RYA winter training squads for RLymYC junior sailors
A number of junior sailors from Royal Lymington have enjoyed training in RYA Regional Training Groups for Optimists, RS Fevas, ILCA4, plus RS Tera's regional squad over the 2021/22 winter season.
In 2020 the previous RYA National Squad and Class Development Squad system was replaced by Regional Training Groups (RTGs). RTGs enable junior sailors to take a step up from racing in their club towards racing nationally or even internationally; enhancing the training they receive at their own club. The sailors meet like-minded young people who are members of clubs in the same region, making great friends in the process. They receive expert coaching on and off the water on six weekends over the winter months. Each weekend of training takes place at a different club in the region, providing sailors with excellent experience of sailing (and venue familiarisation) at a range of inland and coastal waters.
The move from national to regional squads means that sailors (and their parents) usually do not have to travel so far for the training weekends, saving fuel and overnight expenses in many cases whilst also recognising that the young people have full weeks at school either side of their long training weekends.
Sailors are selected by the RYA to participate in the Regional Training Groups, normally at the RYA Regional Junior Championships and at other nominated class events. The following junior sailors from the Royal Lymington Yacht Club were selected for RYA Regional Training Groups for 2021/22:
- Optimist: Alex Breese, Hector Davis, Leo Gosling, Freya Hutchinson, Dirk Rogers and Jonny Rogers
- RS Feva: William Bracey-Davis & James Kennedy, Harry Baddeley & Nia Mecklenburgh, Mark Jenkins Jauma (& Alex Sydenham from HISC)
- ILCA4 (Laser 4.7): Cameron Bignold-Kyles and Harry West.
Although there is no RYA Regional Training Group for the RS Tera, the class association mirror the RYA programme and provide their own regional training group.
- RS Tera: Lauren Mecklenburgh and Amelia Hutchinson
Harry, RLymYC sailor who sails in the RS Feva RTG squad, said: “This has been my second year in the RTG Feva squad and it has been great. The coaches are brilliant, we train in all weathers in locations across the south of England and I’ve made some fantastic friends my own age. We have a really good laugh both on and off the water.”
The final Regional Training Group for the season took place last weekend and now the sailors are getting set for a summer of events - where they'll have just as much fun with their RTG friends off the water as they will competing on the water! Good luck to all!
To be considered for the 2022/23 RTGs, sailors will need to compete an online application form and follow the guidance about qualifying events. Find out more about the RTG application procedure here. Note that the 2022 RYA Regional Junior Championships is taking place in June, rather than September as in previous years.
Find out more about RYA Regional Training Groups on the RYA website