Nacra 15 class at the RYA Youth National Championships 2024 - Preview
by UK Nacra 15 Class Association 28 Mar 2024 20:26 GMT
30 March - 5 April 2024
Several teams training at WPNSA in the build up to the RYA Youth Nationals © Olly Harris
Eighteen Nacra 15s will head to WPNSA this weekend head of the RYA Youth National Championships, with five days of racing scheduled at the London 2012 Olympic venue to decide the 2024 RYA Youth National Champion title, as well as counting towards the UK Nacra 15 National Series and Nacra 15 European Super Series!
Seven international teams will join eleven British entries, including sailors from Australia, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands, competing for the opening round of the Nacra 15 European Super Series.
In 2023, Belgium's Matteo Leclerq & Mathieu Pinstart finished the event in second on countback, so will be looking to go one better in 2024 as they continue their close rivalry with Sam Cox & Sophie Raven of Great Britain, winners of the 2023 European Super Series. Sam & Sophie step back into the class, having spent the winter primarily focussed on 49erFX transition, in the build up to the Nacra 15 European Championships in Cagliari, Italy, in April.
The racing in the British fleet is closer than ever, with a productive winter training programme narrowing the gap between newer and more experienced teams. The U17 pairing of Marcus King & Matthew Emerson have shown strong form in 2024 so far, taking the 2024 UK Nacra 15 Winter Championships win on countback from Tom Jones & Maddy Jinks. Earlier in March, the UK Nacra 15 coaching team organised a coached racing series at WPNSA, where the rivalry between Marcus & Matt and Tom & Maddy remained strong, this time separated by Finn Caddy & Ella Harris and with the podium places separated by just 4 points. As recent results have shown, race wins and podium results are up for grabs throughout the fleet, so we can be sure to expect some close racing and tight score lines across the 18 race series next week!
As part of the Sailing Chandlery UK Nacra 15 National Series, Sailing Chandlery will support the event with prizes for the extracted GBR results, as well as supporting a new prize for the 2024 event - the Sailing Chandlery Social Media Competition. This prize will be awarded for the best social media output during the week, as judged by Sailing Chandlery founder, Andrew Dowley, and UK Nacra 15 Class Communications Officer, Ben Harris. To be considered, all sailors need to do is tag @nacra15_17gbr and @sailingchandlery in their posts, reels and stories, giving an insight into the week-long event from a Nacra 15 sailor's perspective.
Stay tuned to the UK Nacra 15 Class Association social media channels on Facebook and Instagram for updates throughout the week, as we set up for an action packed week of youth multihull sailing at WPNSA...
The event website shows the entry list.