Eric Twiname Trust presents its 32nd RIB to RS Feva Class Association

Mark Nicholls, Bruce Aitken, David Cotterill and RS Feva sailors at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show © Ellie New / RYA

The RS Feva Class Association was awarded the 32nd support craft funded by the Eric Twiname Trust at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace on Saturday 5 March.

Bruce Aitken, Secretary of the Trust, presented the RS Feva Class Association Chairman and RYA Youth Racing Manager Mark Nicholls with the 5m XS RIB, complete with Yamaha 50hp four-stoke outboard, as part of its work in supporting competitive sailing for young people.

Since 1993, when the first craft powered by Yamaha was handed to the 420 Class Association, the Trust has assisted eleven different RYA Youth Classes. Over £1 million has been provided so far by the Trust, since its formation 36 years ago.

The Trust funds the on-going provision and insurance of support RIBs for most of the British Youth Sailing recognised Classes. This year was the turn of the RS Feva Class, a junior asymmetric dinghy and part of the RYA recognised pathway, to receive the XS RIB, Yamaha outboard and road trailer which has been supplied through Barnet Marine of Welwyn Garden City.

RS Feva Class Chairman, David Cotterill looks forward to launching the RIB later this month: “The RS Feva Class is really delighted to receive the Eric Twiname RIB, it will provide a lot of support to our sailors.

“We are one of the fastest growing dinghy classes in the World and our sailors need support and this is critical to the on growing growth of the class.

“The RIB will be used at a number of National events as well as for the World Championships which are down in Santander, Spain. We have around 150 children that participate in Regional training that is organised by the class and this RIB will hugely benefit those children who are just starting out,” continued Cotterill.

“We will launch the RIB at the Spring Championships in Hayling Island which is in two weeks’ time.”

RYA Youth Racing Manager, Mark Nicholls said: “The continued support from the Eric Twiname Trust to the younger generations is incredibly important to the RYA as well as our longstanding relationship with Barnet Marine and Yamaha to supply high quality equipment.

“We look forward to seeing the RIB in action and supporting RS Feva sailors around the UK.”

The Trust also supports young sailors in competition, with the RYA Eric Twiname Championships, held annually at Rutland Sailing Club, being the premier national event for RYA Zone and Home Country Junior teams in the UK, with over 270 sailors competing. In 2016 the event will be held for the 30th consecutive year, while the RYA Eric Twiname Youth and Junior Team Racing Championships will be held for the 15th consecutive year in 2016, and welcomes up to 50 teams from clubs and schools.

Find out more about the Eric Twiname Trust here.

Find out more about the RYA British Youth Sailing Programme here.