Entry deadline fast approaching for 2012 RYA Volvo Youth Nationals

Action from the 2011 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships © Paul Wyeth / RYA

Sailors who are wanting to compete in the RYA’s premier Youth Racing event of 2012 have only ten days until the entry deadline closes for the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships, which will take place at Pwllheli Sailing Club (North Wales) from the 31st March - 6th April.

Competitors have up until Sunday 25th March to submit their entries – due to the size and complexity of the event entries requested after this date cannot be accepted. With a record breaking 350 sailors already entered for what promises to be a highly charged event, the RYA are urging sailors to finalise their plans before entry closes in just 10 days’ time.

Some of the UK’s most talented young sailors will be joined by teams from visiting nations from all over the world to battle it out on the Welsh waters, across the six Youth classes where they’ll not only test their racing skills against top competition but will also have the chance to be crowned 2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Champion and be selected to represent RYA Team GBR at a range of International Competitions all over the world.

Among the selection opportunities up for grabs from the event are a host of Class Youth World and European Championship places, as well as selections for RYA Volvo Team GBR for the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships which take place in Dublin Bay, Ireland, between the 12th-21st July, and RYA Team GBR for the Eurosaf Youth Sailing European Championship to be held in Denmark from the 4th-11th of August 2012.

RYA Volvo National Youth Squad, Transition Squad and sailors who are making the step up from the RYA Junior Squads are all expected to make the trip to North Wales to compete at the pinnacle event on the Youth racing circuit. In addition to the British sailors, RYA event organisers have confirmed attendance from International squads including strong competition from as far as Bermuda, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand which will only add to the highly competitive and exciting racing environment.

Tim Hall, RYA Competitions Manager, commented: “Preparations for the event are well under way and it is shaping up to be a very successful regatta. Pwllheli Sailing Club is a superb venue which will provide the young sailors with a mixture of exciting as well as challenging conditions for them to showcase their racing skills in front of the RYA Selectors.

“With only ten days left to enter this highly anticipated regatta, it is crucial for anyone who is looking to stake their claim as Britain’s top young sailors and win a host of International travel grants that they apply online as soon as possible. We are unable to accept any entries after the deadline date – Sunday 25th March.”

Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, added: “I very much look forward to welcoming competitors from all over the World as well as the very best of the UK to Pwllheli and what I am sure will be yet again a closely fought contest. Last year we saw overall winners crowned on the last leg of the very last race of the regatta and some very deserving medallists who went on to pick up a record number of medals at World and European Championships last summer.

“I know the squads have been working very hard over the winter and I have every confidence that this year’s event will be every bit as competitive and I hope to see many young sailors benefitting from the fantastic learning experience it will provide.”

Truswell concluded: “The regatta will benefit once again from support from Volvo Car UK to make the event bigger, better and higher profile, it is great to have such enthusiastic support not just for the competition but also as passionate supporters of our Volunteer initiatives throughout the week, which will help us deliver a real quality experience for competitors and volunteers alike.”

This year Sarah Webb Gosling OBE, who progressed through the ranks to represent Britain twice at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships in the Laser Radial and went on to win two consecutive Olympic gold medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, will be among the panel of ISAF Youth Worlds selectors at Pwllheli Sailing Club.

Racing will be held for boys in Laser Standards, girls and boys in Laser Radials and Neil Pryde RS:X 8.5, and for all-boy, all-girl or mixed crews in 420s, 29ers and Spitfire catamarans.

The RYA Volvo Youth Racing programme receives generous support from title sponsor Volvo Car UK and official clothing supplier Henri Lloyd. As part of their joint support for the annual event Volvo and Henri Lloyd are giving away four Henri Lloyd and Volvo Youth Branded Rucksacks. Head to the respective Facebook pages for more information. Volvo are also offering three families the use of XC90s for the event. Entrants can enter online here.

The entry deadline for the 2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships is up until midnight on Sunday 25th March - late entries will not be accepted.

To submit your entry now for the 2012 RYA Volvo Youth National Championships please visit www.ryaracingevents.org.uk