Women On Water Development Programme: Ambassadors Announced

RYA Northern Ireland is pleased to announce the Ambassadors chosen to lead the newly launched Women On Water Development Programme (WOWDP).

WOWDP is a programme designed as a follow on from the hugely successful Women On Water programme which is targeted towards women trying sailing and boating for the first time.

Sessions on Powerboating, Dinghy Skills and Racing, Team Racing and Race Officiating will be run across a number of clubs throughout the winter. This programme is specifically aimed at women aged 18 and over to help develop their skills and progress further within the sport.

The Ambassadors selected to run the WOWDP are:

• Emily Hill - Team Racing- CAYC
• Heather Campbell - Power Boating- BYC
• Sophie Killiner - Dinghy Skills and Racing- RNIYC
• Sheela Lewis - Race Officiating- CAYC

Following the launch of the programme, RYA Northern Ireland Pathways Officer, Kate Broderick, commented: “The benefit of this route is that the programme should not interfere with club summer Women On Water programmes or similar programmes and will encourage more women and girls to continue within the sport throughout the winter and in turn remain part of their local sailing community.

“Training within the WOWDP can be across all aspects of the sport, e.g. Dinghy Sailing, Powerboating, Race Officiating, Team Racing etc. Our long term outcome of the project is that the participants involved in the programme feel part of a sporting community and have found their chosen pathway. 

“We offer a diverse range of activities involved in the sport because we believe that all routes in sailing are important and should be recognised.”

The Women On Water Development Programme represents just one part of the “Project Theia”- a key programme within RYA Northern Ireland’s five-year strategy, Navigating The Future. 

As part our strategy we aim to diversify the sport and by running training we hope to see a higher rate of participation within clubs, as women involved gain more confidence across their chosen pathway area.

If you have any questions about the programme, such as how to get involved, contact RYA Northern Ireland’s Pathways Officer, Kate Broderick, by emailing kate.broderick@rya.org.uk