Poole Yacht Club

Fifteen sailing clubs have been chosen to become the country’s first British Youth Sailing Recognised Clubs as part of a new scheme celebrating excellence in developing sailing stars of the future.

The Recognised Clubs initiative sees the RYA working alongside sailing clubs around the country to promote grassroots sailing and support junior and youth sailors as they develop racing skills.

Chris Atherton, the RYA’s senior high performance manager, said: “The key challenge for our sport is to encourage more young people to start participating in sailing and progress into racing.

“This is best done at club level and a successful junior and youth training and racing programme will enable a club to flourish.

“The BYS Recognised Club status distinguishes those sailing clubs with a commitment to the development of junior and youth racing and race training, which is delivered in a safe and fun environment.

“We’re proud to announce the first tranche of British Youth Sailing Recognised Clubs, and would like to invite any sailing clubs which think they meet the criteria to apply for BYS Recognised Clubs status.”

In order for a club to achieve BYS Recognised Club status it must meet a series of exacting standards.

Clubs must run a regular race training programme within at least one of the BYS Recognised Classes – the Optimist, Topper, Laser 4.7, Cadet, RS Tera (Sport), RS Feva XL and BIC Techno windsurfer at junior level, and 29er, 420, Laser Radial, Laser Standard, Nacra 15 multihull and RS:X windsurfer at youth level.

Club sailors must compete at BYS Regional Junior Championships at least once every two years.

Training must be delivered by qualified RYA Coaches to RYA Recognised Training Centre standards or equivalent, with a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy in place.

The Recognised Clubs scheme replaces the long-running Champion Clubs programme which came to an end at the start of 2018.

 

British Youth Sailing Recognised Clubs:

South

Royal Lymington Yacht Club, Hants

Warsash Sailing Club, Hants

South West

Paignton Sailing Club, Devon

Poole Yacht Club, Dorset

Parkstone Yacht Club, Dorset

London and South East

Felpham Sailing Club, West Sussex

Papercourt Sailing Club, Ripley, Surrey

Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre, Greater London

East

Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, Norwich, Norfolk

North

Windermere School, Cumbria

North Lincolnshire and Humberside Sailing Club, Lincolnshire

Ripon Sailing Club, North Yorkshire

Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, County Durham

Midlands

Worcestershire Youth Sailing Association, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire

Hollowell Sailing Club, Northampton

 

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