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WHEN: 5th JULY 2025
WHEN: 5th JULY 2025
What is the TVC?
What is the TVC?
Thames Valley Challenge is a 2 boat Team Racing event, open to Youth & Juniors sailors who are new to the world of racing, designed to encourage more young sailors within the region to experience an exciting way of Dinghy Racing.
Who can attend?
Who can attend?
This year, teams of 4 sailors, from sailing clubs in and around the Thames Valley Region will be allowed to enter. Multiple entries are allowed per sailing club, however first teams will be prioritised and then second teams will be allocated afterwards.
Conditions of Entry:
All sailors must be;
Aged 16 or under on the day of the event
Cannot be part of an RYA Regional Training Group of any class.
This would be my first ever sailing competition, is that okay?
YES! On the water, we will be providing low level coaching to those at the back of the fleet in each race.
So what do I need to bring?
The great thing about team racing, is most of the kit is provided, all you need to bring, is yourself, your kit to get on the water, one small red flag (Or piece of material) and a watch. We also recommend a few other things such as snacks and suncream, but a full suggested list will be provided on entry.
And what are the facilities there?
Don't leave your Adult at home, there is a great spectators spot, and if your lucky, the club bar may even be open. As well as this we have parking, changing facilities and much more. Find out full details about Maidenhead Sailing Club here: https://www.maidenheadsc.org.uk/
So what is the team racing pathway?
So what is the team racing pathway?
STEP 1 : RYA Training at your local Centre or Club, ✅
STEP 2 : Thames Valley Challenge, 💬
Step 3 : RYA ET's RS Feva Fleet (Or similar style/ability events), 🔜
Step 5 : RYA ET's Firefly Team Racing,🔮
Step 6: University Team Racing🎓
Some of the clubs that have attended the Thames Valley Challenge:
Some of the clubs that have attended the Thames Valley Challenge:
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2025 Location:
2025 Location:
This year, hosted by Claires Court's Outdoor Education Department, the TVC will be held at Maidenhead Sailing Club (SL6 8HZ). The small lake, with a stunning backdrop, hidden between the houses provides a perfect location for beginner racers to hone their skills. Claires Court school and Maidenhead sailing club celebrate a 45 year relationship this year, what better way to celebrate than running the Thames Valley Challenge.
About the Racing:
About the Racing:
Team racing can be run with teams of two, three or four boats. In the UK, Universities and schools do a lot of 3v3 team racing, generally in fireflies.
2v2 is popular for junior events but also for keelboats as well. You can team race any one design and the UK has seen racing run from toppers to 45 foot race yachts, but usually this racing is run in RS Feva Dinghies. (Pictured Below).
For this year, we will be making a change to the usual proceedings of the Thames Valley Challenge, we will be running 2 boat team racing, to maximise teams, entries and races run in a day.
So how does 2 boat Team Racing work?
So how does 2 boat Team Racing work?
Each team consists of 4 sailors, 2 helms and 2 crews, the course is the usual starboard S shape as pictured below. After a 3,2,1,Go countdown, sailor race around the buoys, making use of boat seed, racing rules and tactical positioning to get to the finish line.
So how do you win? Simple, the team with the boat in last place across the finish line, looses.
This is a simple, self explanatory way of racing for both those on and off the water.
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