This weekend will see 12 of the country’s best youth match racers battle for the title of Volvo RYA National Youth Match Racing Champion 2004. Over the August Bank Holiday, the teams from across the country will be sailing in the RYA’s brand-new fleet of J/80s in Weymouth.

Last years champion, Nick Cherry will be hoping to retain his title sailing with a new crew. However challenging Nick will be the formidable crew from the Royal Thames Yacht Club, helmed by Ed Males, as well as prominent dinghy sailors.

Already many of the teams have been put through their paces training in Weymouth with race director, Robin Richardson and ex-Olympian David Campbell-James. Also lending his expertise was, RYA Racing Services Manager, Dave Atkinson who said: “The talent on display improves every year and the stage is now set for a showdown in Weymouth. With support from Volvo, interest in youth match racing has grown and subsequently the skill levels and knowledge of competitors. Everyone is really looking forward to the bank holiday, especially as our fleet of new J/80s have never been used for a match racing event.”

There is potential for the winner of the Volvo RYA National Youth Match Racing to be offered grants by the RYA to compete at the Australian Harken and/ or New Zealand International Youth Event.

The winner and runner-up will also qualify for a place in the RYA National Match Racing Final, which takes place over the weekend of the 8-10 October at Weymouth.

An added incentive for competitors is the opportunity to establish themselves on the world stage, as this year the Volvo RYA National Youth Match Racing Championship has been designated as an ISAF Grade 3 event.

The format of the match racing will be two series of round-robins before moving into knock out stages where competitors go head to head in a bid to reach the final.