Llyn Brenig double in Welsh Sailing Awards

Llyn Brenig are named as the RYA Cymru-Wales Participation Club of the Year © Hamish Stuart

North Wales sailing club Llyn Brenig has been named as the RYA Cymru-Wales Participation Club of the Year, thanks to using new facilities and the OnBoard scheme to encourage new sailors.

A successful year at the club near Denbigh was also recognised with 17-year-old Jack Shepherd being named the Young Coach of the Year, combining competing successfully at national and international level with coaching the next generation of sailors.

Llangorse, near Brecon, were the Performance Club of the Year, building on their success two years ago when recognised as the participation club of the year and using that academy structure to bring through Welsh regional and national squad sailors.

Stephen Tudor of Pwllheli was recognised for a Special Contribution award at the fourth RYA Cymru-Wales Club and Volunteer Awards, while Porthmadog's William Fazakerly, Teifi's Ian Carswell, Bala's Ken Hull and Clwb Hwylio y Felinheli,s Andy Long received Outstanding Contribution awards.

Llyn Brenig's double capped a superb year at the club, which lists amongst its aims to become a watersports centre of excellence offering training and participation to all ages and age groups as well as becoming an inland venue of Regional and National Events.

RYA Cymru-Wales chief executive Steven Morgan explained, "In 2014 Llyn Brenig Sailing Club had a very successful year continuing to develop their club and using the OnBoard programme to grow participation.

"With new launch facilities on the foreshore and a new pontoon, the club has a varied programme of activities for adults, families and young people and 34 OnBoard sessions attracted 140 new participants, while they managed to increase their membership by 36.

"With a growing junior section the club boasts Welsh and GBR sailors and hosts RYA Cymru Wales Regional and National Squads as well as class association training.

"The club has a clear development plan and became a development Champion Club. They are worthy winners of the 2014 Participation Club of the Year."

They will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of Llangorse, who took two years to add the Performance Club of the Year to their award as the Participation Club of the Year.

"In a season when Llangorse replaced their dilapidated club house with a wonderful new building that includes a dedicated training facility, the club maintained its training and coaching programme, hosted national events and ran more races than ever before, with 120 races over the season," said Morgan.

"Their Youth Academy continues to grow from strength to strength with several sailors selected for Welsh Regional and National squads - all developed from within the club's academy programme.

"After becoming an OnBoard club in 2013 the club gained Development Champion Club status in 2014.

"The year was crowned by being shortlisted as one of the top 5 clubs in the UK Club of the Year awards.

"Club senior members have been matching the success of their youth section and have travelled the length of the country to gain podium places on the open circuit in the Flying Fifteens, Tasar and RS400 Nationals, Bala Long Distance Race and Dale Regatta to name a few with Rob Dangerfield becoming Laser EPS Champion.

"Youth sailors have been catching the attention on the CYRC circuit with club members winning six class categories and podium places at the Welsh Zone Championships at Pembrokeshire Yacht Club. Welsh Topper squad member Ben Willets also won the Powys U14 Sports personality of the year."

Since passing his RYA Dinghy Instructor qualification in July 2014, 17 year old Jack Shepherd has been inspiring newcomers to the sport at Llyn Brenig SC.

"He won the North Wales CYRC series in a Topper and then Laser in both 2012 and 2013, then was selected for the Welsh Laser Performance squad," said Morgan.

"Jack has coached at the Monday evening junior training sessions. He teaches the RYA Level 1 syllabus to both children and adults and helps to run Topper Class weekend coaching, all on a voluntary basis.

"Jack balances his voluntary coaching with his own sailing and last year he qualified for the Laser Youth European Championship in Denmark. At the UK Nationals in Largs he came second in the Silver Fleet."

Stephen Tudor received a Special Contribution Award for his work at Pwllheli sailing club and the huge personal contribution he has made in the development of the new Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre at Pwllheli.

He has been a member at Clwb Hwylio Pwllheli Sailing Club since the age of 8 and has been on various committees since an early age. He has been Rear, Vice and Commodore (2012/14) and has been Honorary Secretary for many years.

"Over the last five years Stephen has been the driving force for the development of a new sailing academy in Pwllheli," said Morgan.

"The new facilities that are now in the final stages of construction has gained £8.3 million pounds of support from the Welsh Government,the Welsh European Funding Office and Gwynedd Council.

"The iconic shore side facilities will rival the best the world and put Wales firmly on the international stage as a destination of choice for World and European sailing events."

Jane Butterworth the Pwllheli Youth Section Chairman says, "He has worked tirelessly for the club, without his commitment this project would never have eventuated and his hard work deserves to be recognised."