Grassroots boost as RYA OnBoard arrives in two more counties

Brett Cokayne, newly-appointed OnBoard Development Officer for Staffordshire and North Warwickshire © RYA

Kids in Staffordshire and North Warwickshire will have their best ever opportunity to get into sailing and windsurfing from this spring with the arrival of OnBoard - the Royal Yachting Association’s celebrated grassroots sailing initiative - to the area.

On Thursday 18 March (7pm), the Staffordshire and North Warwickshire OnBoard partnership will be launched at South Staffordshire Sailing Club where the counties’ sailing clubs and centres will hear how they can get involved in the RYA’s successful nationwide scheme aimed at introducing more youngsters to sailing and windsurfing.

Led by Brett Cokayne, newly-appointed OnBoard Development Officer for Staffordshire and North Warwickshire, local schools, youth groups and community organisations will be invited to introduction sessions at specially-designated OnBoard clubs from April, with three clubs - Manor Park Sailing Club in Kings Bromley, Chase Sailing Club near Walsall and Stanley Head Outdoor Education Centre, Stoke-on-Trent – named the founding OnBoard clubs of the new partnership.

Between April and August last year, more than 1,500 children enjoyed their first experience of sailing and windsurfing through OnBoard in Birmingham and Worcestershire with some 3,700 youngsters in total introduced to the sport since the programme began in the region.

With Manor Park SC, Chase SC and Stanley Head OEC now joining the 177 OnBoard clubs nationwide, which form the bedrock of the programme, Brett admits he is looking forward to being able to spread the OnBoard word to an even greater audience across the West Midlands.

He said: “You only have to look at what has already been achieved throughout the rest of the West Midlands to see the potential that exists in Staffordshire and North Warwickshire. I am really looking forward to seeing youngsters who may not be good at the more traditional sports have the chance to potentially excel in a different type of sporting environment whilst having loads of fun and making new friends.”

Brett, who grew up on the water at Staunton Harold Sailing Club in Derbyshire and went on to represent Great Britain as a Youth sailor before getting into coaching, also believes it is important the perception of sailing as an expensive activity is debunked by giving youngsters a true taste of the sport as early as possible.

He added: “My brother and I paid £25 for our first Mirror dinghy, which my dad found under an old mobile classroom and we repaired so we could compete in our first club race. It’s great seeing children outside on the water, enjoying the fresh air and local facilities. Once they experience that enjoyment for themselves, we want to make it as easy and inexpensive as possible for them to keep participating.”

Supported by TEAMORIGIN, Britain’s Challenge for the America’s Cup, OnBoard is working to introduce half a million children into sailing and windsurfing over 10 years and since the programme began in 2005 more than 10,000 youngsters have become regular participants whether enjoying the sport as a relaxed leisure activity or a high performance sport.

For more information on OnBoard in Staffordshire and North Warwickshire contact Brett Cokayne at www.ruob.co.uk