August 2021
Olympic Success!
Where else could we start this month’s blog other than to look back at what was an amazing Olympic Games in Tokyo, and especially so for Hannah Mills on becoming the most successful female sailor in history!
The racing was a tense affair throughout, but the British Team of Hannah Mills and Eilidh McIntyre were very consistent and held the Gold Medal position going in to the final medal race where they did enough to claim the gold, despite a late protest by the French team!
Team GB and Hannah’s success will hopefully continue to raise the profile of sailing across Wales, and it’s important that our clubs capitalise on this success to get more people to discover sailing! Every Olympic cycle there is a huge increase in the number of people looking at the Start Boating section of the RYA website, so maybe this is the time to run a Discover Sailing event to gain some new members? Find out more here
Club of the Year nominations
It’s that time of year once again where we’re looking for RYA Club of the Year nominations, and following on from Port Dinorwic Sailing Club / Clwb Hwylio y Felinheli’s success last year, let’s go for another Welsh winner?!
Nominations are open NOW, so click on the link below and complete the simple online form, but remember that nominations close on September 20th, so you have a little over 4 weeks to complete it – good luck:
RYA Youth Awards
Do you know a young sailor who makes a different to boating?
As well as the RYA Club of the Year, nominations are also now open for the RYA Youth Awards. These awards celebrate the achievements of young people in the sport whether it’s performance, volunteering, instructing, coaching, or overcoming adversity.
The awards are a fantastic opportunity for clubs and class associations, as well as individuals, to reward those who are making an impact in boating.
Nominations can be made by clubs, class associations, coaches and individuals and will close on 01 November. Those nominated must have been under 19 years of age on 31 August 2021 (or under 19 on 31 December in exceptional circumstances).
Each winner will receive £150 to spend at Musto and will be invited to take part in a once in a lifetime sailing experience with the British Sailing Team. Along with their families, winners will also be invited to the RYA Dinghy Show for the official awards presentation in February 2022 (if possible restrictions allow).
For more information, please click here
John Merricks Sailing Trust
The John Merricks Sailing Trust award scheme is also open now!!
As the Official Charity Partner of OnBoard, the JMST will donate at least 10 single-handed junior pathway boats and boards (Optimist, Topper, Laser 4.7, RS Tera, and Bic Techno 293OD) to deserving young sailors every year, providing them with the opportunity to progress their skills and continue to participate in the sport.
The boats will be gifted to promising youngsters who display enthusiasm and commitment to the sport and who may not ordinarily have the opportunity or financial backing to achieve their goals.
Further information can be found here:
Welsh Regional Junior Championship
The Welsh Regional Junior Championships will take place at Plas Heli on 25-26th September. Entry for the Championships should be open very soon, but in the meantime, take a look here for more information:
Affiliated Clubs ConferenceFollowing the success of the RYA’s first ever virtual Affiliated Clubs Conference in 2020, this year’s will be a hybrid of a National Conference online followed by a Wales specific event in the follow weeks!
The first part of the conference will take place on the evening of the 8th ofNovember and the regional events will take place on the dates highlighted here
OnBoard Windsurfing Conference
Here’s another date for your diary, the OnBoard Windsurfing Conference which is happening on 6thOctober 2021 – 6.30pm to 8.30pm (online)
Further details can be obtained by emailing Hannah, the OnBoard OperationsOfficer at Hannah.cockle@rya.org.uk
Professor Bill Lucas is a confirmed speaker for what should be a fantastic event.
Welsh National Squad Selection
The new Welsh NationalSquadSelectionPolicy for 2021-2022 is available for all to take a look at by following the links below, with Squadapplications likely to be open in early September.
Youth https://www.rya.org.uk/gbni/rya-cymru-wales/racing/welsh-youth-squads
Juniorhttps://www.rya.org.uk/gbni/rya-cymru-wales/racing/welsh-junior-squads
That’s it from us this month – see you in September!
The RYA Cymru Wales Development Team.