Five new additions for British Youth Sailing's Recognised Club scheme
by Will Carson 3 Jul 2018 17:04 BST
Kent Schools Sailing Association © RYA
British Youth Sailing's new Recognised Club scheme is gathering pace with another five clubs added to the quickly growing list.
The initiative recognises clubs that meet British Youth Sailing's vision to develop and retain the best young racing sailors in the world.
Fifteen clubs were announced in the initial wave of awards last month, with two more added shortly after.
The latest addition of five clubs brings the total number of British Youth Sailing Recognised Clubs to 22.
The new additions are Brightlingsea Sailing Club in Essex, Crawley Mariners Yacht Club in West Sussex, Kent Schools Sailing Association, Royal Torbay Yacht Club in Devon and Waldringfield Sailing Club in Suffolk.
Each club has proven their commitment to the development of junior and youth racing and race training, which is delivered in a safe and fun environment.
Chris Atherton, the RYA's senior high performance manager, said: "Since we launched the BYS Recognised Clubs scheme we have seen a very positive reaction to the initiative.
"Our aim is to develop sailing from a young age and clubs from around the nation have really invested in this mentality by supporting the scheme and applying to become a Recognised Club.
"Everything is pointing to a very positive future for youth sailing and we encourage clubs to apply for the scheme if they feel they meet the criteria to help increase participation at grass root level and to grow the sport."
In order for a club to be considered for BYS Recognised Club status it must complete an application process to prove it meets 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.
For information about how to become a British Youth Sailing Recognised Club, see www.rya.org.uk/programmes/bys-recognised-clubs/Pages/how-to-become-bysrc.aspx
British Youth Sailing Recognised Clubs:
East:
Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, Norwich, Norfolk
Brightlingsea Sailing Club, Essex
Kent Schools Sailing Association
London and South East:
Felpham Sailing Club, West Sussex
Papercourt Sailing Club, Ripley, Surrey
Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre, Greater London
Waldringfield Sailing Club, Suffolk
Crawley Mariners Yacht Club, West Sussex
Midlands:
Worcestershire Youth Sailing Association, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire
Hollowell Sailing Club, Northampton
North:
Windermere School, Cumbria
North Lincolnshire and Humberside Sailing Club, Lincolnshire
Ripon Sailing Club, North Yorkshire
Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, County Durham
South:
Royal Lymington Yacht Club, Hants
Warsash Sailing Club, Hants
South West:
Paignton Sailing Club, Devon
Poole Yacht Club, Dorset
Parkstone Yacht Club, Dorset
Royal Torbay Yacht Club, Devon
Wales:
Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, Cardiff
Pembrokeshire Yacht Club, Milford Haven