Susie's Scoop February 2024
Hello,
It’s been a busy few weeks for the team, out and about in our region and meeting lots of clubs. I was recently at a combined Sailability event with the London and South East region, which took place in Basingstoke and with four clubs from our region attending.
Whilst Polly Schafer, Sailing Development Officer and Leon Ward, Regional Developer, recently facilitated the OnBoard Development Day at Chichester Yacht Club. I was sorry I couldn’t be there but I know that everyone found the day to be very beneficial, and particularly enjoyed the morning networking session which helped make a relaxed and enjoyable day.
We also have an upcoming Powerboat CDP weekend, where eleven participants will be put through their paces during the weekend. If you know anyone looking to further their training then please do get in touch so we can discuss how best to take this forward.
I am currently busy working on our regional plans, looking at what our region needs are, and how best I can support you so that we can move forward together.
South Regional Training Day - Registration now open!
The South Regional Training Day is on Saturday 16 March at Thorney Island Sailing Club. The Day encompasses the RYA Together on Water ethos, which means that sessions are designed to inspire those involved in delivering RYA programmes, including our training schemes OnBoard and Sailability. Bookings open soon. Find out more here.
RYA Connected forums
The February forums are well underway now. They all have the same focus of Understanding and growing your membership.
The remaining February forums are:
Wednesday 21st Lymington Town Sailing Club. Book here.
Thursday 22nd West Oxfordshire Sailing Club. Book here.
Wednesday 28th Bosham Sailing Club. Book here.
Thursday 29th Gurnard Sailing Club. Book here.
Whilst the MARCH forums will delve into Volunteering, and we will look at how you can recruit and motivate your membership to be more engaged in volunteering. Promoting the benefits of volunteering for volunteers. The Forums will specifically look into: Promoting the benefits of volunteering for volunteers, Recruiting and co-ordinating volunteers, and Promoting the difference volunteers can make.
The March forums are:
Thursday 7th Oxford Sailing Club Book here.
Wednesday 20th Royal Lymington Yacht Club Book here.
Thursday 21st Haversham Sailing Club Book here.
Wednesday 27th Porchester Sailing Club Book here.
Thursday 28th Royal Victoria Yacht Club IoW Book here.
RYA Connected Calls
An online RYA Connected BYS Call on Regional Junior Championships will take place with Duncan West, Regional Performance Manager, on 27th February, from 7:00pm – 7:30pm. This is a really good opportunity to find out what this event is all about and which sailors it is aimed at – I highly recommend coming along. You can register here. And remember, it’s completely free.
RYA Connect with Coaching webinars
Just one RYA Connect with Coaching webinar remains. It will look into creative activity design and is on 12 March. More info can be found here.
Senior Instructor course
The first of our Senior Instructor courses will be taking place soon, over the weekends of 9/10 & 23/24 March. So do please let all your dinghy instructor know, and encourage them to look into advancing their skills. It will take place at Warsash Sailing Club. Book and more info here.
A second course is taking place over the weekends of 20/21 and 27/28 April. The first weekend will be at Great Moor Sailing Club whilst the second is at Emberton Park Sailing Club. Booking details on social media soon.
RYA Club of the Year
Congratulations to our two South region RYA Club of the Year finalists!
JOG (Junior Offshore Group) has been shortlisted as a Young Person Club of the Year finalist. Generation JOG (GenJOG) supports under-30s in yacht racing, offering sailing CVs, funding for training, kit/equipment partnerships, free membership for under-25s, and connections with sailing ambassadors. Fantastic initiatives which have helped defy recent challenges with a 39% increase in its membership.
And Royal Lymington Yacht Club is shortlisted in the Community Club of the Year category, well deserved recognition for ‘Wednesday Junior Sailing, the club’s community-based program which offers affordable sailing opportunities for local young people and children. The club engages with an impressive 700 junior sailors annually, whilst developing youth sailing and partnerships with schools and outreach programs for disadvantaged children.
The winners of each category and overall winner will be announced on Saturday 24 February at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show, read more here.
Talking of which, of course we are lucky that the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show takes place in our region at Farnborough. Do let me know if you will be coming along, will be great to catch up. Duncan West and Leon Ward, along with a host of other experts and RYA staff will also be there. Buy your tickets here.
And finally….
With February half term fast approaching, please note that there may be some delay to our communications during this period from the South team.
Until next time,
Susie