Sailors still to enter the 2010 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships are reminded they have until Sunday 28 March to get their entries in. Entries after this date will not be not be excepted.

Around 250 of the country’s best Youth (principally under 19) dinghy racers and windsurfers will converge on the Olympic waters of Weymouth and Portland for five days between Monday 5 and Friday 9 April to do battle at what is regarded as Britain’s  premier annual Youth sail racing event.

With a good number of sailors already entered for what promises to be a highly charged event, organisers are urging sailors to finalise their plans before entry closes in just 10 days time.  

RYA Youth Racing Manager, Duncan Truswell said: “Preparations for the event are really ramping up now with less than three weeks remaining until the first race of the regatta is due to kick off. We’re really excited to be holding the event at Weymouth and Portland which as well as being a high profile venue is also regarded as a real all round venue known for throwing up a complex mixture of pretty exciting conditions. Sailors can expect to be challenged at a multitude of levels offering them a great platform for showcasing their skills and learning robust routines for delivering top performances at the Summer’s major International regattas. This year’s event also features a number of opportunities to develop sailors skills with workshops from key performance specialists, Skandia Team GBR programme staff and Olympic sailors.”

As well as acting as the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships, as always the event doubles up as a selection event for the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships, which this year take places in Istanbul, Turkey in July. Last year, Great Britain picked up a Gold and Silver at the event as well as finishing second in the prestigious Volvo Trophy for the top performing nation.

This year Britain’s most successful crew ever at Olympic level; Sarah Webb will be among the panel of Youth Worlds selectors in Weymouth and Portland. The Skandia Team GBR star herself competed at two ISAF Youth Worlds in ’95 and 96’ sailing the Laser Radial.

She said: “It’s both hugely exciting and a real privilege to be on the selection committee at the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships this year.  Having been a member of the Youth Worlds Team myself I know how important it is as a stepping stone and introduction to competing at the highest level. I remember very well the level of anticipation before my first Youth Worlds and it really was every bit as exciting as my first Olympic race! 

“The Youth Worlds were the start of my journey to Olympic Gold - this year I hope we will find and select a team of sailors who will start their own journeys to Olympic Gold in years to come,” Webb concluded.

To get your entries in for the 2010 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships now visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk

Meanwhile sailors who have already entered for the event are asked to check that their entry has been confirmed by checking the online entry list. If your name does not appear on the entry list, you should contact Jenny Campbell-James immediately on 01243 641176. Entries are only complete once payment has been received.

Entries for the Championships must be made by Sunday 28th March.          

Ellie Williamson
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 18 March 2010 )