July 2022 Club Development Blog
Here we are once again with the latest instalment from Wales
Back on the water!
It’s been absolutely amazing over the past few weeks to see all that’s been going on all around Wales. There have been (and continue to be) several regattas around the area, we’ve had lots and lots of Aspiring Instructor Training, Discover Sailing events, lots of racing in several categories, and several windsurfing and paddleboarding sessions! We’ve also had the Welsh Topper Championships over at Llandegfedd Sailing Club!
We’re very lucky here in Wales to have now recruited our very first WingSurfing trainer – Sarah Bagley! We’ll have more on that very soon!
Club of the Year 2023
Nominations are NOW OPEN for the RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Awards supported by Gallagher.
This year nominations have been simplified so that individuals can enter either their own or another club, simply by submitting a few words explaining why a particular venue deserves to be recognised.
Nominations closing date is Monday 29th August. Let's try get a win for #Wales once again in 2023!!
Find out more about Club of the Year
Lou and Elin become the youngest team to complete the Royal Western Yacht Club Round Britain and Ireland race
These last few weeks have seen an absolutely amazing achievement by two young Welsh Sailors, Lou Boorman and Elin Jones!
These two young women have made history by becoming the youngest team to complete the Royal Western Yacht Club Round Britain and Ireland race – one of the hardest sailing races in Northern Europe. Lou Boorman from Pembrokeshire and Elin Jones from Wrexham spent a gruelling 22 days and more than 2000 nautical miles at sea aboard White Knight, a Contessa-32.
At age 20, Lou has also become the youngest skipper in the race’s 56-year history, whilst 19-year-old Elin is the youngest ever female competitor – fantastic!
Win a visit from the SailGP Great Britain Team!
On July 30-31, the sport's best athletes return to British waters. How will your club get involved?
Back for the second time, the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix takes place in Plymouth and sees Canada and Switzerland join defending SailGP Season 2 Champions, Tom Slingsby's Australia, home team favourites Sir Ben Ainslie's Great Britain Team, plus Denmark, France, Spain, New Zealand, and the United States.
Tickets are available now, with RYA members able to access a 15% discount by using the code RYA15 But if you can't make it to Plymouth the RYA has teamed up with SailGP to offer one club a special prize!
We are encouraging clubs to get together and organise a watch party.
Get the bunting up, dress your club in your favourite team colours, turn the TV on and watch the adrenaline-fuelled racing with your mates, live or on catch-up after your club racing.
Share your pictures with us using #SailGP and #RYA on Facebook and the best watch party photo from the weekend will win an exclusive club visit from a member of the Great Britain SailGP Team. Second and third placed clubs will win a piece of signed merchandise plus five pairs of tickets to next year's event in Plymouth in 2023.
Racing takes place from 2 - 3.30 pm on July 30 and 31. Watch it in the UK live or on catch-up after your club racing on Sky Sports and YouTube.
Club Membership Census
The information clubs provide helps us to monitor progress and shape our bids for further resourcing - which allows us to both continue to support clubs and promote boating activities to a wider audience.
The 2022 census has been open since the beginning of June, and it needs to be completed by August 14th! 26% of you have completed it so far. Please complete the census if you haven’t done so already.
Summer Cruising!
As the holiday season approaches, some of you may be going abroad for your holidays and doing some cruising in warmer climes!
Read the latest Cruising abroad guidance
Welsh National Squad Selection
We welcome you to read the updated Welsh National Squad Selection Policy for 2022-2023.
That’s it from us this month – see you in August!
The RYA Cymru Wales Development Team.