What Kit's Allowed? 

What kit can I sail in Team15?

The short answer is anything! Team15 has an open-kit policy which means whichever board you can lay your hands on, you can use. This might be kit provided by the club, it might be a borrowed board, a  board that your parents use, something that you have bought specifically or board someone has given you.

This said, some equipment is more suitable than others, and some restrictions apply at inter-club and beyond. Having the right kit will make learning windsurfing and improving a lot easier and much more fun, which is the whole point of Team15! So choose wisely. Ask your Team15 coach for advice.  

Looking to buy?

If you are looking to buy equipment specifically to use in Team15 then there are two questions to ask yourself from the outset:

• Do you fancy having a go at the Team15 inter-club challenges?
• Do you like the T15 inter-club challenges and are keen to progress into the RYA Zone Squad?

Whilst Team15 offers an open-kit policy to encourage as many children as possible to try windsurfing, develop their skills and stay windsurfing forever, Team15 also aims to progress children along the RYA competition pathway and certain kit might be needed at higher levels - but some of this kit can be used at T15 clubs.

By knowing what may be required, you can make an informed choice at the beginning. 

RYA competition pathway

The RYA competition pathway is the best in the world, producing the most successful Olympic sailing team ever. This same pathway starts at Team15 level and allows sailors to maximise their potential, becoming the windsurfing stars and Olympic windsurfers of the future.

At various stages along the pathway, specific kit may be required. The pathway board for junior windsurfing is the Bic Techno 293 one design board.

Whether you choose to buy open kit now and progress onto specified kit at a later stage is entirely your choice. However, to make things easier, Team15 inter-club events allow for open-kit or Bic Technos to be used, with a Techno Award being presented to the first Techno sailor outside of the top three.

So if you are looking to buy a board, you could get a Techno straight away to use in your T15 club, but it's your choice. If you need more advice then ask your Team15 coach.

Inter-club challenges

There are four classes sailed at the T15 inter-club challenges:

• Open 3.5m
• Open 4.5m
• Open 5.8m
• Techno 6.8m

The class refers to the maximum sail size which can be used. You can use smaller sails in each class, which may be required if it is windy or you are small in build. 

Whilst any board can be sailed in the Open 3.5, Open 4.5 and Open 5.8m classes, only the Bic Techno can be sailed in the Techno 6.8m class.

For more information please refer to the T15 Inter-Club Notice of Race (NoR) and seek advice from your Team15 coach.

N.B. Please note that the Open 5.8m class has replaced the 5.5m class for 2010.

The pathway to success

The Pathway to Success provides information on the most appropriate equipment, events and training opportunities suitable for junior windsurfers, depending on where you fit within the RYA competition pathway. Download the poster for further information.