There’s less than a week to go until the first starting gun at the 2023 RYA Youth National Championships – the premier youth racing event of the season – with almost 300 sailors and riders set to descend on the Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.
Racing gets underway from Monday 10-Friday 14 April across all youth fleets, and the event will welcome a range of talents from those looking to fight it out for the podium spots to those racing at the event for the first time or in a new class.
The RYA Youth Nationals has not only been the launchpad for some of the world’s best racers over the years, but has also helped embed a lifelong love of the sport and created enduring connections and friendships across the fleets.
Competitors from all across the country will face a packed schedule of races with the foiling classes (iQFoil and Kite Foil) taking on up to six races per day and the dinghy classes and Nacra 15s up to four races per day.
For the first time, the event will stage Olympic-style medal racing for the top ten boats on the final day (for classes with over 20 entries) to help leading competitors gain experience of the types of formats they might face when progressing to the senior ranks.
RYA Youth Racing Manager, Oli Woodcock, said: “We’re really looking forward to welcoming everyone to WPNSA for what I’m sure will be a fantastic week of racing at this world class venue.
“Whether this is a sailor’s first time at the event or they’re a defending champion there will be plenty to learn during the week to build upon throughout the rest of the season. We’re excited to be introducing a few new elements this year including medal racing for the final day.”
The RYA will also be staging various information and support sessions for the sailor parents who are on site throughout the week including anti-doping, ‘Sporting Parent’ advice, talent ID programmes and outlining the various options, pathways and opportunities that exist for sailors beyond youth sailing.
A 2023 Youth Nationals ‘Ones to watch’ article and a full list of regatta entries can be found on the event website.
Be sure to check out updates throughout the week via the event site and on British Youth Sailing’s Instagram.