The RYA has announced that the RYA Youth National Championships is coming back with a bang for 2021 – and entries are opening on Monday.
After being forced to miss a year in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the much-loved regatta will return this year as a celebration of youth racing.
Hosted by Plymouth Youth Sailing at the Mountbatten Watersports and Activity Centre in Plymouth Sound from August 9 to 15, the Youth Nationals will welcome as many as 350 young racers from all over the country.
Racing will take place in ILCA 6 and 7, 420, 29er, Nacra 15 and windfoil classes. A separate event for male and female kitefoilers will take place at Edge Watersports in Exmouth, Devon, from August 17 to 19.
While it is hoped that the government will have moved to step four of its roadmap out of lockdown by August, the RYA Events team continue to plan for a Covid-secure event and will adapt to any relevant guidance which may be in place at the time of the event.
The Youth Nationals will be the selection event for the next Youth World Championships, currently scheduled to be held in Oman in December this year.
A new, dedicated website has been launched containing everything you need to know about the Youth Nationals including entry fees, a class-specific schedule and the Notice of Race for both events.
The site, which you can find at youthnationals.rya.org.uk, is the place to go to enter the regatta – and we will be accepting applications from 10am on April 26.
There will also be an app through which sailors can access important regatta information as well as submit documents, requests and protests, available from the App Store and Google Play. See the poster below for more information.
Mark Nicholls, the RYA’s Youth Racing Manager, said: “2020 was a hugely challenging year due to the global pandemic. We tried our hardest to hold a safe and fun regatta but in the end we were scuppered by a combination of Covid-19 and horrendous weather.
“We know how disappointing it was for competitors, and it was equally gutting for the British Youth Sailing team who put their hearts into making this regatta the best youth racing event of the year.
“That’s why we’re planning to make the 2021 Youth Nationals the best it’s ever been. We can’t wait to open entries next week, and are confident that if the easing of restrictions goes as planned that this great regatta can be held in a safe and fun manner.
“Along with our hosts Plymouth Youth Sailing, we are really excited about welcoming everyone to Plymouth this summer.”
Early bird entries close on June 6 whereafter fees rise. Standard entries close on July 18, and a late entry charge will apply thereafter.
To sign up, head to youthnationals.rya.org.uk.
