Welsh Sailing Team
The RYA Cymru Wales Youth Squad programme supports 40 sailors under the age of 18.
Find out how to apply and which classes are supported below.
Sailors attend residential and non-residential camps where they get quality coaching from RYA Cymru Wales coaches and develop skills such as; independence, in depth knowledge about how the boat and sail work, psychology and physiology support and help setting a programme.
Applications for Welsh Squad places will be open in August. Please ensure you have a read of the 2025-2026 Welsh National Sailing Team Selection Policy linked on this page.
10-18years old
- Optimist, RS Tera (Sport & Pro)
- Topper (5.3 & 4.2)
- RS Feva,
- 420
- 29er
- ILCA (4,6,7)
5-6 camps between October and April
Training takes place in North, South and West Wales. Sailors are encouraged to attend Welsh events, class ranking events, squad indicator events and to spend as much time on the water as possible outside organised training. Sailors will be offered event support by RYA Cymru Wales coaches at Welsh and class ranking events.
Multi stacking trailers are available to loan FREE of charge to help with travel logistics.
The Welsh National Sailing Team training is heavily subsidised by Sport Wales, however, a contribution is required from sailors towards both the squad training sessions and event support.
2025-2026 Welsh National Sailing Team Selection Policy
Please read this document
Welsh Squad Youth Classes
Details of the different types of boats/boards sailed in Wales
Squad dates
Welsh National Optimist Squad
|
Date |
Squad |
Venue |
|
25 - 26 October 2025 |
Welsh National Optimist 1 |
Cardiff Bay YC |
|
8 - 9 November 2025 |
Welsh National Optimist 2 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - Residential |
|
6 - 7 December 2025 |
Welsh National Optimist 3 |
Celtic Sea Watersports (Dale) / Dale Fort - Residential |
|
10 - 11 January 2026 |
Welsh National Optimist 4 |
Cardiff Bay YC |
|
28 February 2026 - 1 March 2026 |
Welsh National Optimist 5 |
Mumbles YC (TBC) |
|
28 - 29 March 2026 |
Welsh National Optimist 6 |
Tata Steel SC |
Welsh National Topper Squad
|
Date |
Squad |
Venue |
|
8 - 9 November 2025 |
Welsh National Topper Squad 1 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - Residential |
|
6 - 7 December 2025 |
Welsh National Topper Squad 2 |
Cardiff Bay YC |
|
17 - 18 January 2026 |
Welsh National Topper Squad 3 |
Tata Steel SC |
|
7 - 8 February 2026 |
Welsh National Topper Squad 4 |
Fishguard Bay YC |
|
28 Feb - 1 March 2026 |
Welsh National Topper Squad 5 |
Saundersfoot SC |
|
21 - 22 March 2026 |
Welsh National Topper Squad 6 |
Celtic Sea Watersports (Dale) / Dale Fort - Residential |
Welsh National RS Tera Squad
|
8 - 9 November 2025 |
Welsh National RS Tera Squad 1 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - Residential |
|
6 - 7 December 2025 |
Welsh National RS Tera Squad 2 |
Neyland YC |
|
7 - 8 February 2026 |
Welsh National RS Tera Squad 3 |
Neyland YC |
|
7 - 8 March 2026 |
Welsh National RS Tera Squad 4 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - Residential |
|
21 - 22 March 2026 |
Welsh National RS Tera Squad 5 |
Dale (West sailors) / Plas Heli (North sailors) |
Welsh National ILCA (4,6,7) Squad
|
Date |
Squad |
Venue |
|
25 - 26 October 2025 |
Welsh National ILCA Squad 1 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
|
29 - 30 November 2025 |
Welsh National ILCA Squad 2 |
Cardiff Bay YC |
|
10 - 11 January 2026 |
Welsh National ILCA Squad 3 |
Neyland YC |
|
28 February 2026 - 1 March 2026 |
Welsh National ILCA Squad 4 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
|
28 - 29 March 2026 |
Welsh National ILCA Squad 5 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
Welsh National 29er Squad
|
Date |
Squad |
Venue |
|
18 -19 October 2025 |
Welsh National 29er Squad 1 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
|
22 - 23 November 2025 |
Welsh National 29er Squad 2 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
|
31 January - 1 February 2026 |
Welsh National 29er Squad 3 |
Plas Heli |
|
28 February - 1 March 2026 |
Welsh National 29er Squad 4 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
|
28 - 29 March 2026 |
Welsh National 29er Squad 5 |
Plas Heli |
Welsh National 420 Squad
|
Date |
Squad |
Venue |
|
31 - 2 November 2025 |
Welsh National 420 Squad 1 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
|
10 - 11 January 2026 |
Welsh National 420 Squad 2 |
Cardiff Bay YC |
|
28 February - 1 March 2026 |
Welsh National 420 Squad 3 |
Plas Heli / Plas Menai - residential |
|
21 - 22 March 2026 |
Welsh National 420 Squad 4 |
Cardiff Bay YC |
|
TBC |
Welsh National 420 Squad 5 |
TBC |
RYA Cymru Wales Academy and Post-Youth Support
The Welsh Sailing Youth and Junior Academy is for sailors who have the potential to win medals at National and International Junior, Youth & Senior competition in time. The Academy is open for selection at various times but the main entry point will be in the Winter.
