The RYA sailing pathway

RYA Youth Programme 

Everything you need to know about the RYA Youth Programme 

The RYA UK Youth programme, British Sailing Youth Team (BSYT), is designed to enable the best British sailors to develop their racing skills so that they can succeed on the international stage. It is aimed at sailors with the potential for world-class performance.  BSYT sailors have the potential to meet one of four criteria:  

  • To qualify for Team GBR for the World Sailing Youth World Championships 
  • To perform at the World or European Championships 
  • To successfully transition into the British Sailing Team (Olympic Pathway) 
  • To develop a lifelong passion for the sport 

  

The RYA employs a specific UK Class Coach and contracts a series of performance specialists to oversee the development of the sailors. They are directed and managed by the RYA Youth Racing Manager. 

Classes 

The following classes are included in the BSYT programme: 

  • ILCA 6 - Male and Female  
  • ILCA 7 
  • 420 - Male, Female and Mixed Crews  
  • 29er - Male, Female and Mixed Crews  
  • iQFOiL - Male and Female 
  • Kite Boarding - Male and Female 
  • Nacra 15 - Mixed 

  

The Training Programme 

The BSYT programme consists of up to 40 days from October to September. The majority of these camps take place over autumn and winter, although sessions are planned in to help sailors prepare for summer international events. We do our best to avoid training during the busy exam periods in May / June, but occasionally this is unavoidable. If training does fall in a difficult time for you then we really encourage sailors to discuss with us so we can help where we can 
 
Fitness training and conditioning support forms an integral part of all our programmes. Fitness testing may take place at camps throughout the year. Core stability training and specialist strength and conditioning education is also provided at this time. 
 
The programme takes place at a variety of inland and coastal locations to ensure that a wide cross section of sailing conditions can be experienced. Further training camps may be run as required. 

What support is available? 

As part of the BSYT sailors will normally: 

  • Attend all the RYA BYST camps over the course of the year. 
  • Receive assistance from the RYA UK Coach as required in preparing training and competition plans. 
  • Attend fitness and sports science support days. 
  • Follow a needs based training and coaching programme. 
  • Have access to remote support from the RYA UK Coach. 
  • Receive further sports science support including information and advice on nutrition, strength and conditioning and hydration. 
  • Compete in a number of mandatory domestic competitions. 
  • Compete in a number of international competitions. 
  • Have access to a discounted squad clothing. 

Below is a list of current sailors in the BSYT: 

Classes Athletes
ILCA 6 British Sailing Youth Team  Archie Munro-Price, Leo Yates, Tom Hakes, Olly Mayo, Nathan Russell, Amelie Hacker, Lauren Irons, Lauren Attwell, Millie Lewis, Flo Tovey, Megan Thomson and Poppy Luxton. 
ILCA 7 British Sailing Youth Team  Hamish Collingridge, Alfie Noel, Robbie Phipps & Sam Grayton. 
29er British Sailing Youth Team  Kitty O'Halloran & Lily O'Halloran, Lila Edwards & Amelie Hiscocks, Laura Elms & Holly Mitchell, Freya Hutchinson & Joanna MacAlister, Jac Bailey & Ben Sinfield, Dylan Creighton & Tristan Ahlheid, Andrew Perratt & Roo Purves and Joe Wimpory & Charlie Hopkinson. 
420 British Sailing Youth Team  William Fletcher & Matthew Rayner, Harry George & Ralph Cawthorne, Patrick Bromillow & Thomas Kelsall, Arthur Greaves & Angus McEwan, Laragh Epstein & Charlie Howard, Joseph Jones & Hennie Burlton, Sabine Potter & Merle Nieuwland, Toilda Brayshay & Bea Greenfield and India Eastwood & Isla Fletcher. 
Kite British Sailing Youth Team  Ella Geiger, Matthew Mann, Charlie Mann, Archie Budd, and Oli Evans. 
NACRA 15 British Sailing Youth Team  Marcus King & Madeleine Jinks, Patrick Hill & Ffion Cerrato, William Boalch & Eliza Pritchard and Finn Caddy & Jessica Patterson. 
iQFOiL British Sailing Youth Team eam  Sophie Clark, Evie Clark, Rosie Sier, Abigail Smith, Alexander Meadway, Galahad Bye, Charlie Baker, Jamie Holligon, Max Collis-Smith. 

