Racing is a Good Thing.

At the 2004 Olympic Games in Greece, Nick Demspey won the Windsurfing Bronze medal for Great Britain. When you add this to the medals from the Dinghy classes, sailing is Britain’s top Olympic Sport!

Learning how to get round a simple race course with some friends is fun and it’s one of the best ways to improve your board skills.

You don’t have to be an olympic athlete to enjoy racing but if you want to get better, the RYA run training groups for people just like you.

WARNING: once you start, you might feel the need to win.

Begin with Team15 … and then maybe UKWA inland events.

Races are divided into classes depending on sail size at all junior events. There are separate classes for 3.5m, 4.5m, 5.5m and 6.8m sails so you should end up racing against people of similar ability to yourself.

The best place to start racing is your Team15 club. If you like Team15 racing you can enter the local Team15 inter-club events. If you really like racing then you should consider entering one or more of the UKWA Inland events.

Do the Youth And Masters.

Enter the Youth and Masters competition this year - don’t put it off. Many of the best junior sailors currently in Zone, National and Olympic Squads, sailed their first Youth and Masters competion on a 3.5 sail - if you like racing, have a go!