Regional Training Groups South Success
Despite the challenges which Covid-19 brought during the last year, an impressive 100 junior sailors from the South region took part in the 2020-21 South Region BYS Regional Training Groups (RTG) winter training programme.
Central to the RYA’s plans to reinvigorate junior racing, the Regional Training Groups emphasis on regional and club racing provides a fantastic opportunity for junior sailors to take that step up from racing in their club to racing nationally or even internationally.
Pre-Covid-19, RTG sailors would normally attend over six weekends of on-water coaching and off-water workshops. The 2020 Covid-19 lockdowns, along with a truncated indicator series, meant that the South RTG had a challenging start with just one camp taking place before the January 2021 lockdown.
The RTG then went online, with coaches delivering remote sessions to the sailors through the learning network. As restrictions eased in 2021, the postponed camps were able to start up again. 23 of the planned 30 training camps ultimately took place for the four classes (Optimist, RS Feva, Topper and Techno): an impressive achievement.
The South Region RTGs are managed by Duncan West, South and SW Regional Performance Manager, along with a team of 21 expert RYA coaches. On conclusion of the training programme, Duncan commented: “It has been great to see that we nearly manged to complete a full training programme in spite of all the challenges this winter. When visiting the camps, I have been impressed with the engagement and willingness from the sailors to try new technique as they look to improve.”
Topper sailor Ffion Cerrato from Warsash Sailing Club said: “I really enjoyed that there was mixed abilities so you could learn from the more experienced sailors but also help out the less experienced sailors.”
Whilst Pip Shepard from Bosum Sailing Club added: “The RTG was really fun. We learnt lots of things like how to improve our roll track, how to get a better start and how to transit in every race. It was really good.”
The South RTGs could not happen without the support of the region’s clubs and Coaches. Duncan added: “I would like to thank the 12 clubs for acting as host venues and supporting these young sailors.”
The 12 clubs are: Royal Lymington Yacht Club Burghfield Sailing Club, Royal Southern Yacht Club, Oxford Sailing Club, Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre Portsmouth, Stokes Bay Sailing Club, Andrew Simpson Watersports Centre Reading, WPNSA, Spinnaker Sailing Club, Warsash Sailing Club, Hayling Island Sailing Club and Itchenor Sailing Club.
The 2020-21 South Region BYS RTG Coaches are:
- Optimist: Josh Atherton, Ollie Hill, Tom Hays, Matt Viney, Will Burdall, Adele Young and Jamie Harris.
- RS Feva: Niall Myant, Jake Elsbury, Emily Covell and Jamie Harris.
- Topper: Lynn Billowes, Jake Bowhay, Helena Lucas and Angus Kemp.
- Windsurfing: Lewis May, Rachel Horton, Will Keyser
RTGs were recently introduced to address challenges facing the sport including declining participation at club level, increasing regional disparity, an over-emphasis on results in junior age groups and the increasing costs and environmental impact of training and racing nationally at a young age.
Annually, over 500 young sailors from around the country take part in RTGs, developing skills which they can then put to the test at class events, including the Eric Twiname Championships and the RYA Regional Junior Championships.
Duncan concludes: “Our aim is to train up a group of junior racing sailors who are really focused on wanting to improve their skills and challenge themselves to be the best they can be. What young sailors learn at the RTGs will be the foundations of a lifetime of successful sailing.”
Do you know a young sailor who could benefit from the RTG?
Applications for the RTGs are currently closed and normally open in min-August. Dates and venues for the 2021-22 winter training programme are currently being finalised and will be published soon.
The RTG Selection Policy has now been published and can be found here.