Walhampton Celebrates Outstanding Success at National Youth Team Racing Championships
Walhampton School sailors achieved a fantastic result at the 2026 Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships, securing first and third place in the Super Junior Class at this major UK youth sailing event.
Held at Oxford Sailing Club on 10th and 11th October, the championships are an important fixture in the national youth sailing calendar, organised by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) in partnership with the Eric Twiname Trust. With 360 sailors representing 72 schools and clubs from across the UK and Ireland, the event provides a valuable opportunity for young sailors to compete at a high level, develop their racing skills and measure themselves against some of the strongest youth teams in the country.
The event features three age categories: Youth (U19), Junior (U17) and Super Junior (U15). Walhampton sailors from Years 6 -8 competed in the Super Junior competition which featured 19 teams racing in RS Feva dinghies. Team racing success depends on communication, coordinated manoeuvres, boat-handling skills and tactical decision-making, with sailors working together to secure the best overall team result.
Walhampton’s success followed weeks of selection and training preparation with our Head of Sailing, Mr Morris, developing the sailors’ team racing skills and identify the strongest combinations for the championship. This preparation paid off handsomely, with both Walhampton teams performing superbly against strong competition over a range of windy and light conditions.
Walhampton Blue were unbeaten over the weekend and claimed first place, ahead of NEYYSA mINEOS (from the North East and Yorkshire) in second and Walhampton Red on equal wins in third place. Having two teams on the podium reflects the depth of sailing talent, commitment and teamwork within the school. Competing successfully at this level helps pupils develop not only as sailors but also as confident, resilient team members, learning to communicate effectively and make decisions under pressure. Congratulations to all eight Walhampton sailors on an outstanding performance.
