The RYA Dinghy Show presented by Suzuki, in association with Yachts and Yachting and Gill, is the only show in the world dedicated to dinghy sailing and is the perfect place to kick start your season.

Taking place at Alexandra Palace, London, over the weekend of 3 – 4 March, this year’s theme is #dinghysailingforlife celebrating a lifetime sport for all.

Whether you want to shop for the latest kit, pick up some tips from our expert coaches or inspire your family to get on the water the show has something for everyone.

What to expect

This year’s hosts will be Olympic gold and silver medalist Saskia Clark and Olympic sailor and sports presenter Stevie Morrison

The 2018 show will see brand new hosts: Olympic gold and silver medalist Saskia Clark and Olympic sailor and sports presenter Stevie Morrison.

Saskia said: “I am really excited to be involved in the RYA Dinghy Show alongside Stevie. I think each year, for all dinghy sailors it is a real highlight. As well as being able to pick up everything you need to get on the water, it is also a fantastic opportunity to catch up with all your sailing friends just before the start of the season.”

Saskia and Stevie will be joining forces to host a new line-up of expert speakers on the Suzuki Main stage and the Knowledge Zone throughout the weekend. Here are some of the highlights…

Suzuki Main Stage

If adventure cruising is your thing then Leading Seaman Phil Slade (Royal Navy) and Mark Belamarich MBE (Ministry of Defence) will inspire you to start planning your next adventure.

The pair achieved a world record for the Longest Distance Sailed in a Double Handed Dinghy in 2016 by sailing 309.25nm from Plymouth to Portsmouth via France in their Boson ‘sixteen’.

And they did not stop there; hear what happened next at 11:15 on the Suzuki Main Stage both days.

Do not miss double Olympic silver medallist and Volvo Ocean Race winning Skipper Ian Walker, the RYA’s new Director of Racing with his exclusive talk, My Life in Sailing. From competing in the Sydney Olympic Games to sailing with his family and conquering the toughest ocean yacht race, Ian will share his sailing story on the Suzuki Main Stage at 13:45 Saturday and Sunday.

Sports nutritionist Nigel Mitchell who has worked with Team Sky and the British Sailing Team will explain how nutrition can enhance your performance on the water (14:30, Suzuki Main Stage, Saturday and Sunday).

He will be joined by Henrietta Dutton-Williamson, chef to the British Sailing Team who will be demonstrating live how to make healthy energy snacks to help keep you sailing all day.

The Knowledge Zone

Throughout the show, there is a huge range of advice available to help you to improve your sailing whatever your experience.

Over in the interactive Knowledge Zone, Paralympic gold medalist Helena Lucas will be talking about how to get the perfect start (11:00 both days), whilst Rooster’s Steve Cockerill will be sharing his top tips on steering to trim to help you sail faster on the race course (14:00 both days).

 

What is on…

Suzuki Main Stage

Time Talk
1030 Unregatta Regatta – the future for youth sailing

Mark Jardine and Simon Cox

Highly innovative courses and race rules for youth. Developed to bring more fun into sailing and it is taking the world by storm
1115 Record breaking double-handers

Phil Slade and Mark Belamarich

Mark and Phil’s spectacular voyage of 309.25nm was recognised by Guinness World Records as the longest distance ever sailed in a double handed dinghy
1200 Future Foiling

Alan Hillman

The latest developments in foiling, how to get started and what is coming next
1245 A life of an innovator – the Ian Proctor Centenary

David Henshall

Find out where it started, to creating those iconic designs we know and love today
1330 Prize Presentations – RYA Regional Youth Champion Awards (Sunday only)
1345 My Life in Sailing

Ian Walker

So many adventures, so much to tell. Olympics, Volvo Ocean Race, professional sailing and family fun
1430 Fuelling your sailing performance

Nigel Mitchell and British Sailing Team’s Henrietta Dutton-Williamson

Advice for what to eat to prepare for racing or just a day on the water- watch demos on how to make these healthy snacks
1515 America’s Cup – What is next?

Update from Land Rover BAR
1600 RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Award

Awards presented to five finalists and overall winner announced

(Saturday only)
1645 Treasure Hunt Presentation

 

Knowledge Zone

1030 GJW Direct Sail Juice Winter Series Prize Presentation
1100 Perfect Starts

Helena Lucas

How to get the perfect start – keeping calm and in control of emotions
1200 Strength and conditioning

Alex Hopson and Paul Mullen

How to get race fit – demo using Wat Bike
1300 Rig Tuning

Mike McNamara

Top tips on how to set up your rig for various occasions. This is a hugely popular and informative demonstration using a fully rigged RS200
1400 Steering to trim

Steve Cockerill ‘The Boat Whisperer’

How to get more speed around the racetrack
1500 Building coaching in your club or class association

Dave Mellor

Find out how the RYA Coaching Development Team can support your club or class to grow its coaching
1600 Hiking Posture – how to be fast and injury free

Dave Mellor

An insight into what hiking techniques work best and how to avoid hiking injuries

Note: Talks and timings correct at time of going to press.

 

New stages

As well as a new line-up of speakers there will also be two new stages.

Woman’s sailing is thriving in the UK like never before and for the first time at the show there is an area dedicated solely to this. The Woman’s Sailing Hub will showcase inspirational female sailors, the latest kit, Q & A sessions and demonstrations.

Also new for 2018 is the Class Associations Stage located in the Great Hall where you can find out everything you need to know about your favourite class including what events are coming up in the season ahead and how to get involved.

Celebrating 100 years of Ian Proctor

Most dinghy sailors will have sailed a boat designed or influenced by Ian Proctor. Born in 1918, the RYA Dinghy Show will be celebrating the centenary and legacy of this legendary innovator, writer, designer and sailor.

On display in the West Corridor will be a historical exhibition where you can see his earliest designs including the Gull, Minisail, Osprey and the Wayfarer.

Sailing historian, and All at Sea contributor, David Henshall will be taking us back in time with his talk, A life of an innovator – the Ian Proctor Centenary, which will be on the Suzuki Main Stage at 12:45 on both days of the show.

Family fun

Once again the show is full of free activities to inspire the whole family. Experience sailing on dry land by jumping on one of the simulators or fly across the water with the 360 degree virtual reality sailing experience.

You can also rub shoulders with members of the British Sailing Team in the new Sailors Corner.

 

 

Beat the queues and get your tickets

So what are you waiting for? Advance tickets are available at a special discount rate of £10 for RYA members and £12.50 for non-members.

RYA clubs can also take advantage of a special discount price of £10 when booking six tickets or more.

Up to four children go free with each paying adult.

Buy tickets at www.rya.org.uk/go/dstickets or by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 858 9069

For all the latest news and information visit www.dinghyshow.org.uk www.facebook.com/ryadinghyshow

@dinghyshow

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