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2001 RYA Sailboat and Windsurf Show Preview

by Nigel Cherrie 6 Feb 2001 15:17 GMT


WELCOME TO THE 50TH RYA SAILBOAT AND WINDSURF SHOW

This successful Show is a unique cocktail of enthusiastic amateur sailors and windsurfers combined with professional boat builders, sailmakers and marine retailers.

I believe ours is one of the few sports that all ages and all the family can enjoy. We need to continue to collectively welcome newcomers to our sport, and for our clubs and classes to actively encourage new people, families or individuals, to become our sailing companions. This is also the theme for this year's Conference of Commodores. Whether you've never set foot on the water, or it's been several years since you were afloat, the team on the RYA stand in the Palm Court will be on hand to help and advise.

Olympic stars, competitions, new features such as the Gybe Zone for kids and Sailboat and Windsurf "Live", with interviews with top sailors, entertainment, quizzes etc, together with demonstrations galore on the Central Feature for the established sailor and windsurfer, make this a Show not to be missed. There's something for everyone!

Our thanks go to Yachts and Yachting and the Daily Telegraph for their support of the Show. Let's make this the best Show ever; celebrate 50 years with us.

I look forward to meeting you all.

Jeremy Pudney
Chairman Sailboat and Windsurf Show Committee


Rod Carr looks to the Future at RYA Sailboat and Windsurf Show

This is my first show as the RYA's Secretary General having handed the batten of managing the Association's sail racing interests on to John Derbyshire at the start of this year. Through the team's historic endeavours down under we are now the World's top Olympic sailing nation and the countries most successful sport at the Sydney games. This success is underpinned by everybody who takes in the sport, either as competitors or volunteers their time to help as officials on and off the water.

It is only at the Sailboat and Windsurf show we can see all the pieces of the jigsaw put together and celebrate the vibrant, colourful and healthy state of our sport. Particularly important for me is to see young new talent at the show getting inspired by meeting their Olympic role models first hand. And now with the backing of a successful company like Volvo Cars and the National Sports Lottery funds via Sport England, the RYA can deliver a first class start to our potential future Olympians in Athens and beyond.

Finally, if like me, you get a buzz when in the company of fellow sailing enthusiasts, then I'm sure we will all have a great day and play our part in making the 50th Show one to remember

Rod Carr
RYA Secretary General


These are new show features:

Sailboat and Windsurf "Live"

A brand new feature of the Show in the West Hall.

We've taken the traditional Video Wall and transformed it into a "Live" Road Show. Catch up with all the latest gossip from sailing and windsurfing celebrities, enjoy lively debate in our Golden Olympic Question Time, stock up on useful boating and windsurfing information and, of course, check out some awesome video images.

Don't forget, too, that the "Live" stage will host some important product and event announcements throughout the Show.

Sailboat and Windsurf Show 2001 - "Live" Programme

A new feature at the Show - a mix of live chat with sailing and windsurfing celebrities, on stage entertainment for the Family and exciting video images.


Central Feature

Technical talks on dinghy sailing and windsurfing are back on this ever-popular feature. Year 2K was one of the greatest for sailing and we'll have top sailors and windsurfers on hand to pass on their experience and expertise.

New for 2001 will be "back to basics" talks for families wanting to get back on the water and fun activities for the under 12's in our Gybe Zone.

Central Feature Schedule


Gybe Zone

Catch our brand new Gybe Zone - activities for the under 12's all around the Show.

Golden Entry Prize Draws

Can't believe it, but this is the 50th Sailboat and Windsurf Show. To celebrate every 50th visitor will receive a Golden sticker and the chance to enter one of four daily Golden Entry Draws.

There are some great prizes to be won, including a year's subscription to Yachts and Yachting!

Don't forget, if you're Golden Stickered you need to put your ticket in the Golden post box by the "Live" stage!

Golden Party

Join the RYA to celebrate our 50th show with a glass of bubbly. It's a Golden Party, so wear something golden and you could win a Golden prize!


Congratulations RYA National Champions

As part of the RYA's 125th Anniversary and Millennium celebrations last year we asked our affiliated National Class Associations to send in details of the winner of their National Championships so that we could celebrate this significant achievement with them.

All too often these successes do not receive the wider attention they deserve.

By promoting the achievements of yachtsmen and women from the many active class associations, the RYA hopes to dispel the myth that racing is all about a few Olympic classes and big boats with lots of money. This scheme demonstrates, we hope, the RYA commitment to recognising all those who enjoy the sport whether under power or sail.

Champions received an exclusive RYA National Champion T- Shirt produced by Musto Performance clothing plus a complimentary free year's membership of the Association. Importantly the moment in the New Year issue of the RYA Magazine, acting as it does as a welcome reminder of last season's highlights and a challenge to all those seeking success in the coming year.

