OnBoard
OnBoard (OB) is all about introducing young people, like you, aged 8 to 18, to sailing and windsurfing.
Since it started (back in 2004) nearly half a million kids (that’s loads!) have had a go and 30,000 are now hooked and sailing all the time.
As well as getting you out on the water learning a new skill, it’s also a great way of meeting new friends and having lots of fun.
Whether you’re chilling out on a relaxing leisure experience to enjoying high adrenaline, high-performance sport, sailing and windsurfing have everything.
At the moment there are over 200 OnBoard clubs all across the country with more getting involved all the time.
One of the really fun things on the OnBoard progamme are the festivals, when youngsters from different schools together out on the water to enjoy some friendly racing, games, events and have fun.
When school’s out you can also meet up with your fellow OnBoarders at inter-club festivals for more sailing fun and socialising during the long summer holidays.
If you want to know more about OnBoard visit the OnBoard website www.ruob.co.uk
Team15
If you’re aged 15 or under and love windsurfing or want to learn, then Team15 (T15) is for you.
Windsurfing keeps you fit; it's exhilarating, easy to learn but offers challenges along the way. It’s never boring, is environmentally friendly and it doesn't cost the earth. It's something you can do on your own, with friends or family, or as part of a team.
There are over 80 T15 windsurfing clubs across the country; that get together each week where you can learn new windsurfing skills and have a laugh with your mates on the water. With the same people coming back every week, you’ll definitely make new friends as well.
Whatever your skill level, regular windsurfing sessions will improve your windsurfing ability very quickly and if you’ve never tried it before, you’ll have the basics mastered in no time. So whether you’re a first timer to a relative expert, why not get along to a Team15 club?
With Team15 you can enjoy; being part of the weekly club sessions or participate in the inter-club challenges as well. It’s up to you if you want to take part in one or both. But it’s the challenges that give Team15 its name. Each club can enter the inter-club challenges with a team of up to 15 people aged 15 and under; Team15! This is when the best 15 windsurfers from each club represent their club at four inter-club regional heat events over the summer, followed by the Team15 Champions Cup, the national final held every October.
Sounds fun? Then find out more at www.team15.org.uk
Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship
Aged between 8 and 16? Think you have the skill to drive a RIB? Then the Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship could be for you...
The Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship, sponsored by Honda and Ribcraft, is a National Championship, in which 8 - 16 year olds compete in RIBs (Rigid Inflatable Boat) around a set course against the clock, demonstrating their boat handling skills with the goal of winning a 4.8m Ribcraft or a Honwave T40 boat for their club.
Local heats run all around the country through RYA affiliated clubs, organisations and training centres who decide who to put forward to their Regional Final.
There are 14 Regional Finals and two winners in each region (8-12 and 13-16 age groups), go forward to take part in the National Final which is held at the Southampton Boat Show in September.
What you have to do
The competition takes the form of a time trial around a set of marks - the fastest time wins. You’ll have to manoeuvre around the slalom buoys, demonstrating skill and control, and not necessarily speed! There is a stop exercise and you’ll have to complete a 360O reverse around a buoy. You’ll have two runs, one as a practice and one as a 'hot lap'. Both runs are timed and the fastest time is put forward.
Prizes
At the Regional Finals, there are medals, certificates and other prizes up for grabs for first, second and third places in each age group and at the National Final the winner of the 8-12 age group wins a Honwave T40 RIB with a Honda BF20 engine for their club, organisation or training centre and the winner of the 13-16 age group wins a 4.8m Ribcraft RIB with a Honda BF60 engine for their club, organisation or training centre. There are also medals, certificates and other prizes for first, second and third places in each age group.
Want to find out more? The visit www.rya.org.uk/go/hondayouthrib
Junior Racing
If you fancy being the next Ben Ainslie and competing at the Olympics then you need to check out the RYA’s Youth Racing programme, starting with the RYA Zone and Home Country Squads.
The Zone and Home Country Squads provide local coaching for talented young sailors who are looking to develop their racing skills.
If you’re aged between 9-14 years old you’ll enjoy the very best training, as well as having loads of fun.
As a squad sailor you’ll take part in six training weekends that take place in each of the different local Zones, usually between October and April, and when the competitive season starts, selected sailors will attend events such as the RYA Eric Twiname Championships and class national squad events.
The classes involved at Zone and Home Country Squad level are: RS Feva, Topper, BIC Techno 2930D and Optimist.
The next step after the Zone squads is the RYA National Junior Squad for 12 – 15 year olds (16 for Technos) which is one of the world’s most extensive racing and race training programmes for sailors under 16 years old, developing young sailors to win medals for RYA Team GBR at major international regattas at Youth and Olympic level.
If you want to find out more then check out Youth and Junior Racing
