…..have been particularly successful this year, with the three fully booked courses helping to address the shortage of instructors.
For next year we're planning four SI courses, and would like to hear any thoughts, suggestions and expressions of interest please, contact Paul Outram
Header photo - Paul (right) with the SI course members at Queen Mary SC in April.
…on 12 October 10 am to 2pm is for all instructors based at Onboard centres or clubs and centres interested in or aspiring to become Onboard. Come and get involved in a training day at Worthing Sailing Club, applying all the research around youth development into the RYA schemes. We will be focusing on instructional skills to get the best out of the limited time that we get on the water.
In order for your club to get the most out of the day we recommend that you bring at least two people from the club as there will be multiple activities run at the same time and you don't want to miss out on all that's available. Oh, and it's free. Any queries please to Ben Kimble and book here
Photo - Ben (the big chap on the right) and participants at last year's OnBoard Development Day.
Booking is open for our regional RYA Connected Conference at St Wilfred's Catholic School in Crawley, West Sussex, on Sunday 24 November. We're inviting clubs, Sailability providers, class associations, charities and club-based training centres to join us for this free, informative and inspiring conference.
There'll be presentations on club development from Margate Yacht Club, Frensham Pond Sailability, Welsh Harp Sailing Club and Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club. Also a choice of forums and workshops, opportunities to meet other clubs and RYA staff, and a free lunch!
The RYA Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-2028 book and ebook are now out and you can find out more about them and order a copy
If you'd like a free talk either on line or at your club/centre on the new rules from regional rules advisor Chris Simon then please read more and contact Chris
Photo - Chris geared up for an on line talk.
…and talking of racing rules, our Race Officials Conference will be on 25-26 January at the University of Birmingham. It provides a weekend of networking and focused topics designed to develop and educate all levels of race officials. These include updates to the racing rules of sailing, the equipment rules of sailing, judging, and umpiring key changes and many more topics designed to develop you as an official.
RYA regional team chair Roger Belton writes:
It has been great to see over the summer a good number of sailing activities where clubs and members have come together to celebrate sailing, and have fun together. Amongst the many events we have seen:
…..and there's even more activity reported on our Facebook
The features that all of these events have in common in that they bring people together from different clubs and organisations, taking a shared pleasure in enjoying the water. Yes we can hold events and regattas within our own clubs, but we gain so much more by groups coming together, sharing the experience, making new friends, and having fun.
These events totally embrace the RYA strategy "Together on the Water". Long may this continue and grow, with lots more fun and enjoyment to be had.
The RYA is changing its communications arrangements on 1 October, from when they will be handled in house in Hamble. So I'm signing off as your regional communicator, with a big thank you to all those who've provided stories, snippets, photos and videos, and to all who follow our web pages, Facebook and X. Please send anything in future to the press office. All the best, Mike
Photo - Mike