October 2022

I have been to three clubs in the last week, and found all of them celebrating the successes of the season. I know this is happening at many other clubs around the region too. At Poole Yacht Club I was reminded how many volunteers are involved in running such a big club, at Axe Yacht Club I was really pleased to see so many stakeholders engaged (including the Harbour Authority, local council, canoe club, SUP business, the Mayor and the RNLI) and at Cargreen Yacht Club I was privileged to join the cadets’ end-of-season get-together. It was fantastic to see the cadets having such a great time and the parents enjoying the social elements of being part of such an active, social, family club.

Time to Talk sessions

During September I ran three successful Time to Talk sessions for clubs of all different sizes and I’ll shortly be running similar sessions for centres. Common points of interest so far have included funding, volunteering and retaining members and I’m glad to say all these are subjects we’ll be covering in the workshops at this year’s Affiliated Clubs Conference. 

Affiliated Clubs Conference 2022

Anyone can attend the information-packed SW Affiliated Clubs Conference. It is a great chance to include new or potential new committee members at your club, giving them the opportunity to meet other clubs and RYA staff as well as benefiting from the workshops.

It’s at Queens College, Taunton, TA1 4QS on 05 November and workshops include:

• How to secure funding for your club
• How to motivate your volunteers
• The RYA’s Club Management Compliance Toolkit
• Satisfying the needs and motivations of club members
• How to increase yacht racing

Book today

Senior Instructor courses

SI courses have now been planned for the winter and into next year. There are two regional courses with a 30% subsidy for club volunteers and lots of other opportunities around the region.  

12,13,19,20 November 2022 Horizons Plymouth	RYA Subsidised course Subsidised course fee for Club volunteers. If you volunteer at a sailing club in the South West use code SW30 to get 30% off course fee. (Proof will be required from centre principal)	https://www.rya.org.uk/training/teaching/regional/south-west-instructor-and-race-coach-courses-and-cpd
25, 26 March 1, 2 April Cotswold Water Park	RYA Subsidised course Subsidised course fee for Club volunteers If you volunteer at a sailing club in the South West use code SW30 to get 30% off course fee. (Proof will be required from centre principal)	https://www.rya.org.uk/training/teaching/regional/south-west-instructor-and-race-coach-courses-and-cpd

Regional Race Officer course

There is an opportunity coming up to extend Race Officers’ knowledge, and give them additional confidence when running racing. A Regional Race Officer course will take place at Chew Valley Lake Sailing Club on Saturday/Sunday 12/13 November 2022 and you can book at http://rya.org/RnXQ50L3Xig

Junior racing news from Regional Performance Manager, Duncan West

The British Youth Sailing (BYS) Regional Training Groups (RTG) winter training will be starting over October half-term in the Topper, Optimist, ILCA 4, RS Feva and Bic Techno windsurfer classes. 

They will involve over 70 sailors from 17 SW clubs:

• Parkstone Yacht Club
• Plym Yacht Club
• St Mawes Sailing Club
• Exe Sailing Club
• Lyme Regis Sailing Club 
• Castle Cove Sailing Club
• Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy
• Starcross Yacht Club
• Saltash Sailing Club
• Poole Yacht Club
• Paignton Sailing Club
• Brixham Yacht Club
• Bristol Corinthian Yacht Club
• Roadford Lake
• Plymouth Youth Sailing
• Andrew Simpson Centre Portland
• Restronguet Sailing Club

Full list of sailors 
More information on the BYS RTGs  

RDO Rob Howlett  
07876 330374
rob.howlett@rya.org.uk