Training Dates 

Dates for the RYA British Sailing Youth Team - Summer 2025 

420 British Sailing - Youth Team 

DATES VENUE / DETAILS

Provisional Summer 2025: 

Camp 1 

3 - 4 May 

Shoreham SC (Non-Residential) 

Camp 2 

31 May - 1 June 

WPNSA (Non-Residential) 

Camp 3 

21 - 22 June 

WPNSA (Non-Residential) 

Event 

16-27 July 

420 Junior Europeans, Porto (Non-Residential) 

 Camp 4 

16-17 August  

 TBC (Non-Residential) 

 
29er British Sailing - Youth Team 

DATES VENUE / DETAILS
Provisional Summer 2025:

Camp 1 

25 - 26 April 

WPNSA (Non-Residential) 

Camp 2 

24 - 27 May 

WPNSA (Residential) 

Camp 3 

21 - 22 June 

29erGP HISC (Non-Residential) 

Event 

29 Jun - 8 Jul 

29er European Championships, Riva Del Garda (Non-Resi) 

Event 

30 Jul - 8 Aug 

29er Worlds, Porto (Non-Residential) 

Nacra 15 British Sailing - Youth Team 

DATES VENUE / DETAILS
Provisional Winter 2025/26:

Camp 1 

Camp 2 

Camp 3 

Camp 4 

  

ILCA 6 British Sailing - Youth Team 

DATES VENUE / DETAILS
Provisional Winter 2025/26:

Camp 1 

Camp 2 

Camp 3 

Camp 4 

Camp 5 

Camp 6 

Camp 7 

Camp 8 

ILCA 7 British Sailing - Youth Team 

DATES VENUE / DETAILS
Provisional Winter 2025/26:

Camp 1 

Camp 2 

Camp 3 

Camp 4 

Camp 5 

Camp 6 

  

iQFOiL British Sailing - Youth Team 

DATES VENUE / DETAILS
Provisional Winter 2025/26:

Camp 1 

Camp 2 

 Camp 3 

 Camp 4 

  

Kite British Sailing - Youth Team 

DATES VENUE / DETAILS
Provisional Winter 2025/26:

Camp 1 

Camp 2 

Camp 3 

Camp 4 

  

How to get involved in the next Selection phase: 

You must apply for a place in the BSYT via the link here and please ensure you read the Selection Policies below to check the eligibility and to check which indicators you should be competing at: 

Selection Policies 

Policy Link

BSYT Guideline Standards for Selection 2025-26 

Available HERE 

BSYT Notice of selection 2025-26 

Available HERE  

RYA Racing Selection Policy 

Available HERE 

World Sailing Youth Worlds Notice of Selection  

Available HERE  

  

Applicants will usually be notified within two weeks of the final indicator via email. 

Winter BSYT Indicator Event - these are the events you need to attend if you wish to join the Team for 2025/26: 

Class Indicator Event 1 Indicator Event 2 RYA Selection Weekend Induction Weekends

KiteFoil 

TBC 

TBC 

WPNSA 

30-31 August 2025 

WPNSA 

20-21 September 2025 

ILCA 

ILCA UK Open & National Championships  

Pwllheli, Wales 

9-15 August 2025  

N/A 

WPNSA  

13-14 September 2025 

WPNSA 

4-5 October 2025 

Nacra15 

Nacra GP  

Weston SC 

28-29 June 2025 

Nacra GP 

Windsport 

30-31 August 2025 

Windsport 

28-29 August 2025 

WPNSA 

4-5 October 2025 

29er  

GP 1 

WPNSA 

14-15 Sept 2025 

N/A 

WPNSA 

6-7 September 2025 

WPNSA 

4-5 October 2025 

420 

420 Class Nationals 

Felixstowe SC 

21-25 August 2025 

N/A 

WPNSA 

6-7 September 2025 

WPNSA 

4-5 October 2025 

IQFoil 

UKWA Stokes 

6-7 Sept 2025 

UKWA Nationals  

21-22 Sept 2025 

WPNSA 

30-31 August 2025 

WPNSA 

1-2 November 2025 

More information: 

For further information please contact the youth racing team on youthracing@rya.org.uk 

Links at the bottom for: 

policies and guidance