London and South East blog April 2019

 

Pleasekeep up to date with all the latest news by following us on Facebook and Twitter, and why not visitourregional website.

Push the Boat Out (PTBO)

PTBO is once again taking place throughout the whole of May to giveeveryone the chance to get afloat. Last year more than 39,000 people triedsailing and windsurfing across the country during PTBO. Thanks to all thosewho have sent in stories of how they started sailing through PTBO.

We’ll be doing some pre-event press releases and web items, so if you’dlike us to include your event (time and responses permitting) please send a fewdetails of what your club/centre is doing, a quotation from someoneinvolved, and a 1MB minimum picture of last year’s PTBO or sailing at theclub to our regional communicator.

We hope you’ll encourage family, friends and colleagues to go along totheirnearest event.

From our regional development officer Steve Mitchell:

Instructor Training Day (ITD)

This year’s ITD at Bewl Water Outdoor Centre was another successful eventproviding dinghy, power & windsurfing instructors with land based andon-water updates.

Rachel Andrews, RYA Chief Instructor for motor cruising, power &training delivered the morning training update with the L&SE RegionalCoaching Team then leading several activities to support instructordevelopment.

Feedback was positive including:“Just a quick note to say a big thank you to you and all your team foranother great day on Saturday. It certainly ticked my boxes on pickingup more knowledge and I came away inspired and determined to learn moreand pass on my knowledge to those I train.”

I’d like to thank Bewl Water Outdoor Centre for hosting the event and theircatering staff for the excellent cake that kept the delegates fuelledthroughout the day!

Thanks also go to the regional coaching team who give their time for freeto support the day and are always committed to making the day a success.


Regional dinghy foiling opportunity

Want to gain your first flight on a foiling dinghy?

Supported by the Andrew Simpson Foundation dates have now been announcedfor foiling activity:

24-25 April, continuing professional development day at Queen Mary SCBooking link to followhere.

25-26 May, continuing professional development day at Andrew SimpsonWatersport Centre, Reading, bookhere.

Discover coaching & instructing

If you were at the RYA Dinghy Show you might have seen the launch of thisexciting new approach to discovering whether or not coaching or instructing(or both) is for you. The half day or evening activity will let youexperience both coaching and instructing with guidance from a tutor.

There’s one at Whitstable YC, 09 May, 6pmBooking here.

We will share other dates and venues shortly via our social media so watchthat space.

Passing the baton - JMST boats leave OnBoard legacy at HOAC

Two young sailors from Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre are nowpassing on boatsthey were awarded through theJohn Merricks Sailing Trustto other deserving youngsters.

 

From the Chair

RYA Regional Team Chair, Helen Hofmann writes: We are aiming for everstronger RYA representation in our region. This links in with the RYA'sMember and Other Stakeholder Engagement Strategy launched at the end of2018. The region's area reps continue to aim to show RYA interest on alocal and personalized level, and we are building up a strong team to takethis forward.

Roger Belton from Felpham SC has come on board to help represent WestSussex clubs, as well as being closely linked with the West Sussex Schoolsand Youth Sailing Association. Carolyne Vines from Tamesis SC will behelping represent the sailing clubs in the West Thames sailing area withsupport from Pip Deverson (regional vice chair). We hope that all clubs andcommodores in the region will get to know their RYA area rep and a list ofthem can be found on thecontacts pageof the regional website.

Enjoy the start of the sailing season!

MP supports Active Buzz Interclub Junior Racing Series

Now in its fourth year, the Buzz vs Bay series for youngsters progressingfrom OnBoard has grown to become theBuzz Active Interclub Racing Series, and attracted support from MP Stephen Lloyd and local organisations. Thefive race series kicks off at Pevensey Bay SC on 15 June. It’s open tojunior racers of all abilities; providing you can sail around a triangularcourse no racing experience is necessary.

Photo MP Stephen Lloyd and Buzz Active's Katy Wilfort with trophies for the series presented by local organsiations.

Grant success for Brighton SC

Brighton SChas, with a little help from the RYA Regional Team, received aSport England grantfor £10,000, which will fund the purchase of new Toppers. RYA SailingDevelopment Officer, Sam Row says: “It’s great to see Brighton SC reactingto recent research both locally and nationally. The sport of sailing isseeing a growing trend away from boat ownership and moving towards a ‘payand play’ style of club membership. This allows newcomers to sailing toparticipate in a cost effective manner, rather than have large initialoutlay for a sport that they may not yet be fully committed to. Brighton SCis one of the first volunteer led club venues in the South East to offerthis style of activity and I’m confident it will allow a growing number oflocal people to participate in the sport on a regular basis.”

Youth RIB training

Fancy a change from sailing? There’s youth RIB training atDinton Activity Centre, Wokingham, on 14 April. For more information contact tanya.lee@wokingham.gov.uk.

Rules

Regional rules guru Chris Simon recently gave a talk to the East Sussex Coastal Sailing Federation about the use of advisory hearings and RYA arbitration for race events. Many of the clubs would now like to put this into practice as popularity of protest hearings has declined. Clubs need to have their own rules advisors and Chris is available to provide training. Contact Chris Simon.

Association of Thames Yacht Clubs (ATYC)

Here’s theMarch newsletterfrom ATYC

What’s on

See what’s on in our region and have your event listedhere.

Regional fleets

We have a regional fleet of Oppies, Teras and Fevas available to supportyour youth training, racing, and club cadet regattas. Find outmore.

We hope to see you on the water soon.