It’s all coming together. The lottery lifeline, Volvo’s visionary sponsorship of the RYA youth program, the best British sailing haul at an Olympics ever and an America’s Cup bid to top it all off. Yes, after a long winter, spring has returned to British sail racing.

The latest opportunity to spin off this whirlwind of activity is Peter Harrison’s offer to the nation’s development classes. The winners of the 29er and Laser Radial classes at the Volvo RYA Youth Championships will be invited to join GBR Challenge for a day. These classes were chosen because they are the only two youth squad classes not represented at the ISAF Youth Worlds.

“As one of the aims of our programme is to ensure that there are British America’s Cup Challenges in the future, we are keen to support youth sailing in the UK,” said Harrison. “We are delighted to link with the Volvo RYA programme to offer some of their champions the chance to join GBR Challenge for a day.”

“Many of our Sailing Team came through the RYA youth programme, and are indebted to it,” said sailing team manager and double Olympic medallist Ian Walker. “It will be interesting for the youth sailors to join us for a day and it provides us with an opportunity to have a look at some of the best young sailors in the country. If, as we sincerely hope, Britain is in the next America’s Cup cycle, the youth squad sailors of today will be competing for places in the team.”

Click here for the GBR Challenge website.