New kit boost in pirates' regional challenge quest

Pitsford Pirates' young windsurfers have been handed a boost in their quest to retain their RYA Team15 Midlands Challenge title this year after receiving grants from Cash4Clubs and the John Merricks Sailing Trust to buy two new, state-of-the-art windsurf boards.

The two new boards will be used at weekly training sessions, helping the teams to continue to improve their skills for when they compete in the four-event RYA Team15 Midlands Challenge Series, which Pitsford Pirates won in 2010.

The Pirates opened their regional title defence with a second place behind Derbyshire outfit, Carsington Comets, in Birmingham last month, with class winning performances from Robin McAllister (5.8m2 board) and 12-year-old Joe Patrick, whose victory on the 6.8m2 board saw him beat several sailors two or three years older than him. With round two taking place at Draycote Water near Rugby next weekend (Saturday 18 June),

Pirates' Team15 co-ordinator Jon Sweet believes the grant money will make a big difference to the Pirates' challenge. He said: "As well as being used to purchase additional equipment the funding has also enabled us to send some of our volunteer coaches on training courses and we now have three new Assistant Instructors to help the kids develop their skills. The investment will ensure our youth windsurfing team is trained by highly qualified coaches, as we have goals to be successful at a regional and national level. "

For more information about getting involved in Team15 at Pitsford Pirates visit www.northamptonwatersports.com or www.team15.org.uk