RYA National Match Racing Series goes North

by RYA on 22 Mar 2006 The successful RYA National Match Racing Series will expand in 2006 by including a qualification event to be held in Scotland - For the first time ever, the RYA National Match Racing Series will include a Northern Qualifier hosted by the Royal Northern and Clyde Sailing Club.

The qualification event will be held in the club's fleet of Sonars, a change from the RYA J80s which will be used in the remainder of the qualification events.

With up to twelve teams able to compete at each event, the RYA National Match Racing Series could see up to 84 teams and 420 sailors compete throughout the year which would be the biggest turnout seen at the event yet.

The top two placed teams in each of the four RYA National Match Racing qualifying events will earn a place in the RYA National Match Racing playoffs. In addition, the top two placed teams at the Volvo Youth National Match Racing Championships will also earn a place in the RYA National Match Racing Playoffs.

Participation in any RYA National Match Racing qualifier will serve as a further qualification for the 2006/2007 JPMorgan Asset Management Winter Challenge Match Racing Series.

Training weekends will be held on the weekend prior to the event to give competitors the chance to sharpen up their skills before going head to head on the race course.

'We wanted to recognise the growing interest in match racing throughout the UK, and by adding an event in the north more sailors will be able to compete on the National Match Racing circuit,' Dave Atkinson, RYA Racing Services Manager explained.

'By adding a qualification event in Scotland we're hoping to continue to get more sailors into match racing and to further develop the match racing programme.'

RYA National Match Racing Series Dates:

22-23 April, National Match Racing Championship Qualifier 1, QMSC
10-11 June, National Match Racing Championship Northern Qualifier, RN&C
9-10 September, National Match Racing Women's Championships & Qualifier 2, WPNSA
16-17 September, National Match Racing Qualifier 3, WPNSA
30 September-1 October, National Match Racing Playoffs, WPNSA
5-8 October, National Match Racing Final, WPNSA

RYA Youth National Match Racing Series:

12-13 August, Youth National Match Racing Qualifier 1, WPNSA
19-20 August, Youth National Match Racing Qualifier 2, WPNSA
26-28 August, Volvo Youth National Match Racing Championships, WPNSA

For more information or for an entry form please visit the RYA website http://www.rya.org.uk/AboutRYA/programmesinitiatives/matchracing/ or telephone 02380 604 167.