Draycote Academy

Premier Race Training

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.

Delivering Excellence

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.

2025-2026 Winter Training

Applications for the 2025-2026 Winter Training are now open via the link below:

Academy Coaching Team

Steve Irish

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

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

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.

2024 - 2025 Fleet Information

Training Dates

5th/6th October ’24

9th/10th November ’24

28th/29th December ’24

8th/9th February ’25

1st/2nd March ’25

Optimist Squad

Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.

Barnaby Kemp

Blaise Kemp

Clemmie Renard

Buddy Hunt

Luca Johnson

Oscar Johnson

Rory Luddington

Amelie Renard

Training Dates

21st/22nd September ’24

9th/10th November ’24

28th/29th December ’24

8th/9th February ’25

1st/2nd March ’25

Topper Squad

Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.

Seth Bunn

Henry Cruse

Harry Fenton

Isaac Foulds

Finley Kirkby

Sam Mason

Tom Moriarty

Daniel Plant

Finlay Rhodes

Frederick Seddon

Alfred Stoyell

Hannah Swinton

Audrey Yang

Hari Clark

Laurie Lamb

Alexander Stainton

Faith Turner

Toby Turner

Edward Whittaker

Training Dates

5th/6th October ’24

23rd/24th November ’24 (postponed)

4th/5th January ’25

1st/2nd February ’25

15th/16th March ’25 (Battle of the Regions)

22nd/23rd March

5th/6th/7th April

Tera Squad

Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.

Michael Boatman

Matthew Boatman

Harry Fleming

Grace Fleming

Joseph Hulse

Jessica Willars

Molly Wilson

Harry Wilson

Hari Clark

Training Dates

28th/29th September ’24

30th November/1st December ’24

18th/19th January ’25

15th/16th February ’25

29th/30th March ’25

ILCA 4 Squad

Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.

Zachary Chappell

Archie Hutcheon

George Hutcheon

Kit Lester

Jai Mutreja

Alfie Naylor

Thomas Semmens

Ryan Surguy

Ellie Thwaites

Nathan Clark

Jai Dhaliwal

Noah Mathers

Ben Angell

Kat Gunn

Jacob Jull

Jessica Powell

 

Training Dates

28th/29th September ’24

7th/8th December ’24

25th/26th January ’25

22nd/23rd February ’25

29th/30th March ’25

ILCA 6 Squad

Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.

Aimee Bulkes

Billy Morris

Laura Parsons

Oliver Rogers

Harry Wemyss

Peter Astley

Sam Clarke

Hatty Connolly

Jasper Nicholls

Jacob Bennett

Jacob Blakeway

Joseph Shorter

Training Dates

12th/13th October ’24

26th/27th October ’24

14/15th December ’24

420s Squad

Stages are based on number of years sailing as part of Draycote Academy and not individual abilities.

Tabitha Blackman-Northwood

Fraser Ferguson

Callum Harris

Nathan Clark

Isabella Barnes

Jack Hodgkins

Academy Zone Log-In

For Academy sailors to access the training plans, supporting documents and specific fleet information from Steve Irish.

Visitor Info

For information on parking, accommodation, catering, arriving at Draycote and lots more, please follow the link below.

Academy Clothing

Take a look at our Academy clothing range with personalised options.

Contact us

Please complete the form below and a member of staff will get back in touch with you.

Check, Clean, Dry​

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.