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The GBR Yacht Racing Academy is a charitable scheme run by UKSA. It assists young people from all walks of life in their personal growth and development through high performance yacht racing. Thanks to the generosity and support of Peter Harrison, coupled with UKSA’s expertise and the vision of the late Kit Hobday, the GBR Yacht Racing Academy is able to provide the trainees with the coaching, training and mentoring needed to become the world class racing sailors of tomorrow.

Academy sailors have access to the Farr 52 ‘Chernikeeff 2’ as well as UKSA’s extensive fleet of keelboats. Crew receive expert tuition from UKSA and technical tutorials from companies such as Marlow Ropes and B & G. Crews are expected to take an active role in yacht and crew management while being guided by the experts. Crewing aboard top level racing yachts requires teamwork, individual skill and flair, listening skills, physical fitness and the ability to communicate clearly under pressure. The GBR Yacht Racing Academy aims to develop these skills, equipping trainees with essential skills that will benefit them in their future careers, both within sailing and more generally.

Previous members of the Academy have gone on to compete in the Volvo Ocean Race, Extreme 40 circuit, TP52s, maxis and a range of other top level racing yachts.

UKSA has a history of training round the world sailors, the most recent being Dee Caffari who became the first female to sail both ways around the world, sailing against the prevailing winds in a 72ft Challenge yacht and recently completing the Vendee Globe in an Open 60. UKSA’s youth racing scheme which ran in the late 90’s was a great training ground for some of our Olympic medal winners including Ben Ainslie.