those who are toying with the idea of starting a windsurf section. There will be demonstrations of the latest gear on the market. This initiative, which is being run by RYA National Windsurfing Development Officer Gillian Wright with support from the Regional Development Officers, has been highly successful across the country with significant numbers of clubs attending each event. The vision is: “To show windsurfers that sailing clubs are a great place to take in windsurfing on a regular basis, and to make new friends along the way.”

The aim is to raise the profile of those clubs which are doing a great job and help them to be the best, says Philip Winfield. “In addition we want to work with those clubs who wish to develop windsurfing and help them raise the profile of windsurfing activity. We anticipate this will encourage new members to join the club and get more windsurfing members windsurfing more often.” Contact Robbie Bell the Regional Development Officer Robbie.Bell@rya.org.uk or Philip Winfield, Regional Club Coach (windsurfing) to register your interest or ask for more information.

The RYA is encouraging clubs to get “more adults sailing more often”. Any windsurf club or sailing club seeking to expand its windsurfing activities, to increase membership, improve facilities, or train people should contact Philip Winfield philipwinfield@hotmail.co.uk. “As the governing body for our sport we are promoting the participation of adults as well as youngsters in our sport through this development. There are club coaches in the region who support sailing as well as windsurfing and will be happy to work with you,” commented Philip.

Regional Windsurfing Fleets
The region has a couple of windsurfing fleets on trailers for hire. These fleets are not well used at present and Philip, who is managing them on behalf of the region, is actively encouraging clubs to book them to support their training activities. Booking a fleet is quick and easy using the new regional on-line booking system. To check availability go to www.ryaeast.org home page and click through to the booking system which is hosted by SailRacer.

Get involved - it's fun

Many youngsters who are attracted to the idea of competitive windsurfing find their biggest battle is convincing their parents to let them have a go. To help parents understand better how beneficial
getting out on the water is for the health of their child(ren) and the fun behind the RYA Team 15 youth windsurf competition, RYA East Regional Club Windsurf Coach Philip Winfield has produced a detailed
guide to help you join in and enjoy the fun. To see the guide Click here