Team racing training

An opportunity to train with some of the UK's top team racers

The RYA is reminding all adult team racers not to miss out on the opportunity to train with some of the top GBR team racers over the winter and be in with a chance of competing as part of the RYA’s first ever 18+ team racing team for 2010 events.

One of the key events in the RYA’s training and selection programme for 2010 Team Racing regattas takes place on 18-19 December at Bough Beech, Kent and the closing deadline is only days away - Friday, 4 December.

The event is open to any sailor over the age of 18 participating in UK Open and/or university team racing. Over the two days, sailors will receive intensive training with some of the best Team Racers in the country, with the Friday and Saturday being used to select 24 sailors for the next stage of the training programme and selection to invitation-only winter training.

Unlike in normal fleet racing where the aim of the game is to finish first past the post, team racing involves teams of six sailors in three boats going head-to-head against another team of three boats to try to get the best overall points score for the team.

As a result it is a true test of a crews’ boat handling skills, decision-making abilities and tactical nous.

RYA Racing Manager John Derbyshire comments: "Team Racing is a great form of sailing. Rules, tactics, boat-handling and communication skills are brought right to the fore and it is a great way to challenge yourself and enjoy the social side of the sport at the same time."

To develop Team Racing activity the RYA has set up a programme of training events with the aims of enabling sailors to participate effectively on the UK Open and University Team Racing circuits, to develop and strengthen the skills required to compete at the top national and international level and to select teams to represent RYA 18+ Team Racing teams for national and international events.

This training will be used to select the RYA 18+ Team, which will receive automatic entry to the RYA National Team Racing Championships, The Wilson Trophy and other appropriate international events.

Derbyshire concluded: "We’re really pleased to be offering this opportunity to adult sailors. As a result we hope to get more people out enjoying team racing and ultimately get some great results at competition during 2010."

In 2007 RYA Team GBR were crowned Under 21 World Team Racing champions while one of Britain’s senior representative teams claimed Open silver. At the 2009 Worlds in Australia earlier this year the Under 21s - all sailors from West Kirby Youth - won bronze.

Event entry cost is £30 per boat with a £70 attendance deposit and £300 damage deposit per boat required. To book your place at the event visit www.rya.org.uk/racing and follow the links to Team Racing or for more information e-mail Jessica.beecher@rya.org.uk