Working group formed to keep Youth Nationals at forefront of UK youth racing

The RYA Youth National Championships - the premier youth racing event in the UK - has run successfully for many years and broadly to the same format, date window and principles.

With so much change both across the sport of sailing - with new classes and formats - and ever-increasing academic pressure on young people, the RYA, through its Youth Racing Committee, has established a working group to consider how this established and prestigious event can evolve and remain at the forefront of youth racing in the UK. 

This working group, made up of RYA staff and volunteers, will be seeking the views of competitors, staff, parents, volunteers, race officials and venues as it looks to understand the many factors involved in running an event of this kind.

Such a piece of work is significant and will take time and care. As such, the group is not looking to report its findings before the spring of 2022.

While there might be some opportunities to pilot small changes in 2021, we don’t envisage there being any significant change to timings, venue or aspiration in the short term. The 2022 regatta is still scheduled to take place in the Easter window at Plas Heli in Pwllheli, Wales. 

We would encourage all to engage creatively and positively with their feedback when the opportunity arises, most likely at this year’s Youth National Championships in Plymouth and Exmouth in August. 

Entries are open for the 2021 event. To be part of the regatta head to https://youthnationals.rya.org.uk/ for all the information and entry forms. 

Anybody that wishes to share their feedback may contact youthracing@rya.org.uk.