Entry is now open for the 2008 RYA Zone Championships with around 1,000 of England's top young sailors expected to sign up for what is considered one of the premier events in the annual Junior racing calendar. The six English Zones will stage their Championships around the country on the weekend of 27-28 September and you can get your entries for the Championships in today by visiting http://www.ryaracingevents.org.uk/ 

The RYA Zone Championships traditionally mark the end of the Junior racing season and the start of a hard winter’s training. Meanwhile, for those sailors wishing to be selected to be part of the RYA Zone Squad training over the winter, the Zone Championships are a mandatory event.

Racing will take place in the Bic Techno windsurfer classes, Optimist, Topper, Mirror and Cadet, while some areas will also offer racing for RS Feva, Laser 4.7 and the Hobie Dragoon classes.

The 2008 Zone Championships will be staged at the following venues, with those marked * catering for the windsurfers across the duel zones (South &/South West; South East & East;  North & West)

North - Scaling Dam Sailing Club, North Yorkshire *
South - Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy, Dorset *
West - Blithfield Sailing Club, Staffordshire
South West - Chew Valley Sailing Club, Gloucestershire
East -Dabchicks and West Mersea Yacht Club, Essex *
South East - Bewl Valley Sailing Club, Kent

The entry deadline for the six Zone Championships is Wednesday 17 September 2008 - no entries will be accepted after this date.

ALL sailors wishing to be considered for a National Junior Squad OR a Zone Squad place are also requested to complete an online application form. This can also be found at http://www.ryaracingevents.org.uk/ and following the links to Junior Squad applications. 
 
Meanwhile, online entry for the RYA Home Countries Championships - held in tandem with the Zone Championships - will be open soon.

Scotland and Wales will stage their events at Largs Sailing Club and Pwllheli Sailing Club respectively on 27-28 September while Carlingford Lough Yacht Club hosts the Northern Ireland event on 6-7 September. Keep checking the RYA Racing Events website for the latest entry information.