Welsh Clubs Chat - November 2022
RYA Cymru Wales Consultation Events – thank you!
We’d just like to take this opportunity to thank all those that attended our recent regional consultation events held across Wales. The events, hosted by RYA Cymru Wales staff, were an opportunity for you to give us your views on the challenges you are facing and how we can develop our new strategy to best support you going forward. Each event was well attended, and the feedback received at each of the 3 events at Llanfairfechan Sailing Club, Tenby Sailing Club, and Cardiff Yacht Club will be circulated to all clubs in due course – thank you again!
Save the Date – not long now!
Our RYA Affiliated Clubs Conference is COMING SOON!! Welsh Clubs Live will be happening on the 22nd of November at 7:30pm.
The overall theme for this winter's affiliated clubs conference is:
'Understand your current & future members to grow activity, membership & volunteering'
Join us for an online update on the key Welsh headlines, followed by short presentation and panel discussion on this topic.
Book Here
The regional and home country conferences are an opportunity to connect with other clubs as well as RYA staff and volunteers.
Develop!
We will also be hosting in partnership with our English and Home Country colleagues, a number of online club development workshops, led by experts week commencing the 5th December, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.Topics covered include:
- What are the needs and motivations of your club members and how can you provide an experience that’s right for them?*
- What can you do to make your volunteers experience meaningful
- How can the RYA’s new Club Management Compliance Toolkit help you manage your club? **
- How to secure the funding you need for your club? **
- How can you make your club welcoming to a wider range of member
And on the 11th of January 2023, we’ll have a session which covers:
- How can you increase yacht racing participation at your club?
*Please note this session will follow the same theme as the Welsh Clubs Live session.
**Please note: we are running specific sessions for Welsh Clubs as part of the Connect sessions in 2023
Connect
A series of in person and online workshops and discussion sessions happening around Wales in 2023. These will be further opportunity to connect with other clubs, discuss and share ideas.
New for 2023! SAVE the DATE
We are running 3 x Regional Training Days, aimed at Instructors, Coaches and on the water volunteers who are involved in the delivery of practical activities. This is a slight shift from our traditional Instructor Training days to ensure as many people as possible are catered for. A great opportunity to get together and enjoy some on the water activity
This year's theme is 'Creating a great participant experience'
| North Wales | Plas Menai, National Outdoor Centre | 4th March 2023 |
| South Wales | Cardiff Bay Yacht Club | 18th March 2023 |
| West Wales | Cardigan Bay Watersports | 22nd April 2023 |
Safety Boat Courses
We have organised two subsided RYA Safety Boat Courses at Plas Menai, National Outdoor Centre over the winter months for North Wales Affiliated Clubs & Organisations. These courses will be happening on the following dates:
- 3rd & 4th December 2023
- 11th & 12th February 2023
Minimum Standard to be eligible for the course are to be in receipt of RYA Powerboat Level 2 and an understanding of Dinghies and Windsurfers. Participants need to be minimum 16 years old, and the courses cost £40 per person.
This is an ideal course for anyone wanting to help out with Club Safety Cover and is an essential course for anyone who is teaching sailing, windsurfing, or winging.
Please note though that no food or accommodation is included, and there are only 12 places
Latest from the clubs!
There have been some great developments at some clubs over the past couple of months, and some great events on the way to keep you all sailing over the winter months!
Llyn Brenig Sailing Club have recently completed their 16-metre slipway extension, and we’re sure you’ll agree it looks pretty good!
Neyland Yacht Club have also secured funding through the Community Foundation Wales "Made by Sport" fund to purchase a compact tractor for use at the club!
The compact tractor will allow them to safely and independently launch and recover safety boats and large/heavy dinghies at the club and support their youth training and coaches in delivering RYA training courses – amazing news!
Clwb Hwylio y Felinheli / Port Dinorwic Sailing Club will be hosting a Christmas Regatta on Saturday 3rd December, which is bound to be a fantastic event. Notice of Race will be available shortly, so keep looking out for it!
Check out the poster for further details https://www.pdsc.org.uk/christmas-regatta-nadolig
Shotwick Lake Sailing are currently running a Frostbite Open Series, which started on November 6th and runs until December 18th! The open racing will finish on December 11th, with their Christmas Party including a Pursuit race being held on the 18th – sounds fun!
You can find out a lot more here: http://www.shotwicksailing.org/upcoming-events/frostbite-open-series-2022/
Abandoned Boats Survey – a reminder!
Nature Resources Wales are gathering information on the locations of derelict abandoned boats in Wales to help focus efforts to manage them. This is part of a project funded by the Welsh Government Nature Network Programme.
It will be great if you can please help them by reporting any derelict abandoned boats that you may be aware of, via the links below.
If you do not have a lot of information that is fine, please report what you know, which can be for individual boats or groups of boats in the same area.
Link to English survey
https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/marine-morol/d690a444
Link to Welsh survey
https://ymgynghori.cyfoethnaturiol.cymru/marine-morol/8fe4c6aa
Boat Maintenance over the Winter
Top tips for winterising your boat can found as part of the RYA Upto Speed newsletter https://www.rya.org.uk/e-news/up-to-speed/top-tips-for-effective-winterising
We recently came across an article that we thought might be useful to our clubs https://www.ribstore.co.uk/pages/how-to-store-your-inflatable-boat-over-winter and what's more if you’re on their mailing list, they send out really helpful guides on rib maintenance and storage.
That’s it from us this month – see you in December!