RYA Club of the Year 2017 finalists announced
by Susie Nation-Grainger, RYA 16 Feb 2017 14:06 GMT
16 February 2017
The overall winner of the prestigious RYA Club of the Year 2017 will be announced at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, London, on Saturday 4 March.
Five clubs have been shortlisted for the award which was relaunched in September by Gold Medallists Hannah Mills and Saskia Clark. The finalists have each been recognised for their achievements across five brand new categories:
- Communication: Rudyard Lake Sailing Club
- Facility Development: Whitefriars Sailing Club
- Inclusivity: Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club
- Increasing Participation: Ullswater Yacht Club
- Innovation: Heart of England Offshore Cruising Association
This year the panel also decided to award three clubs with Certificates of Commendation. Midland Sailing Club, Nottinghamshire County Sailing Club and Skye Sailing Club have all done outstanding work but narrowly missed out on being selected as a finalists.
RYA Club Support Advisor Jackie Bennetts "We're delighted to announce the five finalists for this year's RYA Club of the Year Award. All these clubs have worked hard to create outstanding projects and activities which make it possible for more people to enjoy being on the water at their venue and to continue to sail regularly.
"The award offers the opportunity to acknowledge and thank the members who are responsible for creating successful, vibrant sailing clubs in the UK. Without their ongoing support and commitment we would not be able to offer the range or quality of activities which are crucial to the continued success of both our clubs and our sport."
The finalist awards will be presented on the Suzuki Mainstage at 16:00 before the overall winner is revealed by RYA Chief Executive Sarah Treseder and The British Sailing Team's Ben Saxton.
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 www.rya.org.uk/go/cluboftheyear
Beat the queues and get your tickets
The RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show takes place over the weekend of 04-05 March, Alexandra Palace, London. Advance tickets are available at a special discount rate of £10.00 for RYA members and £12.50 for non-members. RYA affiliated clubs can also take advantage of a special ticket price of £10 when booking ten tickets or more. Don't forget two children go free with each paying adult as well.
To find out what's in store at this year's show and to buy your tickets visit www.dinghyshow.org.uk or by calling the ticket hotline on 0844 858 9069
Keep up to date with all the latest RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show news and information by visiting the website www.dinghyshow.org.uk and following us on Facebook and Twitter.