East Midlands clubs up for RYA Club of Year 

Hollowell and Staunton Harold SCs will battle it out for honour with three other clubs in Britain

Two East Midlands sailing clubs have been recognised as being among the top sailing clubs in Britain after being shortlisted for the prestigious RYA Club of the Year Award 2012.

Northamptonshire’s Hollowell SC and Staunton Harold SC from Derbyshire are both nominated for the national governing body award, which recognises clubs who excel at promoting the sport of sailing, encouraging people on to the water and making their activities varied and accessible to the community.

The overall 2012 winner from the shortlist of five will be announced at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, London on Saturday 3 March.

Both Hollowell and Staunton Harold have made great strides in creating even more opportunities for people in their local communities to get involved in sailing over the past 12 months.

Through RYA OnBoard, the nationwide grassroots sailing and windsurfing scheme, both clubs continues forging links with many local schools and youth groups with their OnBoard sessions providing the perfect opportunity for other family members to go along to the club at the same time and also enjoy their first taste of sailing.

Meanwhile, as Volvo RYA Champion Clubs, the clubs’ talented youngsters are frequently fed into the RYA’s World Class racing programmes.

Both clubs have demonstrated a proven commitment in providing opportunities to enable people to improve and develop their skills, whether in racing, cruising, instructing or volunteering, and enjoy being part of inclusive, welcoming sailing clubs.

For Hollowell SC the nomination is their third in four years while Staunton Harold’s commitment to improving their facilities and equipment is paying dividends with shortlist recognition. 

RYA Volunteer Development Officer Jackie Bennetts, who coordinates the awards said: “All this year’s RYA Club of the Year finalists who are excellent, well run, vibrant and forward looking clubs, who really excel at what they set out to do. The Club of the Year Awards are a fantastic opportunity to highlight and promote all the good work clubs and their members put into keeping our sport alive”.

The other three nominees for RYA Club of the Year 2012 are Chichester Yacht Club, West Sussex, Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club, Greater Manchester and Salcombe Yacht Club, Devon.The RYA Club of the Year Awards are supported by Gallagher Heath Insurance Services.