GBR Yacht Racing Academy in jeopardy

Money must be raised in order for the young sailors to compete in the Rolex Fastnet Race

The United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA) is a charity providing life changing experiences through marine training courses. It is therefore appropriate that the UKSA has taken over the management and evolution of the Yacht Racing Academy founded by Kit Hobday in 2001. Kit’s vision was not only to allow access for young sailors to some of the highest quality yacht racing on his Bear of Britain, but also to be competitive against a semi-professional fleet.

The Academy now sails on the Farr 52 Chernikeeff 2. Owner Peter Harrison supports the project as he believes education and sport are key to self-development. Over the past 18 months the Academy developed a core Team of sailors through training weekends and process regattas from a group with hugely varied backgrounds and experience into a functional racing unit. Each of the 18-23 year olds has found a job in which they excel, whether they are a 16 stone rugby player or an 8 stone lightweight. Consistent through the sailors is the passion for sailing and the ability to work in a team.

Not only about sailing, the Academy encourages its members to build confidence and self-belief along the route. The Team illustrated this in February this year by identifying a podium finish in the 600 mile Fastnet Race as their goal for the season. A string of top three finishes in the qualifying races highlights the Team’s strength and readiness to achieve their goal.

The very existence of the UKSA GBR Yacht Racing Academy has been threatened this year by a decline in charitable donations. Chernikeeff 2 is currently unable to start the Fastnet Race after a 4 day charter later in the year has been lost. The motivated and talented team now turn their time away from preparing the boat for competition, to focus on a race against time to find the funds necessary to start the race.

Unless £5 000 is sourced before 7 August not only will the experience of the bi-annual
Fastnet Race be lost for this year’s Team, but the unique legacy of Kit Hobday’s Yacht
Racing Academy is likely to be in jeopardy.

Anybody interested in more information about the Academy may contact Luke McCarthy at luke.mccarthy@uksa.org or on +44 (0) 7714 213 118.