Nacra 15 at the 2018 Youth Nationals. Image: Marc Turner/RYA

Entries are now open for the new-look RYA Youth National Championships, which will see kiteboarding and para sailing join the action for the first time.

The 2019 regatta will take place from 12 – 19 April at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, home of Olympic sailing in the UK. Hundreds of Britain’s most talented young sailors are expected to descend on WPNSA for the week-long regatta that serves as a celebration of youth sailing.

Historically the Youth Nationals is contested in British Youth Sailing’s Recognised Classes – Laser Radial, 420, 29er, Nacra 15 and BIC Techno 293 – and remains unchanged in 2019.

The Topper and Laser 4.7 classes will join the line-up for the first time to attract the country’s strongest junior sailors. And in another first for the regatta, this year sees the addition of the RS Venture Connect, Hansa 303 and 2.4mR para classes as well as twin tip kiteboarding.

The inclusion of the para classes reaffirms British Youth Sailing’s commitment to their long-term future in the UK by continuing to develop a pathway.

Twin-tip kiting will feature after Formula Kite’s inclusion in the list of events for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It also builds on the #kite4gold talent search, a joint venture run with the British Kite Sports Association, the English Institute of Sport and UK Sport to identify talented female riders capable of winning gold at Paris 2024.

Entrants must be aged under 21 on 31 December 2019 with the exception of the 420, Topper, Twin Tip and para classes.

Discounted early bird entries close on 31 January 2019.

www.rya.org.uk/racing-events/youth-nationals-2019

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