Third year for academy

Shirley Robertson OBE helps UKSA recruit young racers

Shirley Robertson OBE visited the Whyte and Mackay Earls Court Boat Show on Friday 30 November 2007 to launch UKSA’s search for young people to join the 2008 GBR Yacht Racing Academy crew.

The double gold medallist joined members of the Academy to officially launch the 2008 recruitment campaign by hoisting a virtual sail with Academy trainee Lauren Mead. The pair took part in the Lewmar Winch Challenge on the UKSA’s stand and set a benchmark time for others to follow.

The Academy is looking for young people, aged 18-25, with enthusiasm, determination and ambition who are keen to learn new skills and work as part of a team onboard high performance racing yachts. 70 applicants will be invited to attend selection weekends at UKSA in Cowes where attitude and fitness will be assessed. Of those 70, 45 will be selected to join the 2008 GBR Yacht Racing Academy squad and will be invited to stay on for two weeks of intensive training before the racing season begins.

The youth racing scheme aims to open opportunities for young people in the world of yacht racing whilst assisting them in their own personal growth and development. It has been run and managed by UKSA for the last two years and during that time has given over 80 young people unique opportunities afloat thanks to the funding and support from Peter Harrison, Andrew Palmer and other individual donors.

Peter Harrison, the Academy’s President who loans his yacht Chernikeeff 2 to the scheme comments, “It has been extremely pleasing for me to see how much the young people involved in the Academy have achieved in such a short period of time. The support and training these young people receive is giving them every opportunity to be successful in whatever they choose to do.”

Shirley who is an Ambassador for UKSA has taken a real interest in the GBR Yacht Racing Academy and is happy to be able to help with the recruitment campaign, “The GBR Yacht Racing Academy gives young people from all backgrounds, a unique opportunity to learn and develop their racing and general sailing skills from the best people. The squad has been extremely successful over the last couple of years, competing in the Rolex Fastnet race and Commodores Cup. Many of them I know will go onto great things within our sport.”

For more information on the Academy and details of how to apply to be part of the 2008 squad, visit www.uksa.org/racing .