SYT - Spinnaker Youth Training

In addition to our Youth RYA courses, Spinnaker Youth Training, or SYT, provides a great way for any junior members to get out sailing on a regular basis. Coaching sessions aim to increase both the skill and confidence of any sailor, ranging from those who are just beginning their sailing journey through to those looking to race with the best sailors across the UK! We cater for this range of ability by means of a range of graded coaching sessions, and in recent years the SYT Programme has seen sailors attending the UK Optimist and Topper Nationals, Topper World Championships and a range of other high profile UK events. To support our sailors (and their parents) there is a Whatsapp Group for the parents for advice, swopping of outgrown sailing kit and to find if anyone else wants to go sailing on a particular day.

The Sailing

These sessions are available from the Easter holidays until October half term, and are open to members of the Club. Sessions are run on Sunday morning, with an opportunity to join the Club racing afterwards, where an instructor is available to provide support during the first race every weekend when SYT is running. Generally speaking the below groups are available each week:

• RYA Beginners - Working through the RYA Stage 1 or 2 Certificate as appropriate. Boats are provided for this group.
• Improvers - This group is suitable for anyone who has completed RYA Youth Sailing Stage 2 or higher and looks at improving general sailing skills in single handed dinghies, using Optimists or Toppers. Members may use their own boat or hire one of the club's.
• Begin to Race - aimed at introducing sailors with the ability of RYA Youth Stage 3 or higher to racing in single handed dinghies, using either Optimists, Toppers or ILCA4s (Laser 4.7). Members can use their own boat or hire a club one.
• Improver Racing Single Handers - aimed at developing the racing skills of club members who have some experience of club racing and are looking at starting to travel to Open events. Coaching is in Optimists, Toppers or ILCA4s (Laser 4.7). Members can use their own boat or hire a club one.

In addition to our regular weekend training we also have Race Coaching camps throughout the year during school holidays, and for our keener and more advanced sailors some opportunities through the winter months as well!

Training is normally provided in Optimists, Toppers, and Laser 4.7s. When we have sufficient sailors interested we also offer opportunities in RS Fevas and Fireflys, both of which are actively used on the UK Team Racing Circuit! Sailors can use their own boats, or there are a limited number of club dinghies available to hire.

It's Not All About The Sailing Though....

We know that some of the key things in keeping young people engaged in sports is to make it fun, and something they can take part in with friends. We also know that parents and other siblings get brought along, so they need to find their time with at the club enjoyable as well! In addition to the sailing there are a range of social activities on offer throughout the year including trips to New Forest Waterpark, pizza nights, an annual fireworks display and lots of bbqs! In recent years the mums of the sailors have possibly had the best social life of any club members with their regular Mums Nights!

Beyond Spinnaker Sailing Club

We have had fantastic success over the years with our best performing youth sailors competing at an international level, but it's not all about the best, all our youth sailors get support to try sailing at other venues.

There area number of large events every year which Spinnaker Sailing Club supports it's youth members in attending, the two most popular being the British Youth Sailing Regional Junior Championships and Parkstone Youth Week! If you are taking part in SYT these events have a suitable group for you to participate in! These events are great sailing and social events. Parkstone Youth Week has it's own programme of activities including bbqs, waterpark trips, a 300-person waterfight (aptly named Water Wars) and more! At the Regional Junior Championships Spinnaker Sailing Club always organises a group meal, and at the event in Oxford in 2023 we all stayed at the same campsite and spent the evenings around firepits making smores!

There is a fantastic community spirit amongst our parents with lots of support given to help get each other's children to these events, while our Chief Instructor James is regularly seen afloat at both events driving safety boats and helping delivering the Rookie Fleet at the Regional Junior Championships. For the last few years the Youth Development Fund has also paid for a van to help transport boats to the event, and made club dinghies available to those who don't have their own allowing them to take part!

Last updated 15:50 on 12 January 2025