Last night I went with some of the GBR Yacht Racing Academy squad and sponsors Peter Harrison and Andrew Palmer, to the Royal Thames Yacht Club in London, where we were awarded ‘Best Royal Thames Boat for RORC Racing Series’. We also collected prizes for wins in Skandia Cowes Week and the RTYC Channel Race and I was so thrilled that we were presented with the additional award. It has made me really proud of all the guys and girls!! Most of the crew are under the age of 21, and it’s such an amazing achievement because before they became part of the Yacht Racing Academy most of them had very limited yacht sailing experience – so to achieve these results in under a year is fantastic. The GBR Yacht Racing Academy develops and supports the lives of young people through yacht racing. Each year 45 young people aged between 18 and 25 are selected from hundreds of applicants to join the Academy and race aboard the two Farr 52’s, Bear of Britain and Chernikeeff 2. Academy trainees are provided with 1:1 mentoring, on the water coaching, fitness training and leadership and teamwork development to enable them to race at the highest level and grow and develop as individuals. We're really excited because Shirley Robertson OBE will be officially launching the recruitment campaign for the 2008 squad on Friday 30 November at the Whyte and Mackay Earls Court Boat Show. Applicants will be invited to take part in the Lewmar Winch Challenge on UKSA’s stand, a test of fitness and stamina. But anyone interested can also apply online at www.uksa.org/racing
Ben Willows, UKSA, GBR Yacht Racing Academy Manager. Isle of Wight Ambassador.