Dedicated instructor honoured with RYA Cymru Wales Impact Award
An instructor at Swansea Watersports has been presented with an RYA Cymru Wales Impact Award in recognition of his dedication to activities afloat.
The awards are made by boating’s governing body in Wales to celebrate those who go above and beyond to help people enjoy getting on the water.
Aston Grindrod is an RYA Advanced Power Boat Instructor, Yachtmaster for sail and power, Yachtmaster Instructor for sail, Cruising Instructor for power, Personal Water Craft Instructor and a shore based instructor for VHF, first aid and navigation.
He was nominated for an Impact Award by his manager at Swansea Watersports, Ceri Davies, who said: “Aston also volunteers for Swansea Sea Cadets. All this at an age of 23. I believe Aston to be the youngest person to hold and use all of these qualifications and he is our chief instructor at Swansea Watersports.”
Aston first started dinghy sailing aged around 10 with Swansea Sea Cadets and also joined Tata Steel Sailing Club, where he was able to borrow club boats before getting his own Topper dinghy and then a doublehanded 420, which saw him racing with a friend at the club and at local events.
He said: “It was a lot of fun and so I decided that I wanted to work in watersports. I’m not very academic and quite severely dyslexic, and trying to understand coursework was getting harder, so I ended up causing mischief and was kicked out of comprehensive school for a period of time and went to an education centre. After I’d wised up a little bit, I returned to school and just about got through GCSEs and A levels, knowing I needed to get something behind me, and having watersports helped me to refocus because I’d found something I wanted to do.”
Giving back
Aston was first employed by Ceri at the company’s Oxwich Watersports Centre, renting out equipment, and hard work was rewarded with mentoring to gain qualifications, alongside additional certificates subsidised by RYA Cymru Wales through an aspiring instructor’s programme.
Now spending six days a week on or beside the water, working or volunteering, Aston adds: “I wouldn’t be where I am today without the support of Ceri and Swansea Watersports, Mum, Dad, family and friends, Helen Banner (Sea Cadets), Nick Jenkins, Phil Jones (teachers) and so many more.
“I enjoy supporting The Sea Cadets across West Wales, helping children and adults learn to sail and to gain powerboat and safety boat qualifications. The Sea Cadets are a charity so it’s good to be able to help out and it's rewarding to see someone who’s never been on a boat before progressing through the levels.
“A lot of people gave their time and effort and helped me along the way, and so it’s about giving back to help those who are now where I first started, and those who’ve seen what I’ve done and may want to follow the same route.”
Home talent
The RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards are run by the sport’s governing body to recognise those who go the extra mile to inspire people to enjoy sailing and watersports in line with its strategy - Together on our Waters – to create a connected, inspired and inclusive Welsh sailing and boating community.
Club Development Officer Hester Walker said Aston and Swansea Watersports represented a great example of centres supporting the growth and cultivation of home talent while providing employment in Wales, adding: “It’s a pleasure to be able to present an Impact Award to Aston in recognition of his rapid progress, professional standing and commitment to the sport.”
Find out more about opportunities to get on the water with Swansea Watersports or explore RYA Start Boating.
Do you know an individual or organisation that goes the extra mile to support activities on the water in Wales? RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards recognise the hard work of individuals and organisations including participants, staff and volunteers; instructors, coaches and race officials; clubs, classes and centres.