ON THE WATER
Toby Waggett of Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club won the ILCA 6.
Junior racing Breeze on for
Talent showcase Youth racing
Pwllheli hosts pinnacle of youth sailing O
ver 230 of the UK’s top young sailors headed to the 2025 RYA Youth
National Championships, for a week of varied and challenging race conditions. Wednesday brought a
rapid weather change, resulting in high winds. We would like to once again extend our thanks to all on-site staff, volunteers and emergency services for their swift and coordinated response following the incident, ensuring all sailors were returned safely to shore. An investigation is currently under way to ensure that lessons are learnt, not only for future RYA events, but also for the wider sailing community. Held in April at Plas Heli,
the Welsh National Sailing Academy in Pwllheli, the event showcased the country’s brightest up-and-coming talent across six youth classes: 420, Nacra 15, 29er, ILCA 6, ILCA 7 and the high-octane iQFOiL windfoilers. Chris Marsh made it a Youth Nationals hat-trick,
adding a second consecutive ILCA 7 title to his ILCA 6 victory from 2023. Alexander Meadway (iQFOiL), Amelie Hiscocks (29er) and the 420 pairing of Sabine Potter and Merle Nieuwland also earned their second national titles. ˇ˛˘ Ѓ˔ ˗˔ ˙ ˧˛˘
event once again featured Olympic-style medal races, with the 420, 29er and ILCA ˠ˔˘ ˔˗ ˙˘ˠ˔˘ Є˘˘˧˦ Ѓ˜˦˛˜˚ ˜˧˛ Ѓ˔ʠ˗˔ ˧ˣ ten showdowns. The iQFOiL Є˘˘˧ ˧˞ ˔ ˗˔ˠ˜˖ ˞˖˞˨˧ Ѓ˔ ˦˘˥˜˘˦ ˦˜ˠ˜˔˥ to that used at senior international events. Competitors and event
volunteers were also treated to a visit from Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, RYA President, during the Ѓ˩˘ʠ˗˔ ˘˩˘˧ʡ Oli Woodcock, RYA Youth
˅˔˖˜˚ ˀ˔˔˚˘˥ ˥˘Є˘˖˧˘˗ ˧˛˘ ˘˘˞ ʴ˖˥˦˦ ˧˛˘ Є˘˘˧˦ we’ve witnessed incredible adaptability, camaraderie and sportsmanship. Our congratulations go to the medallists and our amazing event volunteers for their incredible help and support.’
junior champs More than 340 young sailors and windsurfers took part in the 2025 RYA Eric Twiname Junior Championships in early May, enjoying three days of sunshine and breeze at Rutland Sailing Club and Plas Heli, Pwllheli. The North region dominated the leaderboards, winning the dinghy and ˜˗˦˨˥Ѓ˚ ˧˥ˣ˛˜˘˦ ˔˗ ˥˘˧˔˜˜˚ ˧˛˘ overall Eric Twiname Shield. At Rutland, sailors across dinghy
Є˘˘˧˦ ˜˖˨˗˜˚ ˅ˆ ʹ˘˩˔˦ ˅ˆ ˇ˘˥˔˦ ILCA 4, Toppers and Optimists enjoyed up to 16 races. Meanwhile in Wales, windsurfers raced Techno 293 rigs in varied winds from 3 to 32 knots. In addition to their overall trophies, North region sailors also picked up several class wins, including RS Tera Sport (Harry Wilson), RS Tera Pro ʛˀ ˊ˜˦ Ѓ˥˦˧ ˚˜˥ ˔˗ ˦˘˖˗ ˩˘˥˔ ˔˗ ˅ˆ ʹ˘˩˔ ˠ˜˘˗ ʛ˂˦˖˔˥ Davenport and Laia Priestley), while Oliver White, Ted Jones and Ben Sigley ˧˛˘˜˥ ˥˘˦ˣ˘˖˧˜˩˘ ˇ˘˖˛ Є˘˘˧˦ʡ Beyond results, the event focused
˕˨˜˗˜˚ ˖Ѓ˗˘˖˘ ˖ˠˠ˨˜˧ and new friendships. ‘We use this event to trial new race formats,’ said dinghy championship event director Andy Baker, ‘and ensure we continue to develop the sport.’
‘I’ve really enjoyed it,’ said Starcross Yacht Club sailor Amelie Ballantyne. ‘It’s a chance to learn new techniques and race other sailors who are better than you to see how others do it.’
ˀ ˊ˜˦ Ѓ˜˦˛˘˗
Ѓ˥˦˧ ˚˜˥ ˔˗ ˦˘˖˗ ˩˘˥˔ in the RS Tera Pro class.
rya.org.uk SUMMER 2025 59
Photo: PKC Media
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