Trial keelboats at your club

The RYA has partnered with RS Sailing to offer clubs the opportunity to borrow up to six keelboats to trial a pay and play ownership system in 2021.

Following on from the success of the 2019 British Keelboat League in the RS 21's, we're looking to expand the opportunities available to clubs and are looking for venues keen to trial the idea of club based boats available for hire explains RYA Keelboat Development Manager Jack Fenwick.

The basic principle is that we want forward thinking clubs who are open to the idea, to be able to road test the play and pay concept for around three weeks so we can gain feedback from volunteers and members and see how it works at their venue.

Tell me more

RS will cover the cost of delivering (and collecting) up to six matched RS 21's to the club. Charges will only be made when the boats are used for club activities at the cost of £75 a boat per day.

Bidding is only open until the end of August so clubs wishing to be involved should complete the online form ASAP, guidance on venue requirements are in the guideline document

Jack continues: Clubs are encouraged to come up with as many ideas as possible for how the boats could be used on their site and while we have listed some suggestions in the bid guidelines these should not be viewed as limiting, in fact we are keen to see what other opportunities clubs can think of.

British Keelboat League Events

There are a number of racing events that can be bid for within the British Keelboat League(guideline document) but there is no requirement to bid for these.

If you think you will have enough racing and training opportunities at your club then please get your bid in.

The boats will be awarded to the clubs who RS and the RYA feel have worked out a comprehensive plan of activities that would be sustainable over an extended period of time but that need this opportunity to "road test" the ideas.

Interested clubs can bid using the online forms and guidance on what infrastructure and facilities is suggested are available in the associated documents.

Any questions can be emailed to keelboatracing@rya.org.uk