The Club noted that completing the application for the RYA and Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year, supported by Gallagher, provided an opportunity to review and rewrite their club development plan to consider how best to continue to improve the club’s facilities and resources, and to develop activities and training to broaden the offering for members.
Nigel Butler, Commodore from 2020-22 at the Club said:
“We were absolutely delighted to receive our finalist award for Club of the Year 2023 and our selection is a wonderful accolade to recognise the commitment and dedication of the many volunteers who work so hard to make our Club such a successful, friendly place where all are welcomed to enjoy sailing and watersports. It was fantastic to meet representatives from the RYA, the organisers and 11 other finalist clubs at the finalists’ lunch at the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show – any one of the clubs would have been worthy winners.”
Achieving this award has meant that Blackwater Sailing Club has started 2023 with renewed optimism and the Club is confident that it will inspire many members to try its youth or adult sailing courses which are continuing to evolve. It gives the Club’s volunteers renewed motivation and demonstrates that their efforts don’t go unnoticed and it is already encouraging a new wave of volunteers to come forward to offer help.
The Club also hopes that the award will encourage even more potential members to come along to its Coronation weekend open day on Sunday 07 May to see and try for themselves the wonderful sailing and watersports opportunities on offer.
The 2023 racing and training programme is already well underway with a packed programme of sailing and social activities with something for everyone. 2023 is already looking like another great year for this Club of the Year finalist!
For more information about Blackwater Sailing Club please visit: Website: https://blackwatersailingclub.org.uk/ Open Day: https://blackwatersailingclub.org.uk/event-5071276 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlackwaterSC
For more information about how to get out on the water in the East Region, visit https://www.rya.org.uk/start-boating