Busy selection weekend for British Keelboat Academy - November 2024
by British Keelboat Sailing 29 Nov 2024 06:09 PST
23-24 November 2024
British Keelboat Academy selection weekend © Phil Devereux
More than 40 applicants for the British Keelboat Academy 2025 made the most of a selection weekend to develop their knowledge and find out more about the programme.
The British Keelboat Academy (BKA) gives competitive dinghy racers aged 18 to 24 years old the skills and confidence to move into the world of keelboat and yacht racing.
A total of 63 applications were received for the 2025 cohort, with 45 would-be recruits invited to a must-do selection weekend at Port Solent (23-24 November 2024) and welcomed by Chair of the BKA, record breaking around-the-world sailor Dee Caffari.
The weekend usually involves onshore workshops followed by a day aboard Sunsail's one-design Sunfast charter fleet. Storm Bert, however, meant that while the sailors slept aboard the yachts in Port Solent, it would be a busy land-based schedule instead.
Workshops
An onshore development day on the Saturday went ahead as planned and was hosted by North Sails in Gosport, with a tour of the loft and workshops including sail handling, hardware with Harken, ropes with Marlow and lifejackets with Spinlock.
Candidates were also able to hear a sports science presentation covering fitness and preparation from Women's America's Cup and SailGP pro sailor Hannah Diamond.
The day included a chance to have a chat with key representatives from across the marine industry and various clubs to find out more about keelboat racing opportunities, with a great vibe as attendees made the most of the opportunity to network.
Special guest
The keynote speaker for the evening dinner at the Port House, Port Solent Marina, was BKA alumni Kate Ledgard, who was aboard Maiden when it made history in April 2024 with the first all-female crew to win a round-the-world race.
The Ocean Globe Race winning team also included the first female British skipper to win an around the world yacht race, and the first black women and Afghan woman to race around the world.
Kate explained how she had landed a role onboard as a medic and watch leader after hearing the project was looking for crew through a friend from her own days in the BKA in 2019.
The BKA opens doors for young sailors wanting to develop not only skills but also connections to forge a pathway in amateur or professional keelboat and yacht racing.
Other BKA alumni include Sam Goodchild, who is racing in the singlehanded non-stop Vendée Globe.
Crew roles
Thanks to Storm Bert there was 0% chance of going sailing on the Sunday due to 50+ knot winds so the weekend's activities resumed instead at RYA House, Hamble.
There were sessions looking at performance reflections, tactics and strategy, roles on a 40ft yacht and how to join a boat and make the most of the opportunity.
With yoga sessions on both days, there was also some physical activities to follow on from Hannah's sport science session, with a 1pm finish to help everyone dodge the extreme weather for a safe and timely journey home.
Life skills
Phil Devereux, Head Coach for the BKA, said: "The weekend was well received with some good content and a chance to hear from some really interesting people. The applicants all did really well, with the coaching team able to see everyone in various scenarios, so although we didn't get on the water it was a still a really useful selection weekend.
"We were on the lookout for the same character traits and skills that we'd have also been looking for on the water. For the BKA, we want sailors to be proactive, seeking out what they don't know, with a level of coachability whereby they welcome feedback and want to develop their knowledge.
"When our sailors go out racing, we want be able to say this a good person who is going to turn up on time and be polite, work hard, watch and learn and be a credit to your boat and the BKA."
The first training weekend will be 25-26 January 2025 at Queen Mary Sailing Club in London. Those who missed out on the opportunity to apply for the BKA or find they have not been selected this time around are invited to look out for when places re-open again in summer 2025.
Find out more at www.rya.org.uk/racing/keelboat-racer/british-keelboat-academy