The Academy

The RTYC Academy provides competitive racing opportunities for younger club members and is open to any member aged 26 or under.

An academician is defined as someone who has been selected to race on behalf of the Academy and as such there are currently around 30 Academicians in the club with around 12-18 actively racing each year.

The primary activity is Team Racing and the Academy aims to have up to three teams competing on the national Firefly Team Racing circuit in a season. In addition the Academy is able to provide opportunities for sailors in competitive yacht fleet racing throughout the Solent and Mediterranean as well as international keelboat and dinghy team racing events both in the UK and in the US.

Academy teams frequently perform well on the national team racing circuit, regularly reaching the Gold League of the UK National Team Racing Championships and the Quarter Finals of the Wilson trophy. Former Academicians continue to sail on the circuit with 5 of the 7 UK-based 2013 Wilson quarter-finalists including team members who had passed through the Academy’s ranks.

The Academy also hosts ‘open’ events each season to allow Non Academician Younger Members and potential new members the opportunity to showcase their skills ahead of team selections. These are either in the clubs Sonars or Fireflies hired for the purpose.

Kind donations from club members part found the Academy. The money is used to fund the entry fees for UK events and assist with travel for the international events. This is vital to ensure all the best young sailors are able to represent the club.

Further donations in kind, such as the use of a member’s yacht on which to base a racing campaign are also generously given.

If you are interested in sailing for the Academy or in finding out more about making a donation please don’t hesitate to contact the Sailing Office