Four training camps. Three countries. A year of preparation.
For a group of young African sailors heading towards Dakar 2026, development has involved more than arriving at the Youth Olympic Games and competing.
The fourth and final African Youth Olympic Games training camp took place in Algiers from 14 to 19 September, completing a programme that began in Tunisia in October 2025 and continued through two camps in Morocco.
The final camp brought together 14 young sailors and nine coaches from Algeria, Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Morocco, Libya, Senegal and Tunisia.
What stands out is what happened between the camps.
Twelve Techno293 boards were supplied for the programme and for sailors to use when they returned home. Earlier in the programme, sailors worked on equipment setup, board handling and technique, with video reviews used after sessions. International specialists worked alongside coaches from participating nations.
Young sailors need suitable equipment and people around them who know how to support their development.
The programme involved coaches throughout rather than concentrating solely on the sailors.
At the first camp in Hammamet, Tunisia, 10 sailors and seven coaches from six countries attended. Training included on-water sessions and video debriefs. Three further camps followed, ending with the September gathering in Algeria.
The programme was organised by World Sailing and national sailing federations, with funding from the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Solidarity Athlete Development Programme. Equipment support came from Tahe Outdoor Sports, while specialist coaches from the Techno293 class worked with participants.
There are limits to what we know about its impact.
World Sailing describes the programme as part of the development of competitive sailing across Africa. Coaches involved have reported improvements during the camps. No independent long-term evaluation was presented alongside the programme establishing its effect on performance, participation or retention.
For now, what is measurable is the opportunity provided: repeated camps, specialist coaching, equipment and continued training between gatherings.
The 2026 Youth Olympic Games run from 31 October to 13 November. Sailing takes place at Saly Beach, around 80 kilometres south-west of Dakar, using Techno293 equipment. Men’s and women’s windsurfing events have 24 athlete places each.
The medals will eventually show who performed best in Senegal. They will say less about whether young sailors had the equipment, coaching and repeated opportunities needed to reach the start line prepared.
PlayerScout Take
"Development gets difficult when the opportunity only exists while the player is at the camp. The interesting part here is what happens when they go home. If the equipment stays with them and local coaches are developing alongside the young sailors, there’s a better chance for the work to continue between those bigger opportunities."
Grantley Baugh, Founder, PlayerScout
