The RYA Youth National Championships will enter an exciting new era in 2020 with the latest Olympic discipline of windfoiling set to make its debut.
Windfoiling, an evolution of windsurfing, will replace the RS:X at the Paris 2024 Olympics and will be the third class to ‘fly’ alongside the Nacra 17 and Formula Kite.
To ensure that youth racing in the UK remains at the cutting edge of the sport, the RYA Youth Nationals will feature three foiling windsurfing fleets racing Starboard IQFoil boards.
It follows the introduction of kitefoiling, another new Olympic discipline, at the 2019 regatta, the UK’s premier youth racing event.
Kitefoiling returns to the Youth Nationals in 2020 alongside the highly-contested Laser, Laser Radial, 420, Nacra 15 and 29er – all British Youth Sailing Recognised classes.
Mark Nicholls, the RYA’s Youth Racing Manager, said: “We are passionate about developing and retaining the best young racing sailors, and with the addition of kitefoiling and windfoiling in the Paris 2024 Olympics we felt it important to reflect those changes at the Youth Nationals.
“By introducing foiling at this stage of the pathway we can encourage sailors to progress and feel comfortable competing in a safe and fun environment.
“We’re excited to see another ‘flying’ class to the Youth Nationals while also welcoming back the more familiar British Youth Sailing Recognised Classes.”
Entries are now open to the Youth Nationals, which will be hosted at Plas Heli, the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre, from April 3 to 10.
It’s a welcome return to the world-class venue in Pwllheli, north Wales, which last hosted the Youth Nationals in 2016.
Until January 24, competitors can enter for a reduced ‘early bird’ fee: £180 for singlehanders and £240 for doublehanders. After this time the entry fees will rise.
