RYA Match Racing Series 2024 - Preview
by British Keelboat Sailing 6 Dec 2023 10:07 NZDT
RYA National Match Racing Grand Finals 2023 © Nigel Vick
Entries are open for the RYA Match Racing Series 2024 with an exciting programme of nine #rockupandrace events lined up for the season.
The calendar includes a youth and two women's championships alongside six qualifiers at top match racing venues across the country, with ready-to-go keelboats at each venue offering an accessible platform for rookies as well as experienced teams.
Events for the series will be hosted by London's Queen Mary Sailing Club, Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy, the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Burnham-on-Crouch, and Royal Northern & Clyde Yacht Club in Scotland.
Offering windward-leeward match racing in RS21, Elliott 6m, 707 and Sonar keelboats, up to eight to 12 teams of three to five crew will duel for supremacy at each event, with coaching support available for those who are new to the discipline and keen to give it a go.
Richard Moxey, RYA Keelboat Development Manager, said: "We're delighted to announce the full calendar for the RYA Match Racing Series 2024 is now live and entry is open for the first four events, including the RYA Women's Winter Match Racing Championship.
"Thanks to our fantastic host clubs we're all set for another brilliant year of match racing, as we welcome back teams at the top of their game, while looking forward to inspiring newer teams who would like to join us again or take part for the first time.
"Match racing is for everyone and taking part is easy. If you have racing experience in dinghies or keelboats from club level upwards and some rules knowledge, then all you have to do is get together a team of like-minded sailors, choose your venue and sign up."
The series kicks off 20-21 January 2024 with racing in RS21s for up to nine teams of 4/5 crew at Queen Mary Sailing Club in London, with early bird entry available until 23.59 on 21 December 2023. The full programme can be found at the RYA Match Racing website and is as follows:
- 20-21 January: RYA National Match Racing Qualifier 1 (RS21s) - Queen Mary SC - enter now
- 17-18 February: RYA/BUSA Women's Winter Match Racing Championships (Elliotts) - WPNSA - enter now
- 9-10 March: RYA National Match Racing Qualifier 2 (707s) - Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch - enter now
- 20-21 April: RYA National Match Racing Qualifier 3 (Elliotts) - WPNSA - enter now
- 29-30 June: RYA Harken Youth Match Racing Championships (U23) including U19 Championships - WPNSA
- 20-21 July - RYA National Match Racing Qualifier 4 (707s) - Royal Corinthian YC, Burnham-on-Crouch
- 14-15 September: RYA Marlow Ropes Women's Match Racing Championships (Elliotts) - WPNSA
- 28-29 September: RYA National Match Racing Qualifier 5 (RS21s) - Queen Mary SC
- 5-6 October (tbc): RYA National Match Racing Qualifier 6/Ceilidh Cup (Sonars) - Royal Northern & Clyde YC
An invitational RYA National Match Racing Championship Grand Finals for the top teams will conclude the season with a three-day event, 18-20 October 2024, at Queen Mary Sailing Club.
Other events in the UK match racing calendar in 2024 include the BUCS/BUSA University Match Racing Championships at WPNSA, 24-25 February, and three events at the Royal Southern Yacht Club, Hamble: Euro Match Tour, 4-6 May; Royal Southern YC Match Cup 15-16 June; and the Women's Euro Match Tour, 5-6 October.
Find out more about RYA Match Racing and all upcoming events, including NOR and entry details, at www.ryamatchracing.co.uk