A round-up of the 2023 Regional Junior Championship Events

Bringing together young sailors for eight exciting events across the UK. The regional regattas not only encourage juniors of all skill levels to participate in an action-packed and fun weekend on the water. It also provides them with a platform to showcase their skills and passion for the sport and a chance to make unforgettable memories. 

RYA Junior Racing Manager, Chis Atherton said “One of the many highlights of the RYA Regional Junior Championships is the opportunity it provides for newcomers to the sport to interact with experienced junior racers in a relaxed and engaging environment. These events are designed to showcase the possibilities for sailors and parents to get involved in the sport, either as participants or volunteers.” 

Smooth sailing at Royal Torbay Yacht Club

The South West Regional Junior Championships triumphed with approximately 120 enthusiastic sailors, enjoying ideal sailing conditions reminiscent of the Italian Riviera under sunny skies. Despite light wind challenges on Saturday, sailors persevered with even more youngsters taking to the startline for the slightly windier Sunday.

Regional Performance Manager, Duncan West commented “We extend our upmost appreciation to the Paignton Yacht Club and Torbay Yacht Club. Their provision of RIBs and equipment, hosting expertise, and shoreside assistance greatly contributed to the smooth operations of the events and enhanced the overall experience for the young sailors." 

A spectacular sailing festival at Bassenthwaite Sailing Club

The lakes attracted a record-breaking turnout for the event, with 172 boats and around 190 talented young sailors in the retrospective fleets. Many families chose to camp, fully immersing themselves in the experience and the sailing conditions were perfect, with fantastic weather. All fleets completed seven races.

Regional Performance Manager, Tim Hall said: “Overall, the event at the lakes was a tremendous success with a lively festival atmosphere and the delightful culinary offerings. It was an unforgettable experience that will be memorable by all who attended. Adding to the fun, a mention went out to the spot prize, where one of the young sailors managed to catch a fish with their bare hands”

Resilience and triumph at Grafham Water Sailing Club

Despite challenging weather conditions, the East Regional Junior Championships at Grafham Water Sailing Club successfully completed all seven races before an approaching storm. With protests filed, the event provided valuable lessons in sportsmanship through filed protests. Families shared personal stories of their children's sailing journey, progressing from the introductory OnBoard program to the Regatta Fleet and Championship Fleet, demonstrating their dedication and perseverance.

Regional Performance Manager, Paul said : “Despite the initial weather concerns, the event was filled with valuable learning experiences and uplifting moments. The resilience of the sailors, the dedication of the volunteers, and the exceptional support from the club all contributed to making this a memorable and successful competition. 

Sailing success at Rutland Sailing Club

The Midlands Regional Junior Championships at Rutland Sailing Club were a resounding success, with ideal conditions for the competitors. The event had three fleets, each offering unique experiences. The Rookie fleet had various activities like sailing and paddleboarding, while the Regatta fleet focused on racing and skill development. The Championship fleet had excellent conditions and thrilling competitions in multiple boat classes. Female sailors dominated the Topper fleet, securing the top five positions.

The event was made even more special with the distribution of ice creams to all competitors after Saturday's races. Rutland Sailing Club offered an induction session with RS 21 keelboats, providing an additional experience for sailors and parents. Rutland Sailing Club emerged as the winner of the Regional Club trophy, showcasing their strong representation.

Junior sailors showcase their skills at Queen Mary Sailing Club

The British Regional Youth Championship at Queen Mary Sailing Club encountered challenging conditions. The regatta fleet completed three races on Saturday, while the championship fleet managed four races in light and unpredictable winds.

Sunday also posed challenges with a waning breeze, prompting delays and course adjustments, however The championship fleet had a great finale, with 12-15 knots of southerly breeze. Meanwhile, the regatta fleet accomplished five races, adding to the grand total of eight races completed. Congratulations to Joanna Walker and Evan Hannaby who triumphed in every race. 

Niall McLeod, Racing Services Manager said “We are immensely grateful to the parents and volunteers and QMSC staff, whose dedication and support made this event a resounding success. The fun-filled event had a great atmosphere filled with lots of laughter and unforgettable moments.” 

On the water fun at Oxford Sailing Club 

The Oxford Sailing Club southern event had an impressive turnout, with 146 boats participating. Despite light winds, the young sailors displayed their skills and determination. The championship fleet completed three races on Saturday, while the regatta fleet sailed through four races. Sunday had better wind conditions, allowing for more races. The championship fleet finished seven races in total, and the regatta fleet completed ten races over the two-day event.

Warsash Sailing Club emerged as the club with the greatest number of entries, demonstrating their dedication to the sport and their commitment to nurturing young sailing talent. Additionally, the Stokes Bay Sailing Club experienced a significant increase in entries since 2022, marking them as a rising force in the junior sailing community.

Standout sailing skills shown at Loch Tummel

Coinciding with the Regional Junior Championships across the UK. The championship featured top junior and youth sailors competing in classes such as Optimist, Topper, ILCA 6, Feva, 420, 29er, Techno293, and IQFoil. The challenging conditions on Loch Tummel provided an exciting racecourse for up to 12 races in some classes.

Standout performances were seen in the singlehanded fleets, with impressive performances by Andrew Perratt, Cameron McDaid, and Alexander Sivarajan. The Feva and 29er classes showed promise for future growth, and the windsurfers had close races, particularly in the iQFoil class. The event received great support from volunteers, coaches, and the Loch Tummel Sailing Club.

“An unforgettable event”

In Pembrokeshire, Wales, sailors experienced magnificent weather that was prefect for racing. With sunshine and gentle breezes, the two-day event boasted ideal conditions. The ambiance buzzed with excitement as 65 sailors embraced a friendly and sociable atmosphere. To add to the enjoyment, a pizza van was present on Saturday night.

Performance Manager, Sarah McGovern said “The sailing performances were exceptional, resulting in the completion of nearly a full series of races in each fleet. All in all, it was an unforgettable event that seamlessly blended thrilling competition with delightful social interactions.” 

Results 

"The invaluable participation of numerous volunteers and the supportive parents has been instrumental in the success of all our events," stated Oli Woodcock, Youth Racing Manager. "Their commitment and diligent efforts behind the scenes have ensured the seamless execution of the competitions and created a fun atmosphere for young sailors to excel."

Congratulations to the clubs and individuals that won prizes at their regional events. For the full results breakdown please check out the full results page.