With the 2018 RYA Youth National Championships in Largs, Scotland, just over week away, sailors from across the country are gearing up to take a tilt at the eight titles on offer.

The UK’s premier youth sailing event will welcome 243 sailors to the Scottish sailing hot spot from 30 March to 6 April, returning to the venue of the 2013 edition.

And the action will take place in front of royalty with Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal confirmed to attend on Thursday 5 April.

Laser Radial boys

Matt Beck (Bowmoor) will be coming in to the Youth Nationals riding high in the national rankings after an impressive display at the most recent qualifier event in Stokes Bay, but in a fleet of 47 sailors Beck will have his work cut out to stay ahead of the fleet.

The Laser Standard offers up a grudge match as Jake Farren-Price (Chew Valley Lake SC) and Jamie Calder (Loch Tummel SC/Dalgety Bay SC) continue their personal battle for honours. Farren-Price got the better of Calder at a recent qualifier event at Stokes Bay, but Calder got one over on his rival at a Youth Nationals when they went against each other in the Radial at the 2015 edition. With this year’s Nationals in Scotland, Calder will be hoping a bit of home country magic can give him the edge.  More…