Junior & Youth Success
CAYC is proud to facilitate and promote young people sailing. We have formal training for children from age 8 upwards, and are proud to train young people from first stepping into a boat to being national champions and instructors in their own right. Sailing's governing body, the Royal Yachting Association formally recognises us as a teaching establishment and has awarded us 'Pathway Club' status for our ongoing commitment to coaching young people.
You do not need to come from a sailing background nor does sailing have to be an expensive past time.
2024
RYA NI Youth Championships - 9 CAYC Junior and Youth Members competed:
Congratulations to all our young sailors who competed at the weekend 7 & 8 September at the RYA Northern Ireland Youth Championships. Hosted by Strangford Lough Yacht Club. A fabulous Event and supported by many parents and volunteers.
Very special congratulations to Calum Pollard who with 3 x 1sts was able to discard a 2nd!
A special mention also to Alita Taylor who was lying 3rd Girl in the Topper 5.3 fleet half way through the four race series at the Championships. Unfortunately her boat suffered gear failure on the second day and Alita was forced to retire from the remaining races.
Fabulous results by everyone - Sailwave Link.
Topper 5.3
1st Male and overall Topper winner. Calum Pollard. Also Calum was awarded 
Junior RYANI Champion.
18th Alita Taylor
26th Tom Marshall
ILCA 6 ( Laser)
8th Rory Pollard
10th Luke Simpson
16th Matthew Tweed
RS Feva XL
5th Ben Simpson crewing with Ben from EABC
Regatta Fleet
Lucy Maxwell
Aoife Pollard
Well done everyone, the Club membership are very proud of your achievements.
Wavelength Images by Simon McIlwaine - Link to Day 1 and Link to Day 2
2023
RYA NI Youth Championships - 13 CAYC Junior & Youth Members competed. ILCA6, ILCA4, Topper 5.3 & Topper 4.2s, many in the Regatta Fleets.
Luke Simpson was 2nd in the ILCA4 Class, which he has just transitioned to. Ben Simpson was 2nd in the Regatta Fleet.(1st 5.3 Topper)
Aoife Pollard received a special award from the Coaches, also in the Regatta Fleet. Rory had a super result of 6th in the ILCA6(Radial) Class. Calum was unlucky not to have had another race to gain a discard, having two credible results of a 4th and 5th in the Topper 5.3, he carried an OCS(On Course Side at the start) score. Both also transitioned to new classes this season.
Topper Traveller - SLYC - Calum Pollard 3rd overall and 2nd Junior
Topper British Nationals - Luke Simpson - 3rd overall.
Topper Worlds - Luke Simpson was 6th overall, Calum Pollard was 48th having made the Gold Fleet in the 5.3 Topper. Well Done
Irish Topper Nationals 7-9 July : we are immensely proud of Luke Simpson's achievements: 3rd overall, 2nd Youth Male and overall 1st place, Champion in the Topper Irish Series. Calum Pollard also found success in achieving: 3rd Junior Male at the weekend in the Topper 5.3. Overall 20th in the fleet of 60 dinghies.
Well done to all. Challenging conditions throughout.
Topper Southern Champs in Wexford 1st overall for Luke Simpson, Calum Pollard, 3rd Junior Male.
Topper Traveller - Skerries - 2nd overall and 1st Male for Luke Simpson
Topper Traveller - CAYC - 1st Place for Luke Simpson, Calum Pollard 3rd overall, 2nd Junior,
Topper Northern Championship - CSC - Luke Simpson 2nd overall and 1st Youth Male, Calum Pollard, 7th overall and 3rd Junior male.
*** RYA NI & Irish Sailing Awards - Calum Pollard was shortlisted in the Young sailor of the year.***
*** Mid & east Antrim - MEA Sports Awards 2023 - Junior Sportsperson of the year celebrating his 2022 successes: ITCA 4.2 World Champion, 4.2 Irish Champion and 2021/22 Topper 4.2 Series Champion ***
Topper Winters at Lough Derg - 1st overall for Luke Simpson
British Sailing : Crew4Gold - Jenna Reid Selection
2022
At the British Nationals in Weymouth, Luke Simpson was 4th overall and 1st Junior male. Congratulations to Luke on this fantastic achievement.
We have a new World Champion!!! Congratulations Calum!. Calum Pollard had an incredible week, retaining the gold bib in the 4.2 fleet from day 2 and secured first place after the last day of sailing yesterday.
Three CAYC members made the journey to Lake Garda in Italy to compete in the 2022 Topper World Championships. Rory Pollard had a great Championship getting into Gold Fleet. Friday, DSQ at the fault of the Jury gave him a maximum point score. Getting stuck between the Pelar and the Ora shift today meant he got into somewhere he couldn't get out of. He's had an unreal week though and carded great results. Well done Rory!
Luke Simpson qualified for the gold fleet and finished the championship in 22nd place. An amazing achievement. Well done Luke!
Everyone at CAYC has been supporting Rory, Luke and Calum from afar and we are immensely proud of your achievements this week 
Calum Pollard became the Topper 4.2 Irish National Champion with a strong seven 1st's. 1-3 July 2022 WHSC.
Rory fell just outside the podium in his division in the 5.3's coming 4th Junior Boy. Absolutely fantastic long weekend in Dunmore East.
Thanks for all the support and thanks to all at Waterford Harbour Sailing Club for being so hospitable and welcoming.
