Steve's blog March 2024
Discover Sailing
I’m delighted to say Discover Sailing is back and the Discover Sailing event platform is now open. You can enjoy RYA support with your open day(s) and get involved by adding your event(s) to our event finder, order your resources and use our handy guides to help you run a successful open day. Find out more
Regional Training Day
Our Regional Training Day at Queen Mary SC on 16 March will challenge you and your team to grow and develop your skills. During the events, you’ll be able to deepen your knowledge of existing disciplines or broaden your scope by trying something new.
Open to instructors and racing coaches, as well as club, centre and Sailability volunteers, join your regional team for a day of personal learning and development, with expertise on offer to enhance your knowledge and practical skillset.
Regional Junior Championships
Please save the dates for the London & South East Regional Junior Championships (dinghy) which will be hosted by Datchet Water Sailing Club over the weekend 22-23 June 2024. I’m particularly keen to encourage more entries in the OnBoard fleet.
The windsurfers will be at Queen Mary Sailing club over the weekend 7-8 September. The windsurfing event will be held in association with the Techno class association.
Regional Training Groups (RTG)
Our regional performance manager Paul Wren says the RTGs have been a great success this year. The conditions have been varied but have not lost any time this year.
Numbers are Topper 22 sailors, windsurfers 19 sailors and seven RS Fevas. Also, there are five regional sailors in a combined ILCA 4 group. Unfortunately, there were not enough Optimist sailors to make up an independent group but three sailors have joined the South RTG.
Eric Twiname Championships 4-6 May
All sailors that have taken part in the RTG are invited to three days of racing at Rutland Water as individuals and a London and South East Team hopefully winning the Team Trophy.
Photo - competitors at a previous Eric Twiname Championship at Rutland. Credit Will Carson
OnBoard
I’m pleased to say OnBoard remains popular in the region with three more clubs becoming OnBoard providers in recent months, so welcome OnBoard Keep Sailing, Herne Bay Sailing Club and Maidenhead Sailing Club.
OnBoard is the RYA's children's sailing and windsurfing programme. It offers children the opportunity to try watersports through their local club or centre in a safe, fun and structured environment.
Whether the youngsters would like to learn how to sail or windsurf, there is no experience or equipment needed to get you started. The programme is also progressive, so they can work their way through the RYA Youth Schemes. As well as getting fresh air and exercise, children's sailing and windsurfing offer a wide range of invaluable life skills, from problem solving to confidence and teamwork.
Find out how your club can get OnBoard
Bursary Awards for young sailors
My congratulations to Mim Asker from Chipstead Sailing Club and Louie Cornell from Felpham Sailing Club who have received performance bursaries from our regional Youth Training Fund.
The bursaries provide modest financial support to help young sailors fulfil their recognised racing or coaching potential. In return, recipients pass on their experience and enthusiasm to help inspire others through their club and regional training events.
Photo - Louie receives his award from RYA Regional Team Chair Roger Belton
RYA Connected webinars
Why not join in our informative and free RYA Connected webinars? These finish at the end of March so don’t miss them.
- 6 March – Volunteering 19.00-20.00
- 11 March – Creating an offer that meets the needs of different types of potential members. 19.30-20.30
- 12 March – OnBoard: Starting your 2024 season19.00-20.00 18 March – Creating and managing your safety management systems 19.30-20.30
- 20 March – Sailability Safety Forum 19.30-20.30
- 25 March – Making your organisation more accessible 19.30-20.30
Please check out the full programme and register
Share your stories
We’re always looking for stories to pop on our web site and send to your local media, and snippets (two or three sentences) to promote your events or show what you’ve been doing, with photos (landscape format) and links. Or why not send us a short video (15-100 seconds, landscape format) done in one take on your ‘phone to share on our social media. All should have some RYA/regional connection. Other clubs can enjoy your achievements and benefit from your experience. Send us your story