Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

British Keelboat Academy confirms 2015 line up

by Matt Carter, RYA 28 Nov 2014 03:39 PST 28 November 2014
Farr 45 Kolga © Paul Wyeth / www.pwpictures.com

The British Keelboat Academy (BKA) is pleased to announce that the next wave of Britain's aspiring young keelboat sailors have now been confirmed for the 2014-15 season.

With over 80 applications for the joint keelboat racing initiative between the RYA and UKSA, the BKA will welcome a cohort of 50 sailors for the forthcoming season, almost doubling the uptake of sailors from last year's programme.

Split into three individual programmes - One Design, Inshore and Offshore - next year's academy boasts some of the most promising new keelboat talent in the country encompassing a range of new and existing squad members.

Managed and delivered by UKSA, the BKA is an RYA programme developing 18 to 24 year old British Keelboat sailors, working with them across all areas of the sport. The aim of the programme is to help sailors learn the skills and make industry contacts that will enable them to develop their sailing within the area they would like to pursue.

The squad recently spent their first weekend together at Bath University where they were given an introduction to the BKA programme, put through their paces in a number of fitness tests whilst also receiving specialist talks from Bath University's Sport Science Team.

New recruit, Patrick Condy from Argyll, Scotland, who has this year been selected for the BKA Inshore programme, said: "Being selected for the BKA is a fantastic opportunity which will give me the chance to train as part of a large squad and with people with different experience to me, it will also give me the chance to sail competitively on the south coast, somewhere new to me."

"I'm hoping to expand my sailing knowledge through the expert coaches that are involved with the BKA and through participating in larger racing events with highly competitive fleets."

Team development, campaign management and sailing technique will again form the BKA's main focuses in 2015 whilst UKSA will also work on the personal development of each sailor, providing them with life skills which will enhance their futures, both in sailing and in all of their undertakings.

With sailors split between the three tiers, the One Design programme will welcome sailors who are starting out in keelboat racing and who are looking to challenge the international Etchells UK class youth selections trials, the Inshore programme will focus on bigger boat racing making use of the Farr 45 Kólga, kindly loaned by Rán Racing whilst the Offshore programme is a new programme for 2015 and is aimed at sailors interested in developing their offshore racing skills.

Fellow new recruit Gary Stones, 22 from Lymington, joins the BKA with a mixture of dinghy and yacht racing experience after having spent the past 18 months on a professional yacht racing programme on a Reichel Pugh 45 and then a TP52.

Looking to take his sailing career to the next level, Stones said: "I'm looking forward to developing as a sailor, both in terms of fitness levels and increasing my ever expanding knowledge of a sport which is now a way of life for me."

"I decided to apply for BKA to expand my experience further back in the boat such as trimming or navigating having gained these skills on slightly smaller yachts. Being a part of BKA's Farr 45 inshore programme will give me the opportunity to expand my list of contacts both with people within the Academy and also others we will meet as a squad collectively throughout the year."

Nigel King, RYA Racing Keelboat Manager, commented: "I was really impressed with the standard and quality of applications this year. We received the largest amount since the programme's inception and after consultation with the BKA head coaches we believe we have selected a group of sailors who are passionate, committed and determined to take their keelboat sailing to the next level."

"We had a great day at Bath University which gave the new recruits the opportunity to get to know there fellow squad members whilst being put through a number of fitness tests. Thanks must go to Bath University for hosting us for the day and to their staff members who gave invaluable talks to our squad sailors on difference aspects of fitness and nutrition."