National Champions Presentation at the Sailboat & Windsurf Show

To further recognise these important achievements our Champions have been invited to attend a special presentation and photocall at this year's 50th Sailboat and Windsurf Show Sunday 4th March at around lunch time on the Sailboat Live Stage.


RYA Spring Conference of Commodores

Over 160 Commodores of Dinghy Sailing and Windsurfing Clubs will be attending the Conference, to be held on Saturday 3 March in the Londesborough Room at Alexandra Palace at the Sailboat and Windsurf Show. The Chairman for the Conference is Tim Hancock, Commodore of Hayling Island Sailing Club and the theme of the Conference will be Marketing your Club to increase Club Membership and Club Utilisation. Speakers will include Tim Hancock, Ricky Coussins from Coussins Associates, Jane Clague, RYA High Performance Manager and Mark Jardine from YachtsandYachting.com.

Big Cats on Show

Visit the pride of big cats - for the first time all together at Sailboat to give you everything you wanted to know about catamarans in one place - boats, clubs, demos, events, holidays, insurance, magazines, schools, videos and youth training. Meet leading personalities on the catamaran scene around the stand to offer expert advice. You are welcome whatever your interest - kids in it for kicks, thirty-somethings seeking new scene, prospective Olympic campaigner, family wanting versatile people carrier or mature male who won't give up. We have a cat for you - to realise your own achievable adventure.

For more info contact: Nick Dewhirst at dewhirst@btinternet.com or visit www.catamaran.co.uk


Volvo RYA Youth Sailing

With Volvo's support and sponsorship, the RYA Youth Programme continues to grow from strength to strength. The year started with a Gold medal at the Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships in Sydney, a fitting result that shows the development programme that the RYA and Volvo have initiated from Champion Club level and the Zone Talent scheme up to senior youth squad members and the Volvo RYA Youth Squad is bearing fruits.

At club level, there is a clear pathway to success for those who want it while for those who do not, the quality of club racing is on a rapid rise. At the top end of the scale and with the 2004 or 2008 Olympic Games as a goal, the system is tracking and delivering world class sailors onto the RYA's Olympic Development Squad Programme.

Please visit the Volvo RYA Youth Sailing in the West Hall (H9) where you can find details on all the Volvo RYA programmes.

Sail of the Century - The RYA Technical unit raffles off Optimist sail number 'GBR 5000'

In a special prize draw in association with the National Optimist Class one lucky winner will receive the most sought after sail number of the year "GBR 5000" complete with a brand new sail kindly donated by Speed Sails. The draw will be launched at this years 50th anniversary Sailboat and Windsurf show on the RYA technical unit's stand E9.

Tickets will be available from this stand for the duration of the show only. Any one wishing to purchase tickets after the show can do so by contacting the Optimist class secretary: Jenny Campbell James, Rosemary Cottage, Cuckmere Road, Seaford, East Sussex. BN25 4DG, Tel: 01323 873286 email: iocauk@optimist.mariner.co.uk.

Tickets cost £2.50 or 5 for £10. Cheques should be made payable to John Merricks Sailing Trust. The draw itself will take place at the Optimist Nationals in Largs in August. All proceeds will go to John Merricks Sailing Trust. The Trust is active in advancing the education and physical and mental development of young people in need (under the age of 25 years) with a view to promoting the achievement of their potential through the sport of sailing.

Not only can you win the chance of a brand new sail complete with GBR 5000, but runner up prizes include a refund of entry fee to this year's Nationals worth £80 and a free entry to an end of season event worth £25 donated by the Optimist Class and two RYA family memberships worth £40 each.


Tried windsurfing years ago? Not been on a board since? Then visit the RYA Windsurfing stand at Sailboat.

Come and SEE the differences in kit.
FEEL the colossal differences in board weight - 10kg now; 20kg then. Telescopic, light, carbon booms today. 2.70m fixed, heavy, wooden booms are out! You won't believe the changes. It's lighter, easier to handle and won't bust the budget. WINDSURFING REALLY HAS JUST GOT EASIER!

We'll advise you where you can learn. We'll let you know how you can improve. Who to speak to regarding appropriate kit. Tell you where your local club and windsurfing centre is. And exactly which centres offer family days out.

Focus for RYA Windsurfing in 2001

More clubs. More youth activity. More local racing. There the messages. That's what we're trying to get going. Windsurfing isn't club based, in the traditional sense. We want to try and establish that in order to encourage more social sailing, social activity and "fun for all" racing.

More specifically we are revisiting the whole youth involvement in our sport, bridging the gap between the top quality national starlets and what happens at local level. Grassroots to star class.

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