Applications open for female Scorpion academy
by RYA Press Office 25 Feb 10:32 UTC
TCL Scorpion Nationals 2024 at Castle Cove Day 3 © Lee Whitehead /
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RYA project offers technical performance coaching for female racing sailors
Female sailors aged 18-21 are invited to apply for an RYA-backed project offering an action-packed coaching schedule leading up to the 2025 Scorpion National Championships.
The initiative has four places available for aspiring racing sailors keen to benefit from a programme of technical performance coaching this summer from May to August 2025.
Sailors will learn how rigs work, about tuning, boat preparation and training. Working with a group of experienced championship sailors and coaches, participants will be supported in developing all the skills required to get to the front of a championship fleet.
The Female Scorpion Project aims to enable two boats sailed by young women to achieve top tier results competing at this year's nationals at Penzance SC, Cornwall.
Organiser and coach Nick Lightbody said: "This is an RYA project designed to increase competitive female sailor representation in the Scorpion championship fleet and to accelerate their success in other classes.
"We will enable our participants to develop an understanding of how racing dinghies work and how to make them fast, including the physics of developing and controlling the power in the rig.
"This is the perfect opportunity for young female sailors who want to gain the essential technical knowledge required to compete effectively across the sport."
Winning formula
The initiative follows an RYA-supported Scorpion Project in 2024 which aimed to get a 34-year old wooden Scorpion to the front of the fleet sailed by a young helm, with a bespoke boat preparation and intensive technical training programme.
The result was three race wins and 3rd overall at the Scorpion National Championships for Joe Warwicker, then aged 19, and crew Andy Service. Joe subsequently transferred his knowledge to the Snipe Europa Cup where he finished 4th overall and claimed the UK national title.
The Female Scorpion Project aims to replicate this winning formula and will work with two on-loan boats, with participants involved in performance analysis, planning and implementation of improvements.
Supervised by the RYA's Coaching Development Team, the programme aims to be as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Nick added: "We're looking for sailors who have shown an aptitude for sailboat racing, who either want to get to the next level in competitive championship racing in an adult class, or who already sail in such a class and want to learn how to get to the front of the fleet.
"Although some may be talented female sailors we have heard of, with previous RYA Squad experience, we are also looking for sailors who are currently unknown to the RYA. We hope to assemble a team balancing experience with emerging talent."
Apply now
The RYA invites applications from female sailors aged 18-21 years old on 1 May 2025. Those just outside this age range are also welcome to apply as there may be some flexibility.
To apply, please email with the following information by Friday 21st March 2025:
- Name, address, date of birth, phone number and email address
- A short note supporting your application from your sailing club, class association, coach or sailing instructor
- Your own description of your sailing experience and racing ambitions.
A selection weekend will take place 19-20 April 2025 at Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy. Sailors who then join the programme will each pay a £200 project fee.
The RYA will provide accommodation for the programme in Portland; sailors will need to arrange or contribute to the cost of their own accommodation in Penzance.
Coaching schedule
The Female Scorpion Project will offer five 4-day blocks of coached training at WPNSA, Portland: 30 May-2 June; 10-13 June; 20-23 June; 1-4 July; and 11-14 July (20 days total).
Sailors will also be invited to compete at a Scorpion open hosted by Lymington Town SC, 18-20 July 2025, including a day's practice beforehand.
The project will then take its Scorpion dinghies and RIB to Penzance, Cornwall, for 28 July-8 August 2025 (12 days), with six days of training followed by the Scorpion Nationals.
Other members of the Scorpion class will be welcome to join training activities on the water.
A variety of coaches, sailors and technical experts have been lined up to support and contribute to the project, including Olympian and top coach Stevie Morrison.
Find out more
For further information please contact RYA Scorpion Project.