The 2014-15 British Keelboat Academy members are:

Etchells

  • Hugh Braidwood, Beccles
  • James Morson, Edinburgh
  • Matthew Brushwood, Olney
  • Ollie Lobb, West Ewell
  • Rory Davis, Forest Row
  • Rosie Watkins, Broadstone
  • Sophie Stockton, Taunton
  • Thomas Corrigan, Southampton
Inshore
  • Alex Curtis, Weybridge
  • Annabel Vose, Curdridge
  • Bradley Mclaughlin, Newport
  • Callum Gillard, Hordle
  • Ed Davison, Ashford
  • Ed Hampton-Matthews, Southampton
  • Gary Stones, Lymington
  • Isobel Mitchell, Clifton
  • Jack Collings, Lymington
  • Jack Trigger, Esher
  • James Dodd, Barton On Sea
  • James French, Newbridge
  • Lily Lower, Burnham-on-Crouch
  • Oliver Hancox, Jacobstowe
  • Patrick Condy, Dunoon
One Design
  • Alison Hinds, London
  • Callum Healey, Sutton Coldfield
  • Charlotte Harland, Reading
  • Charly Capon, Sarisbury Green
  • Christopher Cowan, Portchetser
  • Crystal Truman, London
  • Edward Connellan, Brigstock
  • Emma Wroblewski, Ashurst
  • Freddie Jones, Cowbridge
  • James Crampton, Droitwich
  • Julia Judd, St Margaret's
  • Matthew Venables, Southampton
  • Oliver King, Paignton
  • Piers Hugh Smith, Henley-on-Thames
  • Ryan Tulloch, Ryde
  • Thomas Williams, Marford
  • Toby Wood, Ramsgate
Offshore
  • Benjamin Davies, Sheffield
  • Charlie Burton, Plymouth
  • Hannah Peters, Rhosgoch
  • Matthew Reeves, Torpoint
  • Miles Ushaw, Leafield
  • Nicole Ames, Falmouth
  • Oliver Glanville, London
  • Oliver Bray, Southampton
  • Ollie Kemp, Wadhurst

Related Articles

Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 2
Pieter-Jan Postma leads after the second day of racing in The Netherlands Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, is leading the fleet of 307 Finns from 27 countries after everyone sailed two more races at the 2025 Finn World Masters in Medemblik. France's Laurent Hay is second with Germany's Fabian Lemmel in third. Posted today at 8:12 pm
World Sailing launches the World Sailing Academy
A new online learning platform for the global sailing community World Sailing officially launched the World Sailing Academy, an innovative new online learning platform designed to provide comprehensive educational resources and training to sailors, coaches, officials, administrators, and the global sailing community. Posted today at 5:13 pm
Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom. Posted today at 3:00 pm
Erica Lush Completes Bermuda 1-2 Regatta First Leg
While training for the Solitaire Du Figaro Rhode Island sailor Erica Lush completed the first leg of the Bermuda 1-2 regatta as the only woman skipper in the fleet. Lush sailed solo from Newport to Bermuda, handling a boat new to her, and rough sea state. Posted today at 1:30 pm
Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship
Winning this year's event was a very accomplished skipper, Carmen Cowles and her team The biennial running of Noroton Yacht Club's Susan Widmann Sinclair Women's Championship, presented by Fairfield County Bank, just finished a second wild and wooly event, thanks again to Mother Nature. Posted today at 11:12 am
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality. Posted today at 4:39 am
2025 GL52 Big Red Regatta overall
Katana prevails, Wizard finished second The 2025 edition of the GL52 Big Red Regatta is now in the books. John Huhn's KATANA continued its winning ways on Day 3 to wrap-up first place overall with just 12 pts. Posted on 16 Jun
Conrads, Bell win 505 Pacific Coast Championship
A single point victory at Bellingham Yacht Club After three days and 11 races, AJ Conrads and Jon Bell captured the 505 Pacific Coast Championship by one point, narrowly besting former World Champion and Long Beach legend Howie Hamlin and crew Jeff Nelson. Posted on 16 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik Day 1
Eight races over two course areas in four groups with four different winners Racing at the 2025 Finn World Masters began in Medemblik, The Netherlands, on Monday with eight races over two course areas in four groups. Posted on 16 Jun
The Ocean Race will return to Itajaí, Brazil
During the 2027 and 2031 around the world races The Ocean Race confirms Itajaí, in Santa Catarina state, in Brazil will once again host the world's most iconic around-the-world yacht race in April, 2027 and again in 2031, in a two-edition hosting partnership. Posted on 16 Jun
PredictWind - Offshore App 728x90 BOTTOMCyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERRS Sailing 2021 - FOOTER