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English Sailing Talent Academy

What are Talent Academies?

English Sailing Talent Academies are designed to offer sailors with high potential monthly, consistent, high-quality coaching and training that will nurture skills and competencies both on and off the water; aimed to maximise development and progression through the youth racing programme.

The Talent Academies will offer selected sailors monthly, expert coach led training and development both on and off the water. To fully develop and nurture sailors towards achieving their full potential, the focus will be on holistic development, including technical, tactical, physical and psycho-social elements.

Talent Academies will be focused on supporting sailors across two areas:

1) Talent Transition – Sailors with high potential transitioning into youth classes

2) Performance Development – Will support and develop the top youth sailors from across England to realise their future potential at youth and senior level.

There will be four Talent Academies located across England , each with a team of expert RYA coaches leading their designated class.

The Talent Academies will focus on providing year round training to sailors within the following recognised Youth Classes :

  • ILCA 4 (Talent Transition only)
  • ILCA 6 (Performance Development Only)
  • 420
  • 29er
  • iQFOiL (2x Talent Academy programmes – North and South)

While the Nacra 15 and Kite classes aren’t part of the Talent Academy programme, we will be working with the Class Associations to ensure that as many sailors as possible are exposed to these classes at Insight Days and other events. For more details visit the UK Nacra 15 Class Association or British Kitesports Association.

Principles

Each Talent Academy will be underpinned by the following principles:

  • Support the effective transition of sailors with high future potential into their best youth class
  • Provide access to regular high-quality training for sailors with the highest potential locally
  • Develop sailor centred learning environments that nurture and inspire sailors’ potential
  • Strategically locate Talent Academies to maximise reach and increase accessibility for sailors from under-represented groups

Pathway

Performance Development

The objective of Performance Development is to provide high quality training environments that further develop the best youth sailors in England to maximise their potential.

To help achieve the British Sailing Pathway objectives of creating the “champions of tomorrow”, it is vital that those sailors are provided with access to training and coaching that supports their individual development. Performance Development groups within Talent Academies will enable the best youth sailors in England access to high quality coaching without the need to travel across the country.

Sailors offered a place within their nearest Talent Academy will have access to year-round training weekends with expert RYA coaching, and access to a range of additional support and education such as physical development, sport psychology and nutrition.

Selected sailors will have access to the following opportunities:

  • Up to 16 days a year of training at Talent Academy venue
  • Individual Development Plan
  • Online education workshops (e.g. nutrition, recovery, building resilience etc.)
  • Guidance and programme physical conditioning and strength development to support performance improvement

 

Performance Development Selection Process

You must apply for a place in the BSYT via the RYA Just Go Portal. Open the user guide to view detailed instructions and get started right away.  Please ensure you read the Selection Policies below to check the eligibility and to check which indicators you should be competing at.

Talent Transition

Talent Transition will provide sailors with monthly training alongside expert coaches, embedding sailors with excellent fundamental skill within their new class and create a greater platform from which they can flourish.

There are many elements that contribute to a sailor selecting the right youth class for them. This can include their physical profile (i.e. height and weight), finances, opportunities locally, social/peer groups etc. All of these factors, and more, play a significant role. However, it is also important that the sailors select a class that they enjoy and they feel able to commit themselves to.

Selected sailors will have access to the following opportunities:

  • Up to 22 days a year training at Talent Academy venue
  • Individual Development Plan
  • Online education workshops (e.g. Nutrition, recovery, building resilience etc.)
  • Education and guidance to develop fundamental movement and athletic development

Talent Transition Selection Process

For more information please see Talent Academy- Talent Transition Notice of Selection and apply.

You will be asked to create an account on the RYA Portal, please do this in the sailor’s name, if you are applying for multiple sailors within the same family, please contact youthracing@rya.org.uk.

Explore our provisional dates for 2026/2027

DiSE (Diploma in Sporting Excellence)

DiSE is a government-supported and funded initiative dual career pathway for talented athletes, aged between 16-18 years old, designed to help them balance their sporting ambitions with further education. The programme includes focused sessions on technical, tactical, and physical development within their chosen sport, along with topics like injury prevention, nutrition, and career planning.

The RYA are awarded a limited number of DiSE places each year

Delivery and support for sailors selected onto the DiSE Programme will be run through the Talent Academies.

Get more information on DiSE. 

Talent Academy Performance Development Sailors for 2025/2026

London & South East – Datchet Water SC 

Alex Flint, Callum Harris, Finn Ramus, Fraser Ferguson, Hector Davies, Henrietta Olivia, Burlton, Hugo Fletcher, Isla Todd, Joseph Jones, Katherine Gunn, Lucas Symons, Mortimer Mastin, Oscar Bartlett, Sara Goujon, Sebastian Bailey, Tom Eastwood 

Midlands – Rutland SC 

Jasper Malik, Rebecca Pilkington 

North – Leigh & Lowton SC 

Billy Morris, Ethan Wild, James Davies, Jessica Skelding, Lewis Bacon, Matthew Baird, Oliver Scanlan, Toby Waggett, Will Taylor 

South West – WPNSA 

Aarian Rexha, Abi Smith, Caitlin Bramah, Charlotte Simmonds, Claude Young, Emilia Ripley, Finnley Knight, George Ebdon, Harry Mills, Harry Webb, Holly Norton, Isabel Bramah, Jo Walker, Milo Shaw, Monty Desforges, Nathan Clark, Olly Mayo, Polly Scott, Thea Miller, Theo Whiter, Thomas Saunders, William Heath 

Talent Academy Transition Sailors for 2025/2026  

London & South East – Datchet Water SC  

Amelia Davies, Apolline Depaepe, Aurelia McNamara, Bailey Angus, Callum Marshall, Edie Carter, Emilia Laker, Evan Hellyer, Freya Antonelli, George Garner, Gloria Smith, Harry Mitchell, Jess Cunningham, Kate Charlesworth, Kit Bentall, Lottie Sparks, Mark Soars, Noah Sauven, Oscar Lay, Sam Dence, Sam Mason, Sam McNamara, Thomas Matthews, Tiphaine Ungari, Zoe Lomas-Clarke 

Midlands – Rutland SC  

Anila Atkins, Benedict Sigley, Daniel Rallan, Eloise Sanders, Hugh Walker, Isabella Barnes, Jack Hodgkins, Noah Goulden, Oscar Johnson, Phoebe Gay, Sophia Hollingshead, Thomas Sigley 

North – Leigh & Lowton SC  

Bethany Skelding, Eve Bromilow, Thomas Carrig, Tom Underwood 

South West – WPNSA  

Amelie Ballantyne, Blake Brown, Cassius Day, Charlie MacKenzie, Dawson Rogers, Dylan Pritchett, Emily Shell. Fallon Day, Finlay Rhodes, Florence Patterson, Freddie Wilson, George Reynolds, Grace Windett, Hannah Yates, Harry Ocallaghan, Holly Pritchard, Isabella Deas, Jasper Jenkinson, Mave Parry-Shield, Milo Robineau-Potts, Oliver Wilson, Rio McNab, Ruby Webb, Sebastian Evans, Sophie Taibjee, Sophie Le Grice, Theo Forbes, Toby Colls, Victory Montgomery