I’m really looking forward to seeing lots of people at the first SW Cruising Conference since 2018, and therefore the first one I’ll have been to! We’ve got a great programme, in a fantastic venue, and I’ll report back on this sold-out event next month.
Regional Training Day
The SW Regional Training Day at Rockley Watersports on 25 March will be a perfect pre-season preparation opportunity for your instructors, coaches and anyone else who helps make training sessions happen at your club.
The event will include workshops across the small craft schemes – power, dinghy, board sports – as well as race coaching and the theme will be ‘Creating a great participant experience.’
Make sure you’ve booked the places your people need – it’s coming up very soon!
Inspections
Just a quick reminder to all Training Centres that the inspection year runs from April to March, so you’ve got just four weeks to make sure your 2022/23 inspection is done. Please remember that it’s your responsibility to make sure your club’s been inspected.
Don’t worry if you haven’t yet received your inspection allocation for 2023/24 – you’ll get it later in April when the new inspection year starts.
Club Winter Forums
The Club Winter Forums have been very positive, with lots of useful conversations between clubs and people sharing ideas and learning about resources. It has been brilliant to watch the learning taking place, and the many follow-up emails are fantastic!
But we really need your feedback on the booking process.
It seems that the online booking form isn’t working. We’ve found that when one person has booked, he or she has actually brought several others along – which is great, but we missed the opportunity to prepare for all those attending and bring more useful information, census results etc. And we have cancelled a couple of sessions where nobody booked, but it seems that several people may have just turned up.
What are we doing wrong? Why aren’t people using the booking form? Can you tell us what can we do to make this easier for you? Please email me with your thoughts.
Together Fund
Applications to the Together Fund have just closed, and I’m happy to say that there have been loads of good ones from this region. The south-west has already benefited significantly from this initiative, and we’re looking forward to working with those who are successful in achieving the funding and sharing their successes.
If you weren’t successful, don’t be disheartened. We have three funding advisers – just drop me an email and I can put you in touch – and there’s also the very useful Funding Finder tool.
Southampton International Boat Show
For a limited time only, RYA members can take advantage of an exclusive FREE ticket to the Southampton International Boat Show, plus up to two half-price tickets. The free tickets must be redeemed before Tuesday 11 April 2023. Find out more
Junior racing news from Regional Performance Manager, Duncan West
Entries are now open for the Regional Junior Championships!
The South and SW Windsurfing event is on 10 and 11 June at Axbridge Reservoir and the SW Dinghy event is on 17 and 18 June at Royal Torbay Yacht Club. Get those bookings in!
Just a reminder that Race Coach L2 training for the spring and summer is now underway, and the Race Coach L3 course is ideal for coaches who regularly run race coaching and, since doing their RCL2 course, have started to reflect on what works and what’s challenging in their coaching. Find out more about both courses and the application process for L3.
I’m looking forward to seeing all the SW coaches and instructors attending the Regional Training Day at Rockley Watersports.
RDO Rob Howlett
07876 330374
rob.howlett@rya.org.uk