Yacht Racing 

Fancy being part of a team where every crew member makes a difference? Take on the wind, push yourself to the limit and race to the finish line.

Next steps...

Tell me more...

Is it for me?

If you’re looking for challenge, competition or the opportunity to do something different in the outdoors, then this is the sport for you. Yacht racing offers a fantastic range of mental and physical challenges which can take you around the coast or even the world. The social side is pretty good too!

Having a go

Don’t let a lack of sailing experience put you off. There are companies that offer yacht racing experiences for you to have your first taste of being part of a race team. This is a great way to learn some of the basics under the guidance of a professional.

If you’re up for a challenge, regattas like Cowes Week or Round the Island offer opportunities for beginners to take part in day races alongside experienced sailors. You can even take part in longer offshore races, including the Fastnet, after a series of training sessions.

RYA Start Yachting and Competent Crew courses are a great way to get to grips with the basics of yacht sailing and pick up the skills to help you to progress into racing.

Once you have this knowledge under your belt, there are plenty of boat owners who are looking for race crew who may welcome an extra crew member on board. Yacht clubs are great places to find people regularly looking for racing crew and some have online crew lists too.

If you’re aged 18-24, the RYA British Keelboat Academy have opportunities to take your racing onto a higher skill level.

Does it cost a lot?

Although some sailors spend a lot of money on their racing, you don’t have to! Many yacht racers don’t own their own boat because those who do always need crew. Try looking on websites including the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) or Junior Offshore Group (JOG) for crews available/wanted listings. Facebook groups are also a great place to get in touch with sailors looking for crew.

Not quite right for you - how about...

Small Boat Racing Virtually any small boat can be raced and if you’re looking for some competition, either alone or with a crew, there’s plenty of activity to get involved in. Races usually last just a few hours making small boat racing one of the most accessible and thrilling ways to enjoy the sport.           Find out more