Great Britain have selected 15 sailors for the 2026 Youth Sailing World Championships, with the squad due to compete at Marina de Vilamoura in Loulé, Portugal, from 15-19 December.
The RYA said the team had been chosen after a competitive process based on performances at Youth National and international events. British representatives will race across six classes: iQFOiL, Formula Kite, ILCA 6, Nacra 15, 29er and 420.
The selection gives the sailors a place at an event which the RYA described as an international test for leading youth competitors. RYA Youth Racing Manager Oli Woodcock said selection reflected the squad’s performances, commitment and work across the season, and said the championship would offer valuable experience against overseas opposition.
Returning sailors feature across the squad
Beau Handley and Sophie Clark have been named in iQFOiL. Handley sails from Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, while Clark is associated with Andrew Simpson in Portsmouth. Clark will make her second appearance at the Youth Worlds and said she was proud to represent Britain again.
Ben Field will compete in the Formula Kite male fleet. The Weymouth-based sailor told the RYA that his selection followed two years of training and sacrifice, including relocating from the Philippines to the UK to pursue the programme.
Toby Waggett has been selected for the ILCA 6 male fleet, with Jess Powell named for the female fleet. Waggett sails from Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club and Tynemouth, while Powell represents Draycote Sailing Club. Powell will also return for a second Youth Worlds appearance, having said her training and racing with the RYA Youth Squad had contributed to her selection.
Marcus King and Maddie Jinks will race together in the Nacra 15 mixed fleet. King, of Weston Sailing Club, and Jinks, of Plymouth Yacht Club, are both returning for their second Youth Worlds. Jinks said the opportunity carried extra significance as it would be her final Youth Worlds, while King highlighted the support he had received from parents, coaches and fellow sailors.
Across the squad, iQFOiL and ILCA 6 each have one male and one female representative, while King and Jinks form the Nacra 15 mixed entry. Great Britain also have male and female pairings in both the 29er and 420 fleets, covering every class identified by the RYA for the championship.
Club pairings among 29er and 420 entries
Port Dinorwic Sailing Club pair Jac Bailey and Ben Sinfield will represent Great Britain in the 29er male fleet. Bailey said representing the British Sailing Youth Team at the event was a privilege, while Sinfield credited support from RYA Cymru Wales and Sport Wales.
Freya Hutchinson and Joanna MacAlister, both of Royal Lymington Yacht Club, have been selected for the 29er female fleet. MacAlister said the pair’s selection recognised their hard work and the assistance of coaches and parents. Hutchinson said she was proud to be chosen and hoped to continue representing Great Britain in her sailing career.
The 420 selections complete the 15-athlete group. Hugo Fletcher of Royal Southern Yacht Club and Alex Flint of Royal Varuna Yacht Club will race in the male fleet. Fletcher said competing for Britain meant racing for a team and country as well as himself, while Flint described selection as recognition of hard work and pride.
India Eastwood, of Bosham Sailing Club, and Isla Fletcher, also of Royal Southern Yacht Club, will contest the 420 female fleet. Eastwood thanked her family, coaches, crew Fletcher and others involved in her preparation. Fletcher said she had been working towards the championship for more than three years and was grateful for the chance to represent her country.
Woodcock said the RYA coaching team would work with the selected sailors in the months before the championships, where Britain will compete across six classes against international opposition.