Training courses available

Youth sail training and sailing are very important at Mumbles Yacht Club. We have an active Junior and Cadet section, who are represented at the Executive Committee at the club, ensuring that the needs of the Juniors and Cadets are heard at the highest level.

We follow the RYA Training scheme, and have been awarded Dragon Sail by the Welsh Yachting Association/Sport Council of Wales, and were the first coastal club in South Wales to become a Volvo Champion Club, in recognition of our excellent youth race development programme.

We offer these RYA courses:-

• Level 1.
• Level 2.
• Level 3.
• Red Racing.
• White Racing.

More advanced sailors are encouraged to join in the MYC youth squad, which provides additional race training and coaching. The MYC squad is not part of our RYA Training Centre.

The club provides boats and buoyancy aids for training courses, but as sailors progress through the courses and develop then they need to consider providing their own buoyancy aid and boat. We encourage Junior and Youth sailors to support the recognised RYA Junior and Youth Classes.

Racing oppertunities

After completing Level 3, sailors are encouraged to race in Club Races, or in the Youth races organised alongside club racing on Thursday evenings.

MYC provides opportunities for racing and sailing away from the club. This can take the form of:-

• Squad Training.
• South East Wales Youth Racing Circuit.
• Welsh National Events.
• Open, British National and International Events.

Supported Youth and Junior Classes

• Singlehanders.
• Optimist. Counting over 300,000 boats worldwide, this is perhaps the most popular Junior boat in the world. It is simply enough to be sailed by an 8-year-old, and technically complex enough to challenge a 15-year-old. Half of the helms at the Sydney 2000 Olympics started in Optimists, as did British Olympic medal winners. Car toppable, it suits sailors from 8 to 15 years old with a wide range of weights. New Optimists can cost over £2000, and good condition boats in the £600 region are like gold dust. The class association organises a very full programme of events and training, including national events with some 300 entrants.
• Topper.
• Laser (Radial and Full Rig).
• Double handers.
• Mirror.
• 420.

Squad training

Training and development squads provide sailors with more advanced coaching to develop their racing skills.

• MYC Squad. The MYC squad continues the training provided in the Red and White Racing courses, and enables sailors to develop and improve their skills at their home club. Currently the MYC squad operates on Monday evenings, to coincide with the training programmes. This allows MYC Squad sailors to race in the Club Racing on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, and to enter Open and National events.
  
  
• WYA Regional Squad. Welsh Yachting Association (WYA) operate a Regional Squad system in North, South West and South East Wales. MYC is in the South East region. The Regional Squad provided around 6-8 days of race training during the winter, and is designed to help sailors improve their skills and knowledge. They are encouraged to continue club racing, and to enter the Youth Racing Circuit and other Open and National events. It is hoped that Regional Squad sailors will apply for a place in the Welsh National Squad, in due course.
  
  
• Welsh National Squad. The Welsh National Squad aims to develop and support elite sailors in Wales, so that they can perform at the highest levels in British and International competitions. Entry to the Welsh National Squad is by a selection weekend, held at Plas Menai in North Wales, usually in late October or early November. National Squad sailors have 5-6 weekends of coaching, which includes tactics, fitness, nutrition and sport psychology. Subject to performance, National Squad sailors may be eligible for a Squad boat under the WYA boat provision scheme. It is hoped that Welsh National Squad sailors will be selected for the British Squads. Further details are available from the WYA.
  
  
• British Squad. The GBR Squad is operated by the RYA, and entry is through a series of selection events. The GBR Squad provides additional coaching, training, physiology, psychology and potential access to travel grants and entry to International events as party of the British Team.
  
  
• CYRC - Club Youth Racing Circuit. The Club Youth Racing Circuit is designed to introduce sailors to open events, but without travelling many miles from home. They are usually one day events with three races, and suitable for sailors at Level 3 standards and above. Racing is normally organised in Optimist, Topper and General Handicap classes, but separate class starts will be provided if there are sufficient entries. MYC will support entry by the loan of a training boat and buoyancy aid, if not required for training, for which a fee is payable.
  
  
• Welsh National Events. The WYA organises a number of youth racing events during the year, and MYC encourages sailors to enter them. These are:-
  • Welsh Youth Championships, held at Pwllheli each April.
  • Welsh Schools Championships, held in South Wales each July.
  • The WYA/PGL Regatta, held at Llangorse, Brecon each August.
  • Welsh Sailing Games, which alternates North and South Wales every year. This is also open to adults, and could be used as an indicator for future Welsh Teams eg for events such as the Commonwealth Games.
  Racing is usually organised on two or more race areas, with separate starts for Optimist, Topper, Laser, Slow Handicap and Fast Handicap, depending on entries. Often there are three races held back to back, so sailors could expect to be on the water for several hours each day. The WAY/PGL event is often less intense than the others, and used by National Squad sailors to try a new class. WYA also use these events to "talent spot" potential National and Regional Squad sailors.