A breakthrough moment for diversity in sailing
by Scaramouche Sailing Trust 29 May 12:00 BST
Corneille Leprince at the Hayling Island Youth Nationals © Lotte Johnson /
www.lottejohnson.com
Corneille Leprince (18), a student at Greig City Academy in Haringey, has been selected for the RYA British Sailing Youth Team. A breakthrough moment for diversity in sailing. His selection for the national squad marks an important achievement for young people from disadvantaged and under-represented communities.
Sailing is widely seen as out of reach for young people from inner-city or diverse backgrounds, with cost, access and awareness all acting as barriers. Corneille's journey from curiosity to national recognition shows what is possible when those barriers are overcome.
"I've worked for this for a long time," Corneille said. "I've taken every opportunity — learning from coaches, sailing as much as possible, and pushing myself to improve every day."
His selection did not come by accident. It results from more than a decade of state school Greig City Academy's pioneering sailing programme — the UK's leading school sailing initiative — backed by donors across the sailing community through the Scaramouche Sailing Trust. Based in Haringey, one of London's most economically disadvantaged boroughs, the programme is challenging long-held perceptions about who sailing is for.
"We are striving to change the landscape of sailing," said Jon Holt, leader of the Greig City Academy programme. "By creating opportunities for young people from under-represented backgrounds, we can show that with the right support they can fulfil their potential, have their talent recognised and change the face of the sport."
RYA Director of Sport Nick Scott echoed that ambition:
"We want to make sailing more affordable and accessible. We are committed to building a team that represents the whole of Great Britain and is reflective of British society. Corneille's achievement is a testament to his dedication and hard work. It reflects an important shift in our approach, recognising future potential, not just selecting those who have had the greatest access and opportunity."
There is still a long way to go. Sailing remains prohibitively expensive for most UK state-school students. The Scaramouche Sailing Trust will continue to work with the RYA and other national bodies to break down those barriers and broaden the talent pipeline. Corneille's achievement is proof that talent is everywhere — opportunity is not.