Polkerris Pirates Team15 windsurfing

Welcome to our junior windsurfing club at Polkerris Beach which started in September 2008. The idea is to get out on the water regularly, have fun and learn to windsurf well.

We are part of the national Team 15 scheme: a network of about 80 junior windsurfing clubs around the country. It's organised by the RYA and is simple and effective, eventually giving people a chance to go to a series of windsurfing events around Cornwall and Devon. See the Team15 website for more information on the national scheme.

The idea is to make each weekly session as cheap as possible while keeping it fun and safe, so we operate on a part-voluntary basis with help from parents. Our chief Team15 instructor is George. He was a Team 15 member and then became an instructor five years ago. In 2007 he worked at a leading windsurfing centre in the Med (Club Vass) and is now one of the top youth windsurfers in the UK, coming third overall in the 2010 wavesailing series. He also works for Tushingham, the windsurfing equipment manufacturer as their demo man, so he's not here every weekend.

We have around 25 members, with many continuing from previous seasons and the rest starting once they ahve completed a beginners' course (run at various times through the season). In 2010, we made it all four Team15 events around the county, even hosting one ourselves in September. A Sport Unlimited grant allowed us to buy more junior equipment, increasing the number of people we could have on the water at one time. For 2011, we have received a grant to help buy two Bic Technos; the official junior race board.

Team15 sessions run on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, in three 'seasons': summer term, summer holidays, autumn term. people sign up for each of the seasons, rather than for the whole year.

Sunday sailors

As a result of our very popular school courses, we have a bunch of very keen young sailors who like to get out on the water with their friends, learn something new and have fun. On Sunday mornings, we run two sessions of mixed abilities but the entry requirement is an RYA Stage 1 course - usually a school course.

RYA Onboard