March 2022
March – Ads Chat
The weather is finally warming up and the days are lengthening so on-the-water activities are starting to ramp up around the region; for me March saw the return to Mirror sailing for myself and my daughter and can’t wait for evening club activity to resume in the coming weeks.
It’s been good to see things happening while I have been out and about in the region and via social media at clubs and centres, even on the murky and challenging days, as people start to look forward to the coming season.
Lots of you made the trip down to Farnborough International for the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show, I couldn’t be at the event this year however I look forward to going in 2023. The big news from the show was Budworth Sailing Club got crowned ‘RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2022’ after winning the public vote. A massive well done from me for a very well-deserved victory! Also, a big congratulations to Airnside Sailing Club on their award for being the ‘Heart of the Community’. It is fantastic to see two NW clubs getting awards on the national stage.
Instructor Training & Development opportunities for your team
For volunteers, instructors and staff at clubs and centres across the North West, we have a full programme of training opportunities underway, with lots of RYA courses and upskilling sessions.
To give you a flavour of what’s been going on, we have just finished a Racing Instructor Endorsement which 10 instructors attended, 9 powerboaters attended our safety boat refresher day, our first Windsurfing Instructor Course of the year has concluded, our first RYA Senior Instructor Course of the year is currently underway and all six candidates for the next Powerboat Instructor Course of the year have passed their skills assessment and are looking forward to the course in early April.
Coming up in May we have a unique opportunity for instructors to complete their Keelboat Endorsement in a RS21 at Ullswater Yacht Club, we have two courses set up and booking is now live on our website.
We also have OnBoard Development Days, Advanced Instructor Endorsements and more……
More will be added as the season progresses however booking and more details can be found HERE.
Online Instructor Sessions
An ongoing series of RYA Instructor Online CPD sessions has been taking place over February and March and it’s the last chance for your instructors to sign up if they haven’t already, with one left to run before the series finishes:
- 29 March: RYA Training Scheme Updates with Amanda Van Santen, Sailing and Windsurfing Chief Instructor, and Rachel Andrews, Chief Instructor for Powerboat, Personal Watercraft and Inland Waterways. This rescheduled session will conclude the series.
Recordings and registration for all of the sessions are available HERE.
Race coaching
Race Coach Level 2 and 3 courses include a four-day Level 3 course at Leigh & Lowton SC, 9-10 April and 11-12 June and a Race Coach Level 2 Course at Yorkshire Dales SC, 28-29 May. Details and booking for these can be found via the RYA Race Coaching hub.
British Youth Sailing Regional Junior Championships - Annual festival of junior sailing is moving to summer!
The British Youth Sailing (BYS) Regional Junior Championships will be returning to the North West this year with Ullswater Yacht Club on 18th & 18th June again playing host to this fantastic event, however this year there is one big difference – this year’s events are in June.
This annual celebration of all that’s great about junior sailing traditionally takes place at the end of September but has moved to summer with the aim of making it even more fun and inclusive.
Open to junior sailors from 8 to 16 of all abilities, events will again include Championship fleets for experienced sailors, Regatta fleets with coaching support for rookie racers looking to develop their skills, and fun OnBoard fleets for those new to the sport.
The Windsurfing Championship is happening just across the border at Glossop Sailing Club on 11th June and promises to be another fantastic event with something for every level of Windsurfer.
Along with prizes for winning competitors, there will be a range of prizes for sailors exhibiting British Youth Sailing Values and Behaviours and showing a passion for the sport, plus club trophies.
Entry will open in April here: https://www.rya.org.uk/events/2022-RJC
Fundraising Opportunities
The latest opportunities include Sport England grants from the Queen's Platinum Jubilee Activity Fund, which aims to use sport and physical activity as a means of bringing a community together and tackling inequalities. There is also a match funding Return to Play: Active Together initiative from Sport England.
If your club or centre is looking to put together a grant application and would like any support or guidance please get in touch.
There is also a new partnership between the RYA and easyfundraising, a platform which enables everyday online spending by your club members and supporters to accumulate donations towards your activities. Register for this before 23:59 on 31 March 2022 and your club could also be in with a chance of winning £250!
And finally…..
The British Keelboat League is coming to the North West, on the 21st & 22nd May Ullswater Yacht Club will host the first event of the season. The #rockupandrace event is a fantastic way to get into keelboat racing and one of the region’s most iconic sailing venues. More details and entry is online at: https://www.britishkeelboatleague.co.uk/
Happy Sailing,
Adam