RDO Update October 2019
Firstly a massive well done must go to West Lancashire Yacht Club for once again running a fantastic 24 hour race, with 74 entries from across the UK this event remains as popular as ever and as always it is great to see so many NW clubs getting involved. Don’t forget to save the 19- 20 September 2020 for next year’s race!
My biggest highlight for September was running the OnBoard fleet at the British Youth Sailing Regional Junior Championships at Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club. Although held in the NE this year, it was great to have 23 kids take part in our OnBoard fleet and enjoy two days of fun games and competition over what was a very windy weekend. I am already looking forward to next year’s event which will be held at Ullswater Yacht Club on the 26- 27 September.
NW Sailors selected for Tokyo 2020
The first sailors have been selected for the 2020 Olympics and congratulations must go to Stuart Bithell from Rochdale and Chris Grube from Chester. Stuart who started sailing at Hollingworth Lake Sailing Club has been selected in the 49er class and Chris Grube from Chester who started sailing further afield at Bala Sailing Club has been selected to represent the 470 class. We wish them the best of luck in their preparations for next year’s big event! Here from them on the RYA NW Facebook page.
RYA NW Affiliated Club Conference
We have another packed agenda for this year’s RYA Affiliated Club Conference which will be held on Sunday 1 December at the Anderton Centre, Chorley. This year's conference is about 'Putting people first'. That means understanding what your members, volunteers and new sailors need, and putting that at the forefront of your decision making.
Whether you want to grow your membership, increase your volunteer base, develop your instructors and race coaches or simply get better at retaining members of all ages, interests and abilities, you will hopefully leave with the ideas and information you need to make it happen.
The conference is free to attend with lunch and plenty of tea and coffee included! Booking is essential and on a first come first serve basis so please sign up online.
NW Junior and Youth Traveller Series
So far the series has attracted a massive 125 entries which is incredible. The September event at Redesmere Sailing club had a great 46 entries and we still have two events left. The final events at Bolton SC on 12 October and Leigh and Lowton SC 26 October will decide the winners of the 2019 series. Let’s hope for some good wind conditions!
Full series details and results can be found here.
End of Season Instructor Blast – 26 October
We have lots of interest in this event at the Crosby Lakeside Adventure Centre so enter soon if you want to get involved! The blast is an afternoon of informal personal skills coaching for all RYA Dinghy and Windsurf Instructors. It is also a chance to try a range of equipment from Access Dinghies to Laser Vago’s. Windsurfers are invited to either bring their own kit or use the range of kit available from the centre, all included in the low price of £15 per person.
So if you fancy a good afternoon of sailing or windsurfing with fellow instructors from the region register your interest in advance.
Finally the final event of the North West Region Senior Travellers Trophy is on 15 October at Bolton Sailing Club This should be a great finish to the 2019 series after what was a very windy penultimate event at Elton Sailing Club. Full series results are available on this site.
Happy Sailing,
Adam McGovern