OnBoard Fun Fleets set to feature at Regional Junior Championships

14 Jul 20

It is still the intention to run the British Youth Sailing Regional Junior Championships at the end of September and OnBoard Fun Fleets are once again set to feature at the heart of the events.

The Championship are the end of season celebration of all junior sailing with the OnBoard Fun Fleets a central part of the ethos to offer something for everyone. In these uncertain times, the finer details are still being ironed out for the events, which are scheduled to take place at regional venues on 26-27 September. But the hope is for entries to go live in mid-August. 

The aim of the Fun Fleets is is to give the youngest or most inexperienced OnBoard sailors their first taste of travelling to an event, sailing at a different location and having fun whilst making new friends and learning new skills. Although featuring some fun races, it's not racing and prizes are awarded in line with the OnBoard character attributes, such as displaying teamwork, determination and communication. It's 'Games with aims'. 

Hannah Cockle, RYA OnBoard Operations Officer, said: "Organisers have continued with the planning for the Regional Junior Championships as these allow more flexibility and structure to put appropriate COVID-secure measures in place.

"There's still a lot to be decided, and different options are being explored, but we intend to run OnBoard fleets at most of the English venues and we would like the events to be as consistent as possible, with the hope for all events to offer Saturday only and Saturday and Sunday options. This is a real team effort between OnBoard and British Youth Sailing and I look forward to updating you all soon."

Amongst the restrictions being considered to make the events COVID-safe include a minimum age of eight, a reduction in the maximum capacity in each OnBoard fleet, a minimum ability to Stage 2 with a very clear description of what standard the sailors need to be, one person per dinghy and each sailor being allocated this dinghy at the start of the event.