The RYA and Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Award, supported by Gallagher, recognises the outstanding achievement of sailing clubs across the UK and promotes the hard work and dedication that goes into running a successful club.
Public voting IS OPEN!
So how did, “probably the smallest sailing club in the world”, get to be nominated for this prestigious national award? In 2020 Gresford SC almost folded, but didn’t, but they realised that to survive they had to think differently, do differently, and innovate.
Gresford Sailing Club was established by Arthur Jones and Reg Gibbs in 1959 with an ethos that “Cost Must Not Be a Barrier to Participation”.
A small, friendly, open and inclusive club, they sail on the 6-acre Flash by the Old Wrexham Road near Wrexham. As far as they’re aware, this is the smallest lake used for a dinghy sailing club anywhere in the world – hence the unofficial title!
Very much at the “Grass roots” of the sport Gresford Sailing Club is not elite and it is certainly not at the forefront of technical innovation, they have:
- Adult Dinghy sailing
- Junior and Adult Training sessions
- Stand-up Paddle Boarding
- Model Boating.
They are an RYA Recognised Training Centre with RYA Sailability Foundation status and hold a Sport Wales In-sport Ribbon for inclusive sports activity. Low water in 2018 and 2019 followed by covid almost led to the collapse of the club in 2020. But a small group was determined for the club to survive and grow again.
If you’d like to find out more, visit their website: https://gresfordsailingclub.com/
