Welsh Sailing announces four junior and youth Pathway Clubs
Welsh Sailing / Hwylio Cymru has announced four Pathway Clubs to boost training and development for junior and youth sailors across the country.
The RYA Cymru Wales programme will provide performance-led training alongside opportunities for young people to themselves become instructors and coaches.
The four locations selected to become Welsh Sailing Pathway Clubs are Port Dinorwic SC (North); Neyland YC (West); Llandegfedd SC and Cardiff Bay YC (South).
Sarah McGovern, Performance Manager Wales, said: “We want to empower the next generation of sailors by creating hubs which can take children and young people all the way from learning through to racing, Welsh National Sailing Team and GBR selection, and beyond.
“Our aim is to support Pathway Clubs to run regional, regular, high quality training and coaching, closer to home - helping to reduce costs and travel for sailors and removing barriers to participation to ensure the sport at every level is inclusive and accessible for all.
“The programme will also enable young sailors and club members to gain expertise, instructor and coaching qualifications, to make sailing more sustainable into the future.
“As well as performance, it’s about creating sailors for life and providing a pathway which continues into post-18 involvement as adults, whether that’s racing, instructing or coaching, or simply continuing to enjoy sailing, to benefit the sport as a whole in Wales.”
The Pathway Clubs have each been awarded a grant of £2,000 for the year 2025 to contribute to their junior and youth activities, whether for maintaining equipment or supporting travel to events. Other benefits will include:
- Discounted Race Coach Level 2 courses
- Resources for race coaches and instructors
- Instructor mentoring and access to Coach Development
- Funding to support junior and youth activity withing the club
The Pathway Clubs will be expected to run open training accessible to any sailor in their region. Other key targets include including encouraging sailors to attend RYA Cymru Wales events such as the Welsh Regional Junior Championships (June), OnBoard Festival (August), Welsh Youth & Junior Championships (September).
Where possible, Pathways Clubs will also be expected to provide resources such as RIBs and coaching for events, host and attend the Dragon Series, and encourage sailors into the Welsh Sailing Pathway classes: Optimist, RS Tera, Topper, RS Feva, BIC Techno, 420 and 29er.
The Pathway Clubs were selected based on a number of criteria, including availability of boats, powerboats, sailing area, training and changing facilities. They will also work with neighbouring clubs/ centres to provide a breadth of opportunities, whether RYA Recognised Training or experience of different venues and conditions, for example on the sea or inland.
Find out more about junior and youth activities at your nearest Pathway Club - Port Dinorwic SC, Neyland YC; Llandegfedd SC and Cardiff Bay YC – and keep up with all the latest announcements by following RYA Cymru Wales on Facebook, X and Instagram.
Pictured: Rear Commodore (Training) Ken Newing of Port Dinorwic Sailing Club is presented with an RYA Cymru Wales 'Pathway Club' plaque by Performance Manager Sarah McGovern