Entries have opened for the RYA and BUSA Women’s Team Racing Championships, which will take place at Budworth Sailing Club over the weekend of 19/20 February 2022.

Budworth SC in the heart of Cheshire is looking forward to welcoming teams from across the UK for what is expected to be one of the biggest team racing events of the year.

The RYA Women’s Team Racing National Championship, incorporating the BUSA Women’s Team Racing Championship, is for teams of six sailors who identify as female, with racing in Firefly dinghies which will be provided for the event.

Teams are invited to represent their club, locale or sailing organisation in the RYA Women’s Team Racing National Championship. University or higher education teams may also compete for the BUSA Women’s Team Racing Championship.

Competitors will be battling it out to see if anyone can take either or both trophies, which last year saw Rutland HYDRA youth team crowned national champions and Cambridge University winning the BUSA title, after Oxford University claimed the double at the previous event in 2019.

Online entry is now open and limited to 18 teams allocated on a first-come-first-served basis, with would-be competitors urged to enter as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

Richard Moxey, RYA Keelboat Development Manager, said: “I’m delighted the RYA & BUSA Women’s Team Racing Championships is being hosted by Budworth SC this year, it has taken a lot of work from all three parties to ensure this prestigious event can go ahead and I’m looking forward to watching the action on the water next month!”

Budworth SC is a finalist in this year’s RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year awards and has a long history of team racing, hosting for many years the hugely popular inter club Budworth pairs competition.

The club is getting set to host a memorable event for competitors with great racing on the water and a warm welcome on shore, including a full galley service throughout the weekend. The club hopes the event will inspire entries from both experienced and newer teams.

Commodore Bill Kenyon said: “We’re encouraging participants from clubs in the North West alongside university teams and competitors from across the country. We also have a number of existing and former club members now at university who have learned to team race and we would love to see them bringing a team to compete at their home club!”

Racing will comprise a series of round robin races, followed if possible by a knockout stage. The team entry fee is £360 until the deadline for entering, midday on Friday 21st January. Late entries, if accepted, will be £450 from the entry deadline until midday on Friday 4th February.

Keen team racer Emily Robertson, who has taken part in four previous editions, added: “The RYA Women’s Team Racing Championships is one of my favourite events which I keep coming back to for a number of reasons. First and foremost, it is one of the most important platforms for encouraging more women to get involved in team racing at a high level. Although I have always helmed, I love that it’s a great opportunity for those who might not choose to helm otherwise to get involved – they usually surprise themselves! Apart from this, though, it tends just to be a brilliantly fun event both on and off the water, with a relaxed environment which encourages the joy of competitive team racing.”

Find out more about this year’s event, including the Notice of Race and entry, here.

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