Royal Lymington Youth Week
By Helen MacAlister

Four days of sailing, sunshine, fun and friendship in the river and on the Solent.

Youth Week 2026 once again brought the Royal Lymington Yacht Club alive with the energy and enthusiasm of our young sailors and their families,  as competitors came together for four action-packed days on and off the water.

Supported by Walhampton School, this year’s Youth Week ran from Monday 24 to Thursday 27 August and featured four fleets – Gold, Silver, Bronze and the Mariners Adventure Fleet – providing racing and activities for about 110 sailors aged 8–18 and a wide range of abilities.

The week got underway on Monday, with sailors heading out onto the water for the first day of racing. The Bronze Fleet managed some good races above the train bridge in more sheltered waters, while everyone else returned to shore as 30-knot gusts brought an early end to the day. The Mariners also managed to venture out for some rowing races before everyone came back to the Club for a well-earned macaroni cheese supper.

Tuesday brought another busy day on the water for sailors and safety boats, with all fleets getting in some good racing despite the wind averaging 20 knots on the Solent. The Mariners made it to Pylewell Creek for some fun and games, followed by an evening at the Lymington Sea Water Baths. After the inflatable swim, everyone headed back to the Club for fish and chips – a perfect combination after a day of sailing.

Wednesday saw the final day of racing, with the Gold Fleet completing four races and the Silver Fleet managing five, finishing with a final race home. Bronze ventured out to Oxey Lake for another fantastic day of coached racing, while the Mariners sailed the furthest of the fleets to Yarmouth Beach for a picnic. There was also an opportunity for siblings and families to enjoy a swim at Walhampton School.

Back at the Club, sailors and families gathered for a Comanche hog roast barbecue, followed by a disco with DJ Joe Muggs, giving everyone the chance to let their hair down after three days of sailing.

For the Bronze Fleet, Youth Week was about much more than results. Enhanced coaching and shore-side activities gave less experienced sailors the opportunity to build confidence, develop their skills and experience the excitement of sailing in race conditions – while making new friends along the way.

And then came Thursday – Fun Day!

With three fleets joining together on the water, the final day was all about having fun. This year’s fancy-dress theme was BRIGHT, ensuring the Solent was treated to a spectacular splash of colour as the young sailors took to the water with water pistols. They completed a circumnavigation of both islands, through Crooked Lake and Oxey, out into the Solent and then back through Pylewell Creek.

The week concluded with cake and prize-giving at the Club, with the Mayor of Lymington joining us to hand out the prizes. The celebrations recognised not only the sailors’ achievements but also the teamwork, enthusiasm and determination shown throughout the event. Congratulations to all the prize winners and to everyone who participated.
Royal Lymington Yacht Club Youth week was a fantastic success on and off the water and would simply not be possible without the tremendous support of the many volunteers, race teams, coaches, safety crews, shore teams, parents and families who give their time to make the week such a success. There were about a hundred volunteers involved, including about seventy on-water helpers – and not just during Youth Week but in the twelve months building up to the event – a huge thank you to all involved.   

And finally, particular thanks to Walhampton School for supporting Youth Week 2026 and to Tristan Jones @Nautipics for the photography.

Roll on Youth Week 2027! ⛵️ Save the date: 16th–20th August 2027 – the planning has already started!

Gold Fleet Winners

29er – Frey Hutchinson and Joanna MacAlister

Fevas
1st place – Rory Bubb and Eliza Kelly
2nd place – Lucas Hill and Finn Simmons
3rd place – Henry Nurton and Alex Higgins

PY Slow
1st place – Lachlan Walker
2nd place – Will Vinnycomb
3rd place – Theo Rockery

Silver Fleet Winners

RS Tera
1st place – Evelyn Scott
2nd place – Robby Mayo
3rd place – Pippa Sellers

Optimists
1st place – Sebastian Styles
2nd place – Freddie Lusty
3rd place – Rollo Hinton

Bronze Fleet Winners

Optimist Series 1
1st – Bertie and Celian
2nd – Selina
3rd – Kit, Harriet & Felicity

Optimist Series 2
1st – George & Dexter
2nd – Sophia & Barnaby
3rd – Red & Ottie

Hartley Series
1st – Fox, Rafe and Lyra