Pathway & Events Officer appointed for Wales

RYA Cymru Wales has appointed a Pathway & Events Officer to support the planning and delivery of high-quality training and racing.

The new role will see Hatty Morsley developing the RYA Pathway Clubs initiative and working on Welsh Sailing events, including the Dragon Series, OnBoard Festivals and the Big Weekend.

Having learnt to sail at her home club, Port Dinorwic SC, Hatty developed her racing skills as a junior and youth sailor through regional, Welsh and national squads, and after team racing at university became an RYA Race Coach.

She is now looking forward to supporting clubs and inspiring more people to get on the water more often, including the next generation of racing sailors, instructors and coaches.

“We’re keen to run fantastic events and to also reflect what clubs want to achieve,” said Hatty, who divides her time between living in Cardiff and North Wales. “I’m really looking forward to getting out and about across Wales and getting to know everyone.”

Racing

Hatty was racing even before starting school in the front of her parents’ Scorpion and the family’s Mirror dinghy, and after moving into Optimists and then 420s as a teenager, worked her way up through the RYA youth and junior pathway.

Highlights included selection for an Optimist worlds team that competed in Argentina, and with Pippa Cropley achieving silver at a 420 Junior Europeans in Italy and selection for World Sailing’s Youth Worlds in China in 2017.

Team racing followed at UWE Bristol (University of the West of England) where Hatty studied Philosophy, with Covid lockdowns arriving halfway through. A gap year after graduating then saw Hatty seizing the chance to further develop her sailing - helping family friends to sail a yacht across the Pacific, taking in the Galapagos Islands along the way!

Coaching

A summer job with Cardiff Bay Yacht Club followed and Hatty recalls: “I realised that I really enjoyed coaching and that somehow I wanted to stay in the sport. I worked part time at the club while doing a psychology Masters and started coaching for Welsh squads.

“I also worked with the Optimist class, coaching and in a development role, and supported teams at international events. I love being on the water and giving back to the sport I love”

Already known to many young Welsh sailors as a coach, Hatty has also helped RYA Cymru Wales with events, and in her new role will be planning, budgeting and liaising with venues, staff and volunteers.

Events

Hatty aims to work with clubs to support and reflect their aims, including with running the Dragon Series, which is set to provide a superb start to the 2025 summer season with three events in the south, four in the west and four in the north.

Her first big event to organise will then be Welsh Regional Junior Championships taking place at Dale in June and she adds: “As a team we’re currently brainstorming ideas for our major events to see how we can make them even more fun!”

The RYA Pathway Clubs initiative meanwhile will see Hatty working across Wales to help create a structured and sustainable programme of local open training for aspiring sailors.

Pathway

Since Hatty went through the youth and junior pathway, the sport has evolved in new ways and the RYA strategy hopes to provide multiple routes for young sailors to develop their skills across a landscape that now also includes foiling and kiting.

“I’ll be working with our pathway/hub clubs to reflect their aspirations and help bring on our next generation of sailors and coaches,” explains Hatty. “It will be a really good programme for our young sailors, who will be able to enjoy sailing at their home club and also have access to a large pathway hub for open training, where they will be able to get great coaching, meet other sailors, and have a stepping stone to competing at bigger events. It’s a really exciting change.”

The Pathway Clubs programme also aligns with the RYA Cymru Wales strategy – Together on our Waters – which aims to encourage all ages to get on the water, stay on the water and give back.

Team

Chief Executive James Stuart said: "We are delighted to welcome Hatty to the team following an open and highly competitive recruitment process. This is an important appointment for RYACW, linking our grass roots development activity with other parts of our pathway at a time of change and opportunity.

"Hatty brings a great set of skills which will help her to add value straightaway and enable us to engage with audiences well beyond those core to the traditional pathway. Exciting times and very pleased Hatty is now part of the team."

Hatty will work closely with Performance Manager Sarah McGovern and Club Development Officer Hester Walker. Get in touch or find out more about RYA Cymru Wales, and keep up with all the latest developments @RYACymruWales on Facebook, X and Instagram.