Who is Each Programme For?

Splash Club

Ages: Under 8s and confidence-building sailors

Splash Club focuses on introducing young sailors to the water in a safe, supportive and enjoyable environment. Sessions are designed to build confidence, boat handling skills and enjoyment of sailing.

Activities are primarily delivered by parent leaders, supported by experienced instructors and the wider Royal Southern community.

Splash Club includes:

• Splash Week
• Splash Weekends
• Fun-focused sailing activities

The aim is simple: to help young sailors fall in love with sailing and build the foundations for lifelong participation in the sport.

Training takes place during school holidays, weekend blocks throughout the year and the Junior sailing flagship event – Splash Week.

Junior Academy

Ages: 8+ up to 15 years old

The Junior Academy provides structured training linked to RYA Dinghy Sailing Stages and youth racing development.

Programmes are instructor-led and designed to help sailors progress through:

• RYA Stage 1 to Stage 4
• RYA Start Racing
• Regatta preparation
• Optimist and Feva pathway coaching
• Coached training events and regattas

The focus is on building strong sailing skills, confidence in a range of conditions and introducing sailors to club and class racing and is instructor-led throughout. 

Training takes place during school holidays and weekend blocks throughout the year.

Youth Academy

Ages: 15+

The Youth Academy supports sailors aged 15+ progressing into advanced racing, pathway classes and performance sailing.

This includes transition opportunities into classes such as:

• J70
• ILCA
• 420
• 29er
• Advanced racing pathways

The focus is on building strong sailing skills, confidence in a range of conditions and introducing sailors to club and class racing and is instructor lead throughout.

Youth Pathway Overview

From First Sail to Racing Pathways

Splash Club (U8s and Foundations)

Young sailors begin with Splash Club, where the focus is on confidence, enjoyment and fundamental sailing skills. 

Groups include:

• Shrimps
• Minnows
• Terrapins
• Piranhas
• Ninjas
• Hawks
• Eagles

These groups introduce steering, boat handling, capsize recovery, points of sail and early racing awareness. This Group overlaps with Junior Academy between the ages of 8y/o -> 15y/o

Junior Academy

As sailors gain confidence and experience, they progress into the Junior Academy 

This stage introduces:

• RYA Stage 1 to Stage 4
• Start Racing
• Coached training sessions
• Regatta support
• Optimist and Feva pathways

Sailors develop racing skills, tactical awareness, boat setup and confidence sailing independently.

Youth Academy

Older sailors progress into advanced racing pathways and youth performance classes.

This stage supports sailors attending regional and national events while developing advanced racing and coaching skills. This is largely developed in the Clubs J70s however there are defined routes to progress dinghy sailing in the ILCA, 29er and 420 classes.

Splash Club & Splash Week

Splash Week, the Club’s flagship youth sailing event, alongside Splash Weekends, is designed to give young sailors a fun, safe and supportive introduction to sailing at the Royal Southern Yacht Club. The focus is on building confidence on the water, developing fundamental sailing skills and most importantly, enjoying time afloat with friends.

Young sailors begin with Splash Club, progressing through supportive age and ability groups including:

• Shrimps
• Minnows
• Terrapins
• Piranhas
• Ninjas
• Hawks
• Eagles

Splash Weekends primarily support U8 sailors and those new to the sport, while Splash Week welcomes sailors aged 4-15, including Junior Academy sailors. The programme combines sailing activities, coaching and onshore fun to help young sailors build confidence, develop friendships and become part of the Club’s wider youth sailing pathway.

Typically taking place in late August, Splash Week is volunteer parent-led and supported by qualified instructors. As parents accompany their children throughout the week, it also provides a fantastic introduction to the wider Club community and everything the Royal Southern has to offer. Alongside the sailing, the week includes a strong social element for parents and families, usually featuring a dedicated parents’ dinner evening and finishes with a kids disco!!

Junior Academy Pathways

Optimist Pathway

Coached Fleet

The Coached Fleet pathway introduces sailors to coached racing and regatta participation.

Sailors focus on:

• Racing fundamentals
• Course awareness
• Boat handling under pressure
• Start sequences
• Club and coached regattas

We also run improvers clinics for 8+ year olds, not quite ready for the coached fleet group. 

Regatta Fleet

The Regatta Fleet develops sailors competing regularly in coached events and regattas.

Training focuses on:

• Tactical racing
• Boat speed
• Race preparation
• Consistency across conditions

Sailors work towards progression into regatta and main fleet racing.

Main Fleet

The Main Fleet supports sailors attending major regattas and national championships.

The focus includes:

• Advanced racing
• Performance coaching
• National competition preparation
• Transition planning into youth classes

Feva Pathway

Green Feva Fleet

Sailors develop two handed racing skills and confidence in club racing environments.

Amber Feva Fleet

The Amber Ribbon pathway introduces more advanced coached racing and local regatta participation.

Red Feva Fleet

The Red Ribbon pathway prepares sailors for advanced two handed racing and transition into classes such as 420 and 29er.

Youth Academy

Older sailors progress into advanced racing pathways and youth performance classes using a mix of keel boats and dinghies

This stage supports sailors:

• Attending national and international events, 
• Developing advanced racing skills
• Coaching skills
• Supports transition into senior streams

At present, this is largely developed in the Clubs J70s however, there are defined routes to progress dinghy sailing in the ILCA, 29er and 420 classes.

Instructor Pathway

The Royal Southern Youth Pathway also supports sailors interested in becoming instructors and mentors within the programme.

The pathway includes:

• Assistant Instructor development
• Instructor experience through Splash and training weekends
• RYA instructor qualifications
• Coaching experience within club programmes

This creates opportunities for older youth sailors to remain involved in the club while developing leadership and coaching skills.

When Does Training Take Place?

Youth training and pathway activities take place across:

• School holidays
• Weekend training blocks
• Splash Week
• Regattas and coached events

Programmes are designed to run throughout the year while fitting around the school calendar.

Why Join the Royal Southern Youth Pathway?

• Structured progression from beginner to advanced racing
• Sailing in the heart of the River Hamble and Solent
• RYA aligned training pathway
• Friendly and supportive club environment
• Opportunities for both recreational and competitive sailing
• Clear progression into youth racing and instructor development
• Activities for all confidence levels and abilities