The BYS J/70 Youth Squad

BYS is passionate about engaging our young members and ensuring that those sailors who have gone through our junior and youth pathways have further opportunities to learn new skills and participate in racing.

The BYS J/70 Youth Squad was developed by Intermediate BYS members in 2019. The Youth Squad is for BYS members aged 16 to 30, and makes use of the three BYS-owned J/70s. This provides those who join with opportunities to train in the J/70s, race in BYS club racing, and represent BYS in multiple sailing regattas throughout the season.

The Youth Squad provides a pathway for current sailors to develop a broad range of skills, including how to sail with a team and use an asymmetric spinnaker. However, it is also a great team to join even if you have limited sailing experience, as there is a job for everyone on board.

Youth Squad members also assist in running J/70 club races as race day volunteers on the start boat, on safety boats and as radio operators.

When does the youth squad start?

The Youth Squad trains on various weekends from October to April, depending on the availability of participants and boats. We then race in BYS Sunday J/70 class racing throughout the season, dates are available on the club race program.

As there is always a lot going on, BYS members can join the Youth Squad at any point in the season.

The regattas that the BYS J/70 Youth Squad participate in are held throughout the season, ranging from October to April and include the Interclub Youth Regatta and the Women's Sportsboat Regatta. Where interest in competing in regattas exceeds demand, selection criteria will be set with teams chosen by a selection panel.

Join the squad:

• as a J/70 Youth Squad racer (access to participate in Sunday J/70 racing to suit your schedule, and BYS's regattas, subject to availability)
• with the "add-on" option to join coaching sessions, and opt-in to selection for additional regattas including the J/70 Victorian Championship and Sailing Champions League.
• or, as a Squad Social Sailor, joining the social sailing days where you'll meet new friends and learn to sail the J/70s in a non-racing setting.

If you want to find out more about the BYS J/70 Youth Squad and if it is the program for you, please contact the sailing office.