Open up a whole new world of sailing through the Etchells Youth Academy

 

The Etchells Youth Academy fills a vital role in helping young sailors transition from dinghies to keelboats and learn the skills necessary to compete at the highest level, regardless of the type of sailing they do.

Based at the mecca of sailing which is Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the Academy has been set up and supported by extraordinary benefactors who have seen the need, and delivered the answer. Over the past 14 years it has provided the opportunity to access coaching of the very highest standard, and then some of the best one design racing available.

Great sailors have gone through the Academy and on to great things in a number of disciplines which don't necessarily involve keels. The old adage of widening the variety of sailing you do to increase your performance holds true. Stick with just one type of sailing and you'll be missing out on much of what the sport has to offer.

The Academy is currently recruiting for its 2026 programme, set to run over five weekends between 1st January and 31st March, and includes race training, safety and seamanship, such as man overboard drills, race organisation, navigation, tactics and strategy, tuning and trim, racing rules, boat maintenance and management, and the vital teamwork which is needed to succeed in sailing.

There is simply no better way to fast-track your knowledge and skills in keelboat sailing.

David Maclean has joined Cowes Etchells relatively recently, and is a huge supporter of the Etchells Youth Academy. David is now also Captain of Fleet Racing at the Royal Thames Yacht Club, which also supports and organisers a number of youth initiatives:

"It's great to be a part of the sailors' story, and their journey in the sport, helping them continue sailing where they might have stopped. The opportunities are endless, as I've learned first-hand by sailing the boat. If you can make an Etchells go, then you can make any boat go!"

So how do you get involved in the Etchells Youth Academy? Sign up! Full details can be found below, including the costs, eligibility and the key dates. Organise yourselves as a team and you'll learn like never before, and open up a whole new world of sailing.

Places are limited, so get your entry in as quickly as possible. For Keelboat Race Training contact Ted Blowers, email edwardblowers@hotmail.co.uk and for the 2026 Youth Academy contact David Bedford, email bedfordd@hotmail.com