Please select your home edition
Edition

Welsh Youth and Junior Championships 2025 at Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy

by RYA Cymru Wales 18 Sep 22:11 HKT 13-14 September 2025
Welsh Youth and Junior Championships © Will Horne / Eternal Frame Media

Big breeze and waves for the 2025 Welsh Youth & Junior Championships saw more than 80 young sailors demonstrating their skills and resilience at Plas Heli, Pwllheli.

Low pressure sweeping in from the Atlantic saw organisers keeping a close eye on whether to go ahead with a forecast for strong south-westerly/southerly winds (13-14 September).

Following a rigorous risk assessment and discussions with the race officer and coaches, racing for both the coached regatta and main fleets was able to take place on the Saturday.

The main fleet saw 58 sailors competing in the singlehanded Optimist, RS Tera Sport & Pro, Topper 5.3 and ILCA 4 & 6 classes, and five doublehanded RS Feva and 420 entries. A determined 15 sailors meanwhile took part in the coached regatta fleet, racing in Optimist, RS Tera (Sport & Mini) and Topper 4.2s.

A small army of more than 45 volunteers provided essential support for the RYA Cymru Wales team and competitors, across roles ranging from registration and tallying to race management and safety boats - including an all-female committee boat.

Saturday saw a south-westerly breeze averaging 20 knots with 24 knot gusts and a rough sea state, with a plan to launch and rotate one fleet at a time on the main course.

The ILCAs and double handers had three races out on the main fleet course. When it became apparent that sailors were at the upper end of their limits, it was decided to rotate more fleets on the inner regatta fleet course area, where high water at 12:37 provided welcome shelter and flat water inside the breakwater.

The Regatta Fleet had five races tucked in close to shore, two before lunch and three in the afternoon. The Topper and RS Tera pro main fleet sailors completed two races on the regatta fleet race area and then went out to main fleet area for two more races, while the RS Tera Sport and Optimist sailors did two races in the regatta race area and one on the main fleet course.

With the complicated logistics of launching and rotating the fleets successfully completed, in total the Regatta Fleet was able to complete five races; the Topper 5.3 and RS Tera Pro sailors had four races; the Optimist, RS Tera Sport, Topper 4.2, ILCAs and double handers had three.

Hatty Morsley, RYA Cymru Wales Pathway & Events Officer, said: "Saturday turned into a jam packed day. I hope everyone enjoyed their time on the water in some of Pwllheli's finest champagne sailing conditions. A big thank you to all the volunteers on and off the water who helped us run a successful event. Loved seeing everyone in their Welsh Sailing hats!"

Welsh Sailing initiatives

As part of Merched Y Mor - Women of the Sea - there was an all-female committee boat for the main fleets led by Ella Ashworth, comprising Sharon Davidson-Guild, Sian Reynolds, Emily Cook and Emily Douglas - a fantastic team who had fun and learned lots.

Sport Wales came along to film Merched Y Mor and other initiatives, while Will Horne from Eternal Frame Media captured the day with professional photography.

The CROESO wellbeing boat was on the water to support the sailors and also in action - promoting hydration education and kit care - was the Wishy Washy station to promote hydration and kit care was supported by Rinsd.

Sun protection supported by brand partner Intego Pro saw suncream in the CROESO packs, at the tally station and in the 'in it to win it' prize draw.

Prizes including participation medals for all were provided thanks to Tide Design Studio. With a windy forecast and a Met Office yellow weather warning, an early decision was made to cancel the racing for Sunday, with the prize-giving taking place on Saturday at 6:30pm to allow people to get on the road before the wind and rain arrived.

Overall results:

In addition to the prize-giving for the Welsh Youth & Junior Championships, there was also the prize-giving for the overall results from the Dragon Series.

If you took part in three out of four events for the Dragon Series in the North, West or South -which can include entering the Welsh Youth & Junior Championships - remember to claim your free Welsh Sailing T-shirt!

Thank you

Sarah McGovern, Performance Manager Wales / Rheolwr Perfformiad Cymru, said: "A huge thank you to all the coaches, volunteers and staff, these events do not run without your support. And to Plas Heli, who are at the end of a busy summer, a big thank you for hosting.

"Thank you also to our brand sponsors and supporters, Intego Pro sun protection, Rinsd wetsuit wash and Tide Design Studio, all of whom helped to make it a memorable event for our sailors.

"It was a tricky weekend with the forecast but we are glad we managed to get all competitors out racing safely in the conditions. The sailors showed great resilience, and we thank everyone for their patience while we rotated the fleets onto the racing areas. We look forward to seeing you all over the winter."

Visit the Welsh Sailing hub to find out more about RYA Cymru Wales events and initiatives.

Related Articles

Last Chance to Complete 2x25 Survey
As Early Results Highlight Inequities Early responses to The Magenta Project's 2x25 survey reveal encouraging signs of progress on representation alongside systemic barriers that continue to hold sailing and the wider marine industry back. Posted today at 12:26 pm
RS21 Worlds 2025 at Porto Rotondo, Sardinia Day 1
49 boats and over 200 sailors from 13 nations are taking part The RS21 World Championship is back at Yacht Club Porto Rotondo, with 49 boats and over 200 sailors from 13 nations ready to battle it out for one of the most competitive titles in one-design keelboat racing. Posted today at 10:42 am
2025 Six Metre World Championship Day 3
Bribon and Momo II rise to the top at Long Island A lack of sunshine didn't detract from the sparkle of the International Six Metre fleet on day three of their 2025 World Championships at the Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club on Long Island. Posted today at 4:52 am
America's Cup: Ray Davies scouts Naples
Ray Davies of Emirates Team New Zealand recently made a vibrant stop in Naples, Italy Ray Davies of Emirates Team New Zealand recently made a "vibrant" stop in Naples, Italy, ahead of the upcoming Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup, and was left in awe of both the city and its sailing conditions. Posted today at 4:09 am
46th Cannes Royal Regatta day 3
When the planets are aligned... It was a phenomenal day in the bay of Cannes on Wednesday 24 September in a beautiful breeze from the south-west to the west. Posted on 24 Sep
Melges 24 Worlds 2025 at Trieste, Italy Day 2
Epic conditions give Nika the first lead The 2025 Melges 24 World Championship delivered its first results on Day 2. Posted on 24 Sep
2025 J/70 Corinthian Worlds at Massachusetts day 1
The regatta has moved to the United States for the first time Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts USA welcomed 29 all-amateur teams to the third annual J/70 Corinthian World Championship. Posted on 24 Sep
2025 Formula Wing Worlds Sardinia day 1
Tactical minefield confuses even the best Four long-distance races on day one set the tone for a competitive Formula Wing World Championships. 93 competitors from 22 countries are racing each other for the first ever Formula Wing world title. Posted on 24 Sep
Cure Marine and McConaghy join forces
Leveraging McConaghy's world-class manufacturing and advanced composite technology Cure Marine has always been synonymous with high-quality, high-performance cruising catamarans, and we are excited to share news that will elevate our brand even further. Posted on 24 Sep
52 Super Series 2025 Porto Cervo day 2
Immaculate Sled on song in breezy Sardinia With a race win which they delivered with a near perfect execution in brisk Mistral conditions, Takashi Okura's Sled today moved further ahead at the top of the leaderboard at the 52 SUPER SERIES Porto Cervo Range Rover regatta on Costa Smeralda. Posted on 24 Sep