Teamwork makes the dream work at RYA Junior Club Championships

The inaugural RYA Junior Club Championships brought together young sailors for a weekend of learning and friendly rivalry with team spirit firmly in the spotlight.

Hosted by Northampton Sailing Club in the Midlands, 19-20 September 2026, teams from across the country competed in Toppers and RS Fevas across a range of conditions.

Celebrating the energy and fun of junior sailing, teams qualified for the event by taking part in local and regional traveller events. For many it was an opportunity to enjoy competing as a team or in a different type of boat. And for some it was an exciting way to round off their first ever full season of racing in style while being inspired for the year ahead.

A breezy Saturday with big gusts saw one race in the morning followed by a postponement while conditions moderated, with sailors then getting back on the water in the afternoon and completing one or two races each to get the championship underway.
During their time ashore in the middle of the day, all had a chance to learn something new to add to their skill set, with a series of round robin sessions ranging from nutrition and racing flags to rigging tips and Rule 18 for understanding mark roundings. There were also team building games encouraging sailors to support each other and learn from mistakes.

Saturday evening saw the tired-out teams enjoying a sociable evening pizza and disco with old and new friends, ahead of an early start on the Sunday to make the most of day two.

A sparkling Sunday brought sunshine and blue skies to allow a packed schedule of racing in light to moderate breezes. With ideal conditions it was tight at the top as sailors in RS Fevas and  Toppers – three sailors at a time from each team - took to the water in rotation for fast turnaround racing on a square course.

Fast and fun

The quick-fire format and the chance to race as a team proved popular, with clubs picking up ideas from the weekend to take home for their own activities.

Sophia Hardcastle, sailing a Topper with the team from Grafham Water Sailing Club, said: "It's really friendly and we've been cheering each other on." Mum Irene said the event format had been an opportunity for sailors to develop their friendships and forge new ones: "They have time to chat and get to know each other between races… it's relaxed, and they support each other more because they're a team from the same club."

Many competitors were racing a different class to their usual boat – including Optimist and RS Tera sailors jumping into Toppers, and singlehanded sailors jumping into RS Fevas to give doublehanded racing a go – so there was lots of inter-team support too, with competitors helping each other out by lending a hand with rigging and launching.

Racing an RS Feva together for the first time from Hunts Sailing Club were Florence Rowen and Penny Davies. Florence said it had been “fun to try something different” with less pressure than usual racing events, with Penny adding: "It's fun. I think it's good to race as a team and I like the short course racing. It's a really good atmosphere."

Growing confidence

The RYA Junior Club Championships aims to support clubs and their young sailors by encouraging participation and providing a stepping stone to other events like the RYA Eric Twiname Junior Championships.

Middle Nene Sailing Club in Northamptonshire brought its sailors along for the learning experience, with most having only previously competed in their local traveller series, and some of them sailing Toppers and RS Fevas for the first time.
 
Parent Julie West, whose children were among those taking part, said: “We definitely enjoyed coming as a club and the camaraderie of being in a team. The sailors really encouraged each other, especially when the wind was high on the first day. They all had a great time and it’s given them a real confidence boost.”
Sarah Carswell, Commodore of Northampton Sailing Club, said: “We’ve loved hosting the RYA Junior Club Championships and our sailors have really enjoyed it.

“They’ve benefited from working together as a team and also in the doublehanded RS Feva and with helping each other at the handovers on shore. Their understanding of racing has developed as well, because it’s different to the local traveller series events that they do, and the quick turnaround racing has been fun. They’ve had a good time and have learnt a lot about themselves and what they’re able to achieve because it’s inspired them to do more than they might have otherwise thought possible.”

Winning ways 

Special awards with Haribo for sharing, went to sailors demonstrating sportsmanship, perseverance and team spirit, plus the top four teams in each class, and overall.

The highest scoring Topper team and second overall was Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club, with Royal Hospital School claiming the top spot in the RS Feva and overall to pick up the first ever RYA Junior Club Championship trophy. 

Overall results

• 1st Royal Hospital School
• 2nd Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club
• 3rd Middle Nene Sailing Club
• 4th Grafham Water Sailing Club

Accepting the trophy on behalf of the winning team, RHS sailor Konstantin Matthaei thanked all those involved in organising and supporting the event, adding: “The atmosphere has been really good and we enjoyed meeting sailors from other clubs. It’s been an amazing event and we hope to come back next year.”

At the prizegiving Hannah Wilcox, RYA Pathway Club Manager, thanked hosts Northampton SC, Principal Race Officer, Imogen Gibb and all of the volunteers, along with the team leaders and adults who made it possible for their young sailors to take part.

Commenting afterwards, Hannah added: “It’s about team spirit, friendship and having fun. This is the first time we’ve run this event and we hope everyone will want to come along again and that more clubs will want to get involved.

“It’s another way for clubs to inspire their young sailors to get on the water at home and in their region, with the chance to then represent their club as a team at a national event. Children go sailing because they want to hang out with their mates and have fun so having that sense of community is really important. 

“As sailors progress through the pathway they might do more class training and events but they also need a home, and that’s their club. The RYA Junior Club Championships is all about sharing experiences like this weekend, making memories together and encouraging young sailors to be embedded in their club.”

Get involved!

The goal for 2027 is to have an even bigger spread of qualifiers across the country and through the calendar leading up to the grand final.

Some dates are already confirmed but there is room for more, so if your club is hosting a regional traveller event or open meeting for junior sailors, please do register your interest as a potential qualifier for the RYA Junior Club Championships.

Find out more about how to get YOUR club and young sailors involved at the RYA Junior Club Championships hub.