Future focus
It has been two years since RYA Zone and National Junior Squads were phased out in a move by the RYA to strengthen the UK sailing scene from grassroots level up. Now there is a vibrant regionally-based race training programme in place that is encouraging sailors under the age of 16 – and their parents – to stay local to their clubs and regions.
Although not planned in response to covid, the timing of the restructure was, in a way, fortuitous; as travel and meet-up restrictions meant that national training would have been impossible at this time anyway. And, as the man behind the move, RYA Director of Racing Ian Walker believes, the backdrop of covid has meant a more ready acceptance of such large-scale change.
Wider benefits
The aim of the restructure was
