Impact Award for Welsh squad sailor

A teenager in the Welsh National Sailing Team has been presented with an Impact Award in recognition of the support he gives to other young squad members.

Wilf Tovey, aged 16, was nominated for the RYA Cymru Wales Award by coach Jon Nuttall, for always giving his time to support newcomers to the team, including lending a friendly helping hand with rigging boats and launching.

The Welsh National Sailing Team supports around 70 young people aged 8-18 through coach-led training weekends and residential camps to develop not only their racing but also professionalism, independence and life skills.

For some it might be their first experience of managing without a parent on shore, and in nominating Wilf for the award, Jon said: “At squad residentials, Wilf is always helping the younger sailors, always cheerful, always welcoming. Joining a squad can be very intimidating but Wilf makes the experience far less so. He genuinely impacts other younger squad sailors more than he knows.”

RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards recognise those who go the extra mile to support activities afloat in line with its strategy - Together on our Waters - to create a connected, inspired and inclusive Welsh sailing and boating community.

Wilf was presented the award at the Welsh Youth & Junior Championships at Pwllheli and said it had been completely unexpected: “I enjoy giving others a hand, especially if they’re new and aren’t sure what they’re doing, and if they don’t know many people it’s just good to give them someone to know. If I’m not in a rush to launch, it’s nice to help, and I like a good chat so I find it rewarding as well.”

Wilf is a student at Gower College Swansea and enjoys the social side of sailing, as well as racing and the chance to travel and meet new people. He competes nationally and internationally and in summer also gave his time as a volunteer to support race officials at the ILCA Youth World Championships in Aarhus, Denmark.

For the 2026-27 season Wilf has again been selected for the Welsh National Sailing Team in the singlehanded ILCA 7 class. He is also a member of the Welsh Sailing Youth LAB, working with other young people to help shape the future of the sport in Wales. Youth LAB ideas have included the introduction of Welsh Sail | Hwyl Cymru awards for those who represent Wales in competition or volunteer.

As well as training and competing, Wilf now plans to qualify as an RYA Dinghy Instructor with the Sea Cadets to support both their activities for young people, and the youth and junior section at Mumbles Yacht Club.

Sarah McGovern, Chief Operating Officer for RYA Cymru Wales | Welsh Sailing, said she was delighted to have been able to present an Impact Award to Wilf: “He is always helping others and is quite often the last person up the beach having helped everyone with their boats, or the last person helping to load boats onto trailers. He is always offering support and is a friendly face in the boat park.”

Find out more about getting afloat with the Sea Cadets and activities at Mumbles Yacht Club and explore performance programmes for young sailors in Wales at Welsh Sailing | Hwylio Cymru.

Do you know an individual or organisation deserving of recognition for their contribution to activities on the water in Wales? RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards are wide ranging and open to participants, staff and volunteers; instructors, coaches and race officials; clubs, classes and training centres. Find out more and make your nomination at RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards.

Photo credit (top): Lotte Johnson Film