Junior and Youth Sailing
Contact: Peter Saxton
Junior and Youth Preferred Classes
Optimist: the classic single handed junior boat, available in wood, fibreglass and plastic. It is stable, even in strong winds and is ideal for the smaller / younger sailor to both learn the basics and race. The Optimist is one of the RYA’s recognised junior pathway classes, a National Junior Squad training boat up to 15 yrs of age, with regional and national squad training and racing. Most Olympic sailors started in Optimists! The club has three Optimists, available for hire.
Topper: the Topper is a single-handed junior boat, great fun and good to race. It’s built of injection moulded polypropylene, strong and almost maintenance free! A recognised RYA junior pathway class, with regional and national squad training and racing. The club has three Toppers for hire.
Pico: the Pico is primarily a single-handed junior boat but a small jib can be rigged and the boat sailed two up. The thermoplastic hull is almost indestructible! It’s widely used by Sailing Schools (including Jonti) and the club has two available for hire.
Laser 4.7 / Radial / Standard: Three simple, interchangeable rigs allow young sailors to progress from the Optimist into youth sailing with the 4.7 rig and then to full youth sailing in the Radial, with the option of progressing to the full rig.
The 420 is an internationally established performance two person trapeze and spinnaker racing dinghy. There are 56,000 worldwide. The 420 is sailed at school, club, open, national and international levels. There are many second hand boats available, active clubs and excellent tuition for all levels. The 420 is the youth development boat in 43 countries around the world and is the ISAF Youth World Championship boat. The boat can be raced competitively by crew weights ranging from 115kg to 140kg and provides an excellent platform for developing sailing skills. It remains the world’s top youth training boat, with a participation of about 50:50 boys and girls. In the UK, it is a recognised RYA Youth Class with open, regional and National Squad training programmes covering most levels of ability.
29er: This is the high-performance youth boat. It offers sparkling performance at an affordable price for lighter crews, making it an ideal boat for teenagers. It is also a recognised RYA youth class, with regional and national squad training and racing.
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