Finalists announced for RYA Club of the Year

Finalists announced for RYA Club of the Year © Paul Wyeth / RYA

The winner of the prestigious RYA Club of the Year Award 2016 will be revealed at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace on Saturday 5th March.

Five clubs have been shortlisted for the prize, including Brading Haven Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight, Llyn Brenig Sailing Club in Wales, Cheshire-based Redesmere Sailing Club, Royal Harwich Yacht Club in Suffolk, and Staffordshire's Rudyard Lake Sailing Club.

The RYA, sailing's national governing body, presents the annual award in recognition of how well clubs promote the sport of sailing, encourage people onto the water and make their activities varied and available to their community.

At 16:00 on the main stage, five clubs from across the UK will collect their finalist awards before the overall winner is revealed by RYA CEO Sarah Treseder.

Selected by the RYA Honours and Awards Panel, the finalists have been judged on how well they promote the sport, encourage people onto the water and make their activities varied and available to their community.

RYA Club Support Advisor Jackie Bennetts said: "We are delighted to announce the five finalists for the 2016 RYA Club of the Year Award. This Award offers us the chance to recognise and acknowledge the outstanding achievements of the people who are responsible for creating successful, vibrant sailing clubs in the UK.

"Without the on-going support and commitment from individual members, clubs would not be able to offer the range or quality of activities which are crucial to the continued success of both clubs and our sport."

Special thanks go to Arthur J. Gallagher who support the RYA Club of the Year Award and to Sailing Awards who donated the perpetual RYA Club of the Year trophy when the award was first introduced in 2008.

For more information on the awards, visit www.rya.org.uk/go/cluboftheyear

Advance tickets are available at a reduced rate of £10 to RYA members and £12.50 to non-RYA members. RYA Affiliated Clubs are encouraged to make a day of it and travel en masse, and if you make a group booking in advance of 10 or more people, affiliates can benefit from the RYA members price of £10 per person. All advance tickets will be available until midnight on Friday, 4 March 2016. A transaction fee of £1.50 applies to each transaction. Tickets will also be available on the door for £16 each and each adult ticket entitles you to bring up to two children free of charge. You can buy tickets online or by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 858 9069 (calls are charged at 7p per minute, plus network extras).

Activate your show ticket or exhibitor pass at the Sailing World Cup stand in the Panorama Hall and this will give you free access to the spectator's area at the Sailing World Cup at Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy on Saturday 11 June. The RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show will offer the perfect chance to kick start your sailing season in 2016, so make sure you get your tickets today.

Love Dinghy Sailing? Then why not join the association that promotes and protects, safe, successful and rewarding boating. Join today and support the RYA in protecting your boating rights and freedoms. Take advantage of free advice and support on all aspects of your boating, as well as enjoying a range of fantastic personal member offers. Find out more by calling 0844 556 9556, email or visit www.rya.org.uk

Download our App before the show to find exhibitor stands, view schedules and more by scanning the QR code or search for 'Dinghy Show' into your app store!

Love Dinghy Sailing? Then why not join the association that promotes and protects, safe, successful and rewarding boating. Join today and support the RYA in protecting your boating rights and freedoms. Take advantage of free advice and support on all aspects of your boating, as well as enjoying a range of fantastic personal member offers. Find out more by calling 0844 556 9556, email or visit www.rya.org.uk