RS200 Class Association to support youth development
by Sally Campbell 17 Sep 2016 11:05 BST
17 September 2016
Northern Youth RS200 sailors at Yorkshire Dales © Paul Hargreaves
With entry open for the Magic Marine RS200 Youth Championships at Northampton SC on 1-2 Oct, the RS200 Class Association has announced its support for youths moving into the class and progressing within it.
Last winter the class set up the hugely successful RS200 Northern Youth Development Squad, run by Erica Caswell, aimed at 14-22 year olds and supported by RS Sailing and a team of generous volunteers. The squad will run again this year, with 5 weekends of training, culminating in a Youth Regatta in April. Interested sailors should contact
New for 2016/17 will be a coaching programme for sailors in the South, to be led by past Class Chairman, Pete Vincent. Full details will be announced soon, in the meantime sailors are being asked to register interest by contacting
The RS200 Class Association will be funding top RS200 guest coaches for both of these groups.
"The RS200 is an exciting alternative to skiff or single handed sailing for youths" said Sally Campbell, Class Association Secretary, "there is superbly competitive big-fleet racing at the top end, with Olympic level sailors frequently taking part in Championships such as the recent Volvo Noble Marine Nationals at Mount's Bay, but also five active and well-attended regional tours covering the SE, SW, North, East and Scotland, which while competitive are also extremely welcoming and cost-effective for sailors new to the class. And then of course there are the legendary RS200 socials!"
The Magic Marine RS200 Youth Championship will held as part of the Inland Championship, at Northampton SC on 1st and 2nd October, giving youths the chance to compete against the best in the class. Youths aged 22 and under will compete for the Hyundai Trophy, which bears the names of past winners including Olympians Ben Saxton and Kate McGregor, James and Will Rusden and George Yeoman and Georgie Akin-Smith. For the first time this year there will be a new trophy for juniors aged 17 and under; names engraved on that are sure to be ones to watch for the future! The class AGM will be held on Saturday night, followed by a Caribbean themed dinner and party. A £25 online entry fee for youths and free on-site camping should make the event affordable for all.
www.rs200sailing.org/championships/cindex.asp?eid=1374