Leeds Sailor competing in Sailing Race Season

April 15, 2011 - PRLog -- Having been part of the British Keelboat Academy (BKA) for two years, this season sees Catherine moving from the Development squad into the National squad sailing on the Farr 45 Kólga which has been loaned to the BKA by Rán Racing Team.

“We’ve spent the winter working on our personal fitness and race tactics in preparation to sail Kólga. The input from Rán has been great, the experience and knowledge they have is invaluable to us,” says Catherine.

The BKA is a partnership between the RYA and Isle of Wight maritime charity UKSA which supports young people aged 18 – 24 in the development of the skills needed to take their keelboat sailing to a professional level.

As well as training the squad to race to the highest level, the BKA also works on the personal development of each sailor, providing them with invaluable life skills.
Throughout the season, BKA squad members will compete in a number of races including the Warsash Spring Championship, RORC Easter Challenge and Royal Thames Imperial Trophy.

Catherine recommends to anyone considering a career in yacht racing: “If you’re planning a career in yachting gain plenty of experience on different boats. This will not only improve your skills but also give you the chance to meet new boats and crew which can lead to different sailing opportunities and career moves.”

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Notes to Editors

About UKSA

UKSA is the UK's leading youth maritime charity, working to change lives through maritime education and personal development.

Based in Cowes, UKSA's 3.5 acre on shore campus and fleet offers a comprehensive range of industry accredited yachting and watersports careers, programmes, leisure, training and multi activity watersports activities for schools and youth groups.

UKSA has a strong alumni network in the global maritime industry including the world-renowned sailor Dee Caffari.

The charity celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2012. http://www.uksa.org

About the RYA

The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 103,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters.

It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations.

Olympic and Youth sailing is a beneficiary of the Lottery funded World Class Programmes (WCP) and administered by the Sports Councils. The Programmes focus on performance sport with the aim of achieving sporting excellence on the world stage. Further information can be found on the UK Sport website at http://www.uksport.gov.uk and Sport England's website at http://www.sportengland.org

Further information can be found at http://www.rya.org.uk

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The British Keelboat Academy supports young people aged between 18 and 24 in developing the skills needed to take their keelboat racing to a professional level.

www.britishkeelboatacademy.org