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Delivering winter race training with tailor-made programmes by top-level coaches for optimum progress and attainment.
Full-time shore staff, superb facilities, large non-tidal water & a central location make Draycote the premier training venue.
With 5 years of developing young sailors to compete, we’re seeing our cohort go from strength to strength.
From younger sailors building confidence and self-esteem, through to multiple wins and podium places at national and international events.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Winter Training are now open via the link below:
Steve Irish is a world-class professional sailing coach. He has worked with the British Sailing Team, Turkish Sail Federation and Thailand’s 49er team. This has included coaching a variety of youth and junior squads, enabling 470 sailors to progress from development to Olympic-level funding – including Hannah Mills and Luke Patience – and leading 29er and 420 sailors to international success at championships such as ISAF Youth Worlds.
Steve himself started sailing in Optimists, going on to represent GBR and has had multiple successes at national, European and world levels in 420’s, 470’s, 49ers, RS800s and RS200s.
Joe Rowe is an RYA dinghy instructor and qualified race coach with a history in single handed fleets. A successful Topper sailor winning the National series and Topper world Championship before moving to the ILCA 6 where he raced at the highest level and achieved Gold Fleet position at the ILCA 6 Youth Europeans.
Now sailing an ILCA 7, Joe’s experience in Toppers, ILCAs, combined with vast experience of big fleet racing, supports his coaching skills.
Millie Irish is a qualified Race coach with vast personal sailing experience across a number of fleets racing on a national and international level. Starting out in the Optimist and progressing to national squads before moving in to the RS Feva winning numerous events, including the UK National championship.
She has raced 420s and 29ers at the highest level and is now sailing the 470. Millie is the lead Optimist Academy coach and will be looking to pass on her vast knowledge across a range of fleets in the future.
20th & 21st September 2025
25th & 26th October 2025
28th & 29th December 2025
7th & 8th February 2026
21st & 22nd March 2026
Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.
Brooke Browning
Adam Collins
Jake Day
Esme Hemingway
Hector Jackson
Hendricks Long
Euan Pickard
Phileas Rousselle
Martha Shorter
Elizabeth Stainton
Hattie Steele
Benjamin Whittaker
Henry Cruse
Harry Fenton
Isaac Foulds
Joseph Hulse
Tom Moriarty
Frederick Seddon
Alfred Stoyell
Hannah Swinton
Audrey Yang
Edward Whittaker
Hari Clark
11th & 12th October
22nd & 23rd November
10th & 11th January
14th & 15th February
14th & 15th March
Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.
Beatrice Denny
Felix Denny
George Hulse
Charlie Hunt
Monty Mawditt
Michael Boatman
Grace Fleming
Harry Fleming
Joseph Hulse
Jessica Willars
Harry Wilson
Molly Wilson
Hari Clark
27th & 28th September 2025
15th &16th November 2025
13th & 14th December 2025
24th & 25th January 2026
21st & 22nd February 2026
Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.
Jess Cunningham
Dougal Jackson
Sally Kerry
Aiyushi Modha
Claudia Savory
Alana Starkie
Tiphaine Ungari
Pippa Knights
Jai Mutreja
Finlay Rhodes
Robin Wright
Laurie Lamb
Noah Mathers
Alexander Stainton
Faith Turner
Toby Turner
Edward Whittaker
27th & 28th September 2025
15th &16th November 2025
13th & 14th December 2025
24th & 25th January 2026
21st & 22nd February 2026
Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.
Daniel Plant
Ben Angell
Vincent Shorter
6th & 7th September 2025
29th, 30th & 31st October 2025
8th & 9th November 2025
6th & 7th December 2025
17th & 18th January 2026
Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.
James Bowes
Mia Hateley
Scarlett Maclennan
Baz Sanderson-Wood
Freddie Wood
Jasper Focadi Dolling
Jensen Jakob
Mona Nygard
For Academy sailors to access the training plans, supporting documents and specific fleet information from Steve Irish.
For information on parking, accommodation, catering, arriving at Draycote and lots more, please follow the link below.
Take a look at our Academy clothing range with personalised options.
Please complete the form below and a member of staff will get back in touch with you.
All visitors and Club members should follow the Check Clean Dry programme before bringing their craft to Draycote Water and when they take their craft away.