RDO Blog - November 2021
The first part of our 2021 RYA Affiliated Clubs Conference took place online on Monday 8 November and it was great to see so many of you logging on.
We are now looking forward to our own event for the region, which takes place at Catterick Race Course on Saturday 4 December and will enable us to meet up again in person.
Workshops will explore club development planning, volunteering, facilities, membership and legal, and there will also be lots of time to catch up with friends and colleagues from other clubs.
While the conference does have a set programme, it is also an opportunity for clubs to choose the content most relevant for them and ask questions. Clubs will be able to meet RYA staff and pick the brains of our experts, making it an ideal one-stop shop to discuss any issues and find the right support and information for your club.
The conference is ideal for anyone involved in managing your club and its activities, including committee members, flag officers, staff and volunteers. Catterick Racecourse is just off the A1, parking is free and lunch included! Book your free ticket here.
Facilities Survey
Results from the RYA Affiliated Clubs Facilities Survey, which was carried out earlier in the year, show that 30% of those who responded in the region have identified ‘ability to renew lease/license’ as the number one threat to the continued use of their facilities.
It highlights how important it is for clubs to work together and share their experiences. For example, one club’s success in negotiating a lease might help to inform the efforts of another club in the region, which may have the same or a similar landlord.
The Affiliated Clubs Conference will be an ideal opportunity for clubs to network and meet RYA Legal Manager Mandy Peters, who will be in attendance. The RYA has lots of expertise available to support your club, and as ever you are welcome to contact me as your first port of call for signposting.
Courses galore!
It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm for a number of Race Officials courses running for the North this month, including Race Officer, Mark Laying and an Umpiring course. All of them have booked up and due to their popularity we’ll be looking to organise some more so watch this space!
The Instructor & Race Coach Training Day for the region will be on 12 March 2021, venue to be confirmed, but please add the date to your calendar to keep it free in the meantime as it will be a great opportunity for instructors to upskill and get set for the new season with all the latest updates.
In the meantime, for existing Level 2 Race Coaches who want to further develop their knowledge and skills, we have a Race Coach Level 3 course running over two weekends at North Yorkshire Water Park, starting 27-28 November. Find out more and book for this course here.
We’re also in the process of finalising 48 courses and skills development sessions for the RYA North East region as part of our winter training programme for instructors, coaches and clubs.
Opportunities will include instructor revalidation days, First Aid, powerboat and safety boat certificates, windsurf and dinghy instructor courses, and 'discover instructing' taster days. The first of these will become bookable within the coming month so please do look out for announcements @RYANorthEast on Facebook and/or Twitter and via our RYA NE Instructors and Coaches group.
Club of the Year!
Congratulations to Teesdale Sailing & Watersports Club on becoming our regional finalist for this year’s RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Award.
This little club has big ambitions and has developed both its facilities and membership to become a vibrant hub for its community, with a growing youth and junior section and a diverse and impressive range of on-the-water activity. Please do find out more and support our 2022 regional finalist by casting your vote here to support Teesdale SWC in its bid for the title.
All 10 finalists from around the country will be heading to the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show over the weekend of 26-27 February 2022, when the overall winner will be announced. Also heading to the show will be Filey Sailing Club, which has worked hard to grow family membership and host events like the RS Tera Nationals in 2021, and after narrowly missing out on this year’s shortlist will be receiving a Certificate of Commendation from the Awards Panel.
Join our friendly regional team!
If you're passionate about boating and would like to make a difference, RYA North East is recruiting for its Regional Volunteer Team, which provides an important point of contact between the grassroots of the sport and the RYA.
Roles within the team provide an opportunity for members to apply their skills to support clubs and centres, while gaining valuable professional, leadership and governance experience.
We are looking for people with the following skill sets to volunteer approximately 4 hours a month:
- Event management
- PR & Comms
- Digital
- Legal
The positions are voluntary with travel expenses provided to attend meetings and relevant events. Find out more here, download a candidate pack and apply!
And finally…
Myself and our RYA Sailing Development Officers for the region – Micky Early for the North East and Paul Adams for Yorkshire - are looking to meet with clubs through the winter months to identify what support we may be able to offer as regards any short, mid or long term development plans. If you you would like to talk through any issues or ideas with us, please do get in touch.
Until next time,
Sam.