Volvo RYA keelboaters at Cowes

Update on the RYA squad taking part in Skandia Cowes Week

The new Volvo RYA Keelboat Programme continues to go from strength to strength. A total of 52 sailors aged between 16-24 have tried out for the programme with 15 sailors selected for the scheme, many of whom are present at Skandia Cowes Week, also seven new industry partners have signed up to support the programme.

Already this season there have been a successful number of placements and this week will see more of the programme sailors competing on a variety of keelboats.

The female Volvo RYA keelboat sailors will be out in force with Katie Archer competing onboard the Sydney 40 Arbitrator, Helen Brown and Gemma Farrell sailing together of the Sigma 38 girlsforsail.com and 1720 National champion Jo Ryley sailing onboard the Kerr 11.3 Minnie the Moocher.

John Greenland and Mike Ferguson, fresh from competing at the Admirals' Cup, will be sailing on board the Farr 52 Volvo for Life - Team Tonic. They will be going head to head with fellow Volvo RYA keelboat sailors Ross Monson, Jonny Blackburn and Luke McCarthy, who are competing on the rival Farr 52 Bear of Britain.

The programme has been embraced throughout the boating industry and a number of partners have come on board including Henri-Lloyd, North Sails, Lewmar and B&G.

There are also a number of personal supporters to the programme including Chris Tibbs who will training team members on meteorology, John Doerr who specialises in rules and Stuart Quarrie who will be teaching navigation.