London and South East blog September 2019
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Regional development officer Steve Mitchell writes:
Thank you to all the clubs that have participated in this year’s RYA Membership Census. This is incredibly valuable for RYA Sport Development and the L&SE regional team as we continue to grow our understanding of boating in each region and more broadly throughout the UK. The results by region will be played back alongside analysis at our Affiliates Club Conference on 24 November and via newsletters, with individual club analysis shared to clubs shortly after. Last year’s results can be found here
I've had many conversations with club members who are in full summer sailing mode and a topic that stands out is the ever greater need for good communication; either internal club communications to its members or the smaller sub groups that pop up to organise activities such as the summer BBQ or club cruise.
A growing number of clubs are spending a great deal more time on their social media to support existing members who prefer to either ‘listen in’ or engage via these type of platforms while providing a great shop window for potential members looking in with interest and probably thinking, how can I get involved? WhatsApp is a popular choice for working in small groups but it has limitations if the group is too large and members make too many comments! If you are one of these clubs, have you tried other Apps? I’ve started using TeamApp which so far is working really well – let me know if you have a preference.
Many more clubs are offering a summer youth/family activity in the form of either a few days or a full week which is a growing trend. The level of commitment by club volunteers necessary for this does come with its challenges but embracing a new approach towards engaging new junior sailor parents, many of whom (in most cases) are non-sailors, has had an incredible impact on making such activities extremely successful, making new folk feel welcome and driving a fresh new level of enthusiasm, which is a delight to see. If you are thinking about developing your junior section make sure you join us at our Affiliates Club Conference later in the year.
Have you signed up yet for Bart’s Bash – the World’s largest sailing race with hundreds of venues and thousands of sailors? 14-15 September.
London & South East Region Junior Championships
There’s still time to enter this great end of season event on 28-29 September at Datchet Water SC. A festival for all junior sailors from those learning to sail in club boats through to squad sailors. Championship Fleet, Coached Regatta Fleet and OnBoard Fun Fleet. Find out more and enter
Photo - Olympic sailor Amy Seabright (in white) at a previous Regional Junior Championship
Club of the Year 2020
Application are invited for RYA Club of the Year 2020. Nominations close 21 September. Find out more and enter
Dates for the diary:
28 – 29 September 2019 LSE British Youth Sailing Regional Junior Championships at Datchet Water SC.
Sunday 24 November 2019 LSE Affiliate Club Conference at New Line Learning Academy, Ashford, Kent.
Sunday 12 January 2020 LSE Cruising Conference.
From the Chair
RYA regional team chair Helen Hofmann writes:
As summer turns towards autumn, we look forward to seeing many young people at the Regional Junior Championships at the end of September.
The next RYA regional committee meeting with AGM will be held at the Welsh Harp SC in London on Thursday 17th October. This year, Commodores/Chairs of RYA affiliated clubs/organisations are welcome to attend the AGM which will take place between 1-2pm; those wishing to attend should let Jane Mills the regional secretary know asap and by 3rd October latest. Affiliates wishing to raise any particular items for the AGM should contact their RYA regional committee area rep in the first instance so that they can then notify Jane by 19th September, but there will also be opportunity to raise queries under AOB on the day of the AGM.
The RYA London and SE region operates on a "federal" system with area reps helping to "look after" clubs in their area. The aim has been to create stronger representation in all areas, and we hope that affiliates will continue to get to know who their RYA area rep is, and turn to them as a helpful RYA resource throughout the year.
We also look forward to seeing many at the regional Affiliated Club Conference in Maidstone on Sunday 24th November as well as the RYA winter workshops in 2020.
August headlines
All OnBoard for Crawley Mariners Junior Helms Week
Entries open for 2019 John Merricks Sailing Trust awards
Association of Thames Yacht Clubs (ATYC)
Here’s the August newsletter from ATYC.
What’s on
See what’s on in our region and have your event listed.
Regional fleets
We have a regional fleet of Oppies, Teras and Fevas available to support your youth training, racing, and club cadet regattas. Find out more
We hope to see you on the water soon.