Entries are invited for the RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championship over the weekend of 3-5 September in RS21s at Cardiff Bay Yacht Club in Wales.
Open to teams of sailors aged at least 14 but under 23 years old by 31 December 2022, the event will include a trophy for the highest placed all-U19 team and entry is open here.
With interest expected from both experienced teams and those wanting to try match racing for the first time, the #rockupandrace championship will include event coaching.
Richard Moxey, RYA Keelboat Development Manager, said: “This event is an exciting opportunity for aspiring keelboat and match racing sailors to enjoy a busy weekend of short course racing alongside a chance to develop their skills. I’m looking forward to seeing both familiar faces from the circuit and new ones as young sailors begin their journey in keelboat and match racing.”
British Keelboat Sailing is inviting entries from teams of four or five, weighing no more than 350kgs in total and with a minimum of one female sailor. Early bird entry is £410 per team before 23.59 on 5 August 2022, £440 per team thereafter.
The winning team will be invited to compete at the RYA National Match Racing Championship Grand Final in October at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Hamble. Also up for grabs is a chance to compete at the 2023 Youth Match Racing World Championship.
Teams at last year’s Harken Youth Match Racing Championship ranged from first-timers to experienced match racers and 2021 winning skipper Alex Colquitt is due to compete at this month’s Youth Match Racing Worlds (17-23 July 2022) in France. He also recently won the first round of the RYA Summer Match Racing series at the Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch.
Having previously sailed Cadets and 420s, his teammates at events are all friends who likewise moved into match racing from youth classes. With the #rockupandrace format and supportive environment, Alex says match racing is both welcoming and accessible for young sailors.
He said: “You’re in a team with three to five people and a massive part of it is like normal fleet racing, just going as fast as possible, but then what makes it more exciting and intense is you’re only racing against one other boat, so you get aspects like the rules for the pre-starts coming into play. If someone is new to match racing and wants to ask questions, people are always happy to help out and explain things when you are there and it’s a really friendly group of people.”
To find out more about first-time match racing in RS21s, check out this vlog featuring a young team from Ullswater YC. For details of all upcoming RYA Match Racing events visit: www.ryamatchracing.co.uk
