February 2022
Things are getting very busy! We still have lots of instructor training and club development workshops online, and now we’re starting inspections and planning on-water skills development and instructor CPD sessions too.
Instructor training opportunities
There are still some places available on the low-cost instructor development sessions planned for March and April so please encourage your staff and/or volunteers to book themselves a refresher before the season starts.
It’s worth remembering that a question about your club’s staff CPD records comes up on the inspection report form, so if you have people attending these sessions, don’t forget to log it.
We are aware that nationally there are staff shortages in clubs – DIs, SIs and Windsurfing Instructors are all wanted urgently because demand for training amongst new club members is high. You are welcome to post your vacancies to the recruitment page on the RYA website.
SI course in March
There’s an RYA Senior Instructor Course taking place at Mylor Sailing School from Thurs 26 - Sun 29 March 2022. Contact info@mylorsailingschool.co.uk or call 01326 377633
Delivering training
I have spoken to several clubs recently about the way they’re having to alter the way the deliver training, given the very high demand. If you would like me or one of the team to come to your club to discuss the potential for volunteer training, we’re here to help. Please do get in touch.
Welfare Officer team sessions
The RYA Safeguarding Team would like to invite you to join them for an online ‘meet the team’ and Q&A session on 11 March at 6.30pm. They will be available to answer any questions you may have and to give you an update on plans for 2022.
Please note that they will be able to answer any generic safeguarding questions within this forum, but any specific safeguarding concerns of a confidential nature should be discussed with the team outside of this meeting.
If you would like to submit any questions prior to the meeting, you can do this through the safeguarding inbox.
Inspector update
We’re coming into inspection season, so if you represent a club, you can expect to get an email during March telling you who your inspector is.
If you are an inspector, look out for your invitation to an update on 9 March.
RYA Club Race Management Course
Are you a club member wanting to learn about running club racing or keen to refresh your skills? The new free online RYA Club Race Management course is ideal for those who are new to helping out with racing duties or who want to develop their confidence.
Congratulations Mylor Sailing School
Many congratulations to Tracey Boyne and Mylor Sailing School who have won two golds at the Cornwall Tourism Awards, for Access and Inclusivity and Learning Experience of the Year.
I’d like to thank them for all their hard work and wish them luck in the Regional and National Tourism Awards.
Race Coach Level 3 course
If you know any Level 2 Race Coaches who have done two years and feel ready for Level 3, there’s a course coming up at Roadford Lake over the weekends of 21/22 May and 23/24 July. It costs £300 including accommodation and food and the applications deadline is 1 March 2022.
Dinghy Show
Have you booked your tickets to the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show yet? It’s much closer to us this year, at Farnborough International Exhibition Centre, full of exciting speakers and expanding to also showcase windsurfing, wingsurfing and foiling, paddleboarding and more!
Duncan West, Leon Ward and I will all be there, so please come and have a chat – we’d love to see you.
Junior racing news from Regional Performance Manager, Duncan West
The Youth National Championships, which promises to be the biggest and best youth sailing event of 2022, is heading to Plas Heli, Pwllheli in Wales this year. Booking is now open.
The Eric Twiname Championships entries will open shortly, so invitations will be going out very soon.
RDO Rob Howlett
07876 330374
rob.howlett@rya.org.uk