Junior and Youth

 

Youth and junior sailing has for many years been a strong and important part of our club. We have a long tradition of encouraging young people into sailing and developing their skills. Our aim is to provide many opportunities for young sailors to develop their skills towards competitive racing and a lifetime of boating enjoyment. A few aspire to the pinnacle and thus far seventeen Olympians have started as RLymYC Juniors, with many others achieving success in National, European and World Championships.

Our Junior and Youth activities include a healthy mix of training, racing, adventure and social events, and we're fortunate to have access to excellent sailing areas in the Western Solent, on the river and on adjacent lakes when a bit of shelter is required. We welcome the children of our members and have a separate category of Junior Membership to enable children to join in their own right. 
 

The learning journey document provides an overview of what goes on in our junior section sailing activiites on a regular basis. 

For those who want to know more about this journey please see the handbook for more detailed information. 
 

LEARNING HANDBOOK

 

 

 

 

Our year-round programme includes coaching, training and racing for seven fleets, all of which are on the RYA Pathway. These fleets are Optimist, RS Tera, RS Feva, Laser (4.7 and Radial), RS Aero, 420 and 29er, each with a Fleet Captain. Younger children of our members participate in our Shipmates programme, whilst older children choosing to potter rather than (or as well as!) race join our Mariners adventures.

Friday Evening Junior Racing takes place from April to September, starting at 6pm. Youth sailors also join our Monday Evening Dinghies and Team Racing.

The club has a dedicated Head Coach, Hugh Styles, previously British Sailing team's coach of the year in 2019. Hugh has coached at all levels including the Olympics with the British sailing team for both the foiling Nacra 17 and Laser Radial classes. Having served on the RYA youth racing committee and been Head British Coach at the Youth World Championships he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and enthusiasm to the role.

For over 35 years our award-winning Wednesday Junior Sailing programme, organised weekly by volunteers between April and September, reaches out to children aged 8-17 in the local community who otherwise might not get the opportunity to learn seamanship and sailing skills.

Our annual Youth Week enables our Wednesday Junior Sailors and our Junior and Youth Fleet sailors a regatta week of fun and friendly competition every August. 

If you would like any further information or you wish to support and assist our Junior and Youth activities, please contact our Captain of Junior and Youth Sailing via the club office.

Click on the boxes below to find out more...

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