New fleet for Welsh Sailing thanks to Sport Wales grant
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Welsh Sailing has taken delivery of a brand new fleet of ILCA dinghies to support its performance pathways thanks to a major grant from Sport Wales.
A total of £131,325 was awarded by Sport Wales to RYA Cymru Wales for the boat provision scheme to benefit Welsh youth squads and aspiring racing sailors at clubs.
A lorry stacked to the roof with a shipment of 18 ILCAs from Ovington Boats near Newcastle was received at Plas Heli Welsh National Sailing Academy during the half term holiday (28 October 2024).
RYA Cymru Wales Performance Manager Sarah McGovern said: “It’s about accessibility, inclusion and levelling the playing field. This fleet of ILCAs will be a game changer for our provision of training and racing opportunities, not only for our national team but also for young sailors and adults at clubs across Wales. A massive thank you to Sport Wales for making it possible!”
The arrival of the new fleet coincided with a Welsh squad camp, providing an opportunity for some of those who will benefit to help with the delivery and celebrate the occasion.
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Home and away
The overall cost of the initiative was £146,000 with the Sport Wales grant towards the initiative supported by Welsh Government funding.
Each boat has an ILCA 6 rig and the fleet also has nine ILCA 4 and six ILCA 7 rigs - providing options for male and female sailors aged 14 to 21-plus and adults. There are three 6-stacker road trailers for storage and transport.
The fleet will be based at Plas Heli over the winter months (September-March) and used by the Welsh Squads, with sailors able to ‘rock up and train’ rather than tow their own boats to Pwllheli from across the length and breadth of Wales.
It will enable sailors to car share or use public transport, reducing travel and training costs for parents and resulting in a lower carbon footprint. Sailors will also be able to use boats of similar standard, making the sport more accessible for those unable to afford new kit.
From April to August the boats will be moved to performance pathway ‘hub’ clubs across Wales which run regular youth activity. The rationale for 18 ILCAs supports a 1:6 coaching ratio and taking the boats on the road using triple or 6-stacker trailers.
Plans include using the boats for the upcoming Celtic Cup in Northern Ireland for youth teams from the Home Countries; training and racing in Europe; Pride Sports Cymru’s EuroGames 2027 in Cardiff; adult improver training at clubs and team racing events.
Foreign teams will also be invited to charter the boats to attend squad camps in Wales, bringing world class training opportunities for Welsh sailors to their doorstep.
Small hire fees and chartering will generate income to maintain the boats to a high standard.
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Named for Wales
Every boat has been branded to recognise RYA Cymru Wales, Welsh Sailing/Hywlio Cymru and Sport Wales – and also given a name. Following an appeal for suggestions on social media, the boats are now named A to R as follows:
- ARAF ALAN: Named after Welsh and GBR coach Alan Williams
- BOB: Former chairman of Welsh Yachting Association Bob Lowe
- CWRWGL: Coracle
- DWR: Water
- ED: Double world champion Ed Wright from Colwyn Bay who campaigned against Ben Ainslie in the Finn class
- FREYA: Freya Terry from Pembrokeshire who is sailing solo around Britain in her pink yacht in support of mental health
- GOWERS: ILCA and Olympic coaching legend Chris Gowers from Y Felinheli
- HYWEL: Hywel Poole, former Welsh National Squad Optimist and Laser (ILCA) sailor who sadly passed away in an RAF air accident
- ISY: Isy Hutchinson, one of the first female coaches for the Welsh Yachting Association
- JEIBIO: Gybing
- KNOT: If you can’t tie knots, tie lots!
- LLONG: Ship
- MICKY: For ILCA sailor Micky Beckett from Solva who represented GBR at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris
- NELSON: Lord Nelson, whose statue stands on the Menai Straight
- OWAIN: Welsh legend Owain Glyndwr
- PAUL: Paul Simes, past RYA Cymru Wales Performance Manager
- QUICK: Everyone needs a quick boat!
- RHAFF: The Welsh word for ROPE
Each boat also has a QR code so that sailors can scan and submit a note about when, where and why they have benefited from using it to enable the story to continue!
The initiative is in line with the RYA Cymru Wales strategy - Gyda’n Gilydd ar ein Dyfroedd: Together on our Waters - which aims to create a connected, inspired and inclusive Welsh sailing and boating community, unlocking opportunities for all to benefit from the sport.
Read more at: RYA Cymru Wales Strategic Plan.
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RYA Cymru Wales Performance Manager Sarah McGovern welcomes the delivery of the new ILCA fleet for Welsh Sailing