The Celtic Cup, sometimes known as the 'Tri Nations', will be based this year at Sport Scotland National Centre Inverclyde, sailing out of Largs from Friday 28th to Sunday 30th January 2022 and competed by Teams from RYA NI, RYA Scotland and RYA Wales.
The Celtic Cup 2022 will consist of 8 Topper 5.3 and 8 ILCA 6 (Laser Radial) from each home country so unfortunately not all of the Youth Performance Programme sailors will qualify to compete as there is a selection process based on performance, results, training and coach feedback. Unfortunately, some of our youth classes will not be represented at this event namely Topper 4.2, Laser 4.7 and the 29er although the event is to be held annually so some of the younger sailors will have the opportunity to be selected to compete at this event in future seasons. CAYC have a very healthy representation in the RYANI Celtic Cup 16 Member Squad with Rory Pollard and Luke Simpson making selection in the Topper 5.3 Team along with Ellen Barbour and Daniel Corbett who have made selection in the ILCA 6 Team. These CAYC sailors making up a quarter of the RYA NI Team - Well done!! All accommodation and meals will be provided by the home country governing bodies at the National Centre Inverclyde and conference training sessions will be taking place whilst off the water. What an amazing opportunity and adventure for our young sailors. We're so proud of your effort and achievements!
Coming into 2022 - Confirmation was received that Luke Simpson, Rory Pollard and Calum Pollard are all on the RYANI Topper Squad. Ellen Barbour in the ILCA Academy and Daniel Corbett in the ICLA Squad.
Spring of 2022, Luke Simpson was offered a place on the Irish Sailing Topper Squad, which he accepted. This requires quite an investment of time to the sport.(particularly from parents!) Luke is very excited to be included in the Team.
CAYC's Prizegiving Awards December 2021
Club Junior Champion - Calum Pollard - received the Auld Cup
Club Youth Champion - Ellen Barbour - received the Commodore's Cup
CAYC had a strong showing at the RYA Youth Championships in 2021
Congratulations to all the sailors who competed in the 2021 RYA NI Youth Champs. There is a great review on Afloat Magazine article. Well worth a read..
9 sailors represented CAYC, we are very proud of their achievements. Excellent Results.
A fantastic result for Ellen, she has had an amazing sailing season in 2021
Female Youth Champion - Ellen Barbour
ILCA 6 (Laser Radial)
Ellen Barber - 2nd
Daniel Corbett - 7th
Jenna Reid - 15th
ILCA 4 (Laser 4.7)
Holly McConnell - 11th
Topper (Full Rig)
Luke Simpson - 2nd (Fabulous result in a strong experienced fleet)
Rory Pollard - 12th (5th Junior Male)
Topper (4.2 rig)
Calum Pollard - 2nd (tied in 1st, countback applied) another fabulous result in 2021 season following the Topper Nationals.
Regatta Fleet
Alita Taylor
Olivia Delaney
Larne Grammar School - Schools Cup
Carrickfergus Grammar School - Runner-up
Ballyholme Yacht Club - Club Team Trophy
Afloat Review - by Betty Armstrong
CAYC is proud of the success of its Junior sailors - 2020
| ICLA 6 (Laser Radial) | Topper | |
| 3rd Joseph Karauzum | 9th Rory Pollard | |
| 8th Ellen Barbour | Topper 4.2 | |
| ICLA 4 ( Laser 4.7) | 4th Calum Pollard | |
| 8th Daniel Corbett | 10th Luke Simpson | |
| 14th Holly McConnell | 16th Ed Nethercott |
RYANI Youth Championships 2020: CAYC had 8 representatives at the Covid-19 Restricted Event. A Great performance by all,
RYANI Youth Championships 2019: CAYC had approx 19 sailors representing the Club. Great performance once again by all. just missed out and were 2nd Team in the overall Club status. Belfast High School and Larne Grammar also shone.
RYANI Youth Championships 2018: CAYC had 23 sailors representing the Club. Many medals won and the overall Team award Club Trophy 2018
RYANI Youth Championships 2017: Club Trophy was not contested. CAYC had another strong rep. Poor weather prevented many from competing.
RYANI Youth Championships 2016: CAYC had approx 19 sailors representing the Club. Many medals won and the overall Team award Club Trophy 2016
RYANI Youth Championships 2015: CAYC had 17 sailors representing the Club. Many medals won and the overall Team award Club Trophy 2015
RYANI Youth Championships 2014: CAYC had 21 sailors representing the Club. Many medals won and the overall Team award Club Trophy 2014
The DECISION to sail :
The Race Officer or club member in charge of any event supervised by the Club (for example, Friendly Fridays) has ultimate discretion as to who may go on the water. They will take into account wind, water and tidal conditions, experience of the sailors and level of safety boat cover.
The Club understands that many parents do not have a sailing background and may require guidance in decision making as to whether their child should sail in any given conditions. 1 or 2 weeks on a supervised sailing course still limits the conditions under which your child should take to the water. They have been taught the basic essentials of sailing in a controlled manner in suitable weather conditions.
Practice in steady winds and smooth seas. Sailing in strong winds and rough seas can only be done safely with experience as your child's confidence and capabilities increase: sailing in inappropriate conditions can instill fear and weaken confidence.
All boats sailed by members outside of the normal organised racing (Sundays & Wednesdays) do so at their own risk. Juniors must have parental supervision and permission to sail any boat at all times. It is not the Club's responsibility to supervise the children except when children are taking part in supervised training under the RYA RTC and Instructors are in authority.
Last updated 15:46 on 12 September 2024
