RDO BLOG - JULY 2019

It’s not long now until the British Youth Sailing Regional Junior Championships, which for the North will take place this year at Derwent Reservoir SC over the weekend of 28-29 September 2019.

All the details can be found here and entries are now open so please do share the details with junior and OnBoard sailors and their parents at your club. It’s a fantastic event for all abilities and following the huge success of last year’s inaugural event at Ullswater, we will again have three fleets.

There’ll be an OnBoard Fun Fleet to help junior sailors develop their skills and a Regatta Fleet for those still relatively new to racing who want to compete. The more experienced racing sailors meanwhile will have a Championship fleet, with a chance to be selected for an RYA Zone Squad.

RYA Zone Squad applications will open around the same time and I’d urge any up and coming junior sailors and windsurfers to try for selection. These regional squads provide access to top quality coaching and the sailors in them love the camaraderie that comes from training with like-minded kids. It’s also a great way to keep them sailing, racing and having fun through the coldest months of the year!

A big thank you to Topper sailor Tom Bates from Ripon SC, who’s shared his experience of being in the RYA North Zone Squad for the class in 2018-19. His account gives a fabulous insight into what’s involved and why he would recommend it! You can read Tom’s story here. 

Do you know an aspiring junior sailor who needs a boat?

The John Merricks Sailing Trust will again be making awards to promising young sailors, giving them access to a single-handed junior pathway boat or board (Optimist, Topper, Laser 4.7, RS Tera and Bic Techno 293OD) for two years, after which time it will go to their club to help other junior sailors.

The boats and boards are gifted to promising youngsters who display enthusiasm, drive, talent and commitment to the sport and who may not ordinarily have the opportunity or financial backing to achieve their goals.To be considered, junior sailors need to attend the BYS Regional Junior Championships and the full selection criteria and entry details can be found on the RYA John Merricks Sailing Trust page.

This JMST competition is now OPEN! Applications close the day after the Junior Champs at the end of September and there will be at least one winner in each English region so please share the details with your junior sailors - having access to a John Merricks boat for two years could be just what they need to further their sailing!

You’re our hero James!

A huge well done to our very own James Catterall from Derwent Reservoir SC, who was a runner-up in this year’s Panerai Challenger Trophy for OnBoard sailors and clubs, which recognises outstanding young people aged 8-18 who have embraced the power of sailing or windsurfing to overcome personal challenges.

James went to London as one of four finalists and as a runner-up has won £2,500 to progress his own sailing and £5,000 for his club to further enhance the fantastic opportunities it provides for young sailors. His inspirational story can be found here and this hugely worthwhile competition is set to come around for a third year in 2020, so if you’re an OnBoard club or centre, this is definitely one to look out for when entries open again.

Does your club need more Senior Instructors?

There is some funding for development work with clubs so if you have RYA Dinghy Instructors who would like to become Senior Instructors, please get in touch. We can provide a coach who is able to give targeted support for DIs at your club, enabling them to gain the confidence and skills necessary for them to take an RYA Senior Instructor course.

Webinar - Sport England governance codeT

There is an RYA webinar coming up soon looking at Sport England’s new Code for Sport Governance. The Code applies to all organisations within the UK to whom Sport England provides grant funding, and the principles set out in the Code are generally accepted as being the foundations of good practice in corporate governance.

Clubs that are considering applying for Sport England funding should ensure they are aware of the Code and able to comply with the conditions appropriate to the level of funding being sought. The webinar will be on two dates - 18 July and 23 July - so look out for the details, it's a must for clubs looking to apply for Sport England funding in the coming year.

Courses for instructors

There are a variety of courses for instructors coming up in the region, including just a few places left now on the First Flight taster days for dinghy sailing and windsurfing at Filey SC over the weekend of 13-14 July. If you’re an instructor looking to add a new skill set to your ticket then please do take a look at the details before these courses sell out.

There is also an RYA Dinghy Senior Instructor Course over the weekends of 21-22 & 28-29 September at Tees & Hartlepool YC and RYA Advanced Powerboat Instructor Course running 15-16 November at  Royal Quays Marina, Albert Edward Dock, North Shields.

Reminder – RYA Affiliated Club Membership Census!

A quarter of clubs in the region have so far submitted their return for the 2019 RYA Affiliated Club Membership Census, so a big thank you to all of you!For those who haven’t yet submitted a return, there is still time. The census remains open until mid-August and I’d urge any clubs which haven’t yet sent in their data to do so.

The information is important as it helps the RYA to tailor its support for clubs. It also enables individual clubs to identify membership trends and churn, with each participating club receiving its own individual report.An email has gone out to every club, so please check it has been received and who is filling it in. The 2019 Affiliated Club Membership Census form can also be accessed here. 

And finally...

Just a quick reminder to clubs that haven’t been in contact with their nominated inspector for continuing RYA accreditation to please arrange a date. If you would like any help with this please do contact me and I’d be happy to help.Whatever you are doing this July, have fun on the water and enjoy the sunshine!

Happy Sailing,

Sam.