Susie Scoop August 2022
Hi everyone,
Well, we really are in the thick of the season, with lots of activity taking place in this glorious weather. We are extremely lucky here in the South to have so many fantastic sailing events and it’s really great to see our sport in action.
For big boats, we’ve just had Cowes Week 2022 of course. Taking part in Cowes Week is definitely one of my highlights this year, and I don’t think I was alone - everyone seemed to be having a really good time.
It was also fantastic that the Solent Platinum Jubilee Celebration took place. I know that the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Isle of Wight clubs were especially pleased that HRH The Princess Royal and Sir Tim Laurence were able to take the salute at the motor past from the guardship HMS Severn.
Of course, it’s been no less busy for the smaller dinghies. 1000 RS boats descended over at WPNSA throughout July and August for what some people argue is the dinghy event of the year, the 2022 RS Games. Hard to argue with this when over 1500 sailors competed in several Championships - a fantastic achievement.
Whilst our Youth and Junior sailors have kept Duncan West, the South and SW Regional Performance Manager, extremely busy. Including attending events such as the Cadet Euros and SailGP down in Plymouth. It was great to hear that two of our young sailors, Sam Dickinson from HISC and Jessica Perkins from SBSC took to the water in WASZP’s as part of the weekend’s racing.
Duncan and I are also busy planning next year’s Regional Junior Championships. Don’t forget that we have a change of location next year as the dinghies will be heading to Oxford Sailing Club on Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th June 2023. A joint South and SW event for windsurfers will take place on 10th -11th June. The venue will be announced soon.
Regional Training Groups deadline closing in
Can I please ask you to remind those with youngsters at your club who are looking to take part in the BYS Regional Training Groups (RTGs) – that the closing date for applications is coming up on the 11th September.
Regional pathway activity is for Topper, Optimist, RS Feva, ILCA 4 and Bic Techno sailors and the South Class reps for our BYS Recognised Classes are:
Topper | Roger Cerrato, ITCA Southern Area Rep | arearep.southern@itca-gbr.co.uk
Optimist | Piers Shepherd | piers@48abbeygardens.co.uk
RS Feva Southern | Dawn Ripley | southern@rsfeva.org.uk
ILCA (all classes 4, 6 & 7) | Tim Hulse | training@laser.org.uk
Bic Techno | Admin | admin@techno293.org.uk
RS Tera | Dylan Collingbourne | Dylan.Collingbourne@gmail.com
Please do contact your respective regional rep for information about Regional Open Training and racing events or visit the classes websites.
RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Award – closes 29 August!
Did you realise that anybody can make a nomination this year? All it involves is completing a super quick online form and those nominated clubs will then be invited to make an application. More information - please do share within your club.
RYA Club Membership Censes
We are now in the last few weeks of the census returns, and so far this has gone really well in our region. Clubs seem to have submitted data quite easily this year. I know that in quite a few clubs, several people have rallied together to pull all the data together. A big heart felt thank you to everyone who has helped with this.
Affiliated Clubs Conference
This year’s conference will focus on shaping your offering to your members. The morning session will be really useful in helping you design some pen profiles of typical club members. During the afternoon’s session we will then be able to discuss in more detail what your club can do to adapt sessions to meet their needs. I think our clubs will really find these sessions of benefit.
There will also be really insightful legal and inclusion workshops, with all the latest info your club needs, and the South AGM will also take place during the Conference.
Together Fund extended
As highlighted in previous blogs, the RYA has a further £195,000 to be awarded through The Together fund and we are still inviting Together Fund applications. But please do bear in mind when applying, that all projects need to be delivered by the end of March 2023.
Find out if your club is eligible
RYA Regional Race Officer Course
A Regional Race Officer Course will take place at RYA House in Hamble on Saturday 15 – Sunday 16 October. The course is the first step to gaining the RYA Regional Race officer qualification, and the instructors are two very experienced Race Officers at various Olympic games.
Prior experience in race officiating is an advantage, but it is not compulsory as the courses will teach you all you need to know in order to officiate at club events.
British Sign Language interpreted RYA Dinghy Instructor course
Do you know a deaf person who would like to become a Dinghy Instructor? Andrew Simpson Centre in Reading is running a DI course which will be interpreted by British Sign Language interpreters.
The course will take place on 31st August – 4th September at ASC Reading, (Burghfield Sailing Club) and will cost £399. Book your place or email Kat Banks, Centre Manager at ASC Reading.
Some more info the course: Candidates will come away with an Authority to Instruct which allows them to instruct the RYA National/Youth Sailing Scheme, sign logbooks & certificates etc. but will have a statement of support attached. This will be unique to each individual depending on their needs, but could detail (for example) the need to have a hearing person to relay messages from base when instructing from a powerboat rather than in a dinghy. It will also be evolving so that as and when they move centres, that can be added to their ATI. It will also mean they are employable as a DI and therefore will be able to use Access to Work to help with interpreters.
Until next time,
Susie