Youth racing
Meet the 15 British Sailors Heading to the 2026 Youth Worlds
Published · Last checked October 2026
The RYA has selected 15 British sailors for the 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships at Marina de Vilamoura in Portugal, 15 to 19 December. The team races in six classes: iQFOiL, Formula Kite, ILCA 6, Nacra 15, 29er and 420.
The team
| Class | Sailors | Club |
|---|---|---|
| iQFOiL | Beau Handley | WPNSA, Weymouth |
| iQFOiL | Sophie Clark | Andrew Simpson, Portsmouth |
| Formula Kite | Ben Field | WPNSA, Weymouth |
| ILCA 6 (men) | Toby Waggett | Derwent Reservoir SC and Tynemouth |
| ILCA 6 (women) | Jess Powell | Draycote SC |
| Nacra 15 (mixed) | Marcus King and Maddie Jinks | Weston SC; Plymouth YC |
| 29er (men) | Jac Bailey and Ben Sinfield | Port Dinorwic SC |
| 29er (women) | Freya Hutchinson and Joanna MacAlister | Royal Lymington YC |
| 420 (men) | Hugo Fletcher and Alex Flint | Royal Southern YC; Royal Varuna YC |
| 420 (women) | India Eastwood and Isla Fletcher | Bosham SC; Royal Southern YC |
What they said
Sophie Clark called it "a huge honour" to wear the British flag again. Nacra 15 crew Maddie Jinks said selection was "proof that all the long hours, winter training sessions, and hard work have paid off." RYA Youth Racing Manager Oli Woodcock said selection to the team is "a significant achievement".
Most of these sailors came up through club racing and RYA youth squads. If you're starting out, our beginner sailing terms and how sailing races work guides are good first steps.
What are the Youth Sailing World Championships?
The Youth Sailing World Championships, run by World Sailing every year, are the biggest international event for sailors aged 19 and under. Each nation can send one entry per event, which is why selection is so competitive. Many Olympic medallists, including British sailors such as Ben Ainslie, raced the Youth Worlds early in their careers.
The classes explained
| Class | Type of boat |
|---|---|
| iQFOiL | Olympic windfoiling board |
| Formula Kite | Olympic hydrofoil kiteboard |
| ILCA 6 | Single-handed dinghy (formerly the Laser Radial) |
| Nacra 15 | Two-person foiling-capable youth catamaran, mixed crew |
| 29er | Two-person high-performance skiff with trapeze and asymmetric spinnaker |
| 420 | Two-person training dinghy with trapeze and spinnaker |
The pathway from club sailing to GB
Most of this team started in Optimists or Toppers at their local club, moved into RYA Zone and regional squads, then joined national youth squads. If your child is interested, the RYA's OnBoard programme and club junior weeks are the usual first step. No previous experience is needed, and the first thing every young sailor learns is the points of sail and how to get out of irons.
Key facts
- Event: 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships
- Venue: Marina de Vilamoura, Loulé, Portugal
- Dates: 15 to 19 December 2026
- Team GB: 15 sailors in 6 classes
- Announced: 29 September 2026 by the RYA