RYA Knowledge Series returns for 2023

The RYA Knowledge Series is back for 2023 to support students, clubs and coaches with opportunities to learn more about keelboat sailing, team and match racing.

Coinciding with the start of the new academic year, six weekly online sessions are scheduled to take place every Tuesday at 7pm, starting on 19 September.

The series makes a return after proving popular in 2022 and is a joint is a joint initiative between RYA Coach Development, British Keelboat Sailing and British Universities Sailing Association (BUSA).

Richard Moxey, RYA Keelboat Development Manager, said: “The aim is to support schools, universities, clubs and coaches to develop their knowledge about keelboat, team and match racing, whether that’s supporting their own sailors towards winning ways or ensuring that events run smoothly and are great fun!”

The sessions will all take place over Zoom and the full list of dates and topics are:

• Week 1 - 19 September: Top Tips for Coaching Racing - Ed Sibson & Nic Wymer
  Led by Royal Hospital School director of sailing Ed Sibson and RYA Lead Tutor Nic Wymer, this session looks to support coaches with best practice for coaching and organising racing. Ed and Nic will explore resources, activity design and coaching models that can be used to help sailors enjoy developing their racing skills. Also including CPD opportunities for coaches in the year ahead and a chance for participants to ask coaching-related questions.
• ‌Week 2 - 26 September: Keelboat sailing – Mason King & TBC
  Discussing the opportunities available to step into keelboat sailing in the UK, this session is hosted by RYA Keelboat Race Coach Mason King and will include a look at pay and play sailing, British Keelboat Academy, British Keelboat League, Match Racing, 2K Team Racing and JOG (Junior Offshore Group).
• ‌Week 3 - 3 October: Coaching team racing - Ed Sibson & Nic Wymer
  This session aims to broaden a coach's knowledge and understanding of coaching more advanced team racing skills – join Ed and Nic to engage and network with other coaches through in-depth discussions about tactics and strategies in relation to team racing.
• Week 4 - 10 October: Event planning session 1 – Emily Robertson & Jessica Beecher
  Join top keelboat and team racing sailor Emily Robertson along with RYA Keelboat Development & Universities Officer Jess Beecher, who’ll be sharing a simple guide to running an event and explore all things logistical, including basic planning, checklists, budgeting etc, with a focus on team racing events.
• Week 5 - 17 October: Boat Repairs & Towing - Keith Sammons
  Firefly expert Keith Sammons of kSail talks through maintaining your fleet in the best condition for training and events, cost-saving advice, repairing damage and how to prevent issues. The session will also cover basic trailer checks and towing advice.
• ‌Week 6 – 24 October: Event planning session 2: Roles and responsibilities - James Chapman and Jacqui Roberts
  BUSA Vice President James Chapman and RYA's Race Officials Development Officer Jacqui Roberts will be looking at the different roles and responsibilities needed for an event, including how to source race officials and look after your volunteers, types of officials, how to get qualified and the RYA Race Officials Academy.

Would-be participants are invited to register by 5pm on the day to be sent a Zoom link on the day of the sessions selected. ‌Sign up!