Hello,

RYA Training Conference 

It was great to see so many from the South region at this month’s RYA Training Conference. I hope those that wanted to chat with me did so, if not please do give me a call or drop me an email. 

We heard from lots of different experts, and I hope everyone found the day useful. The UK Hydrographic Office gave an interesting update about their transition from paper to digital formats. The layering method was interesting to hear about and with the service being a print on demand service this means that charts will be completely up-to-date. I know this was of more interest to some than others, but still good to learn about the changes even if they don’t affect you directly on a day-to-day basis. 

RYA South OnBoard Development Day 

Polly Schafer and I were delighted that so many OnBoard venues attended our recent RYA South OnBoard Development Day. It was a full day of learning which included a refresher of OnBoard character attributes and resources for those new and older to the programme. 

We also held a really good session on keeping in touch with members and the vast array of options available. With this in mind, please always let us know about your upcoming OnBoard activities so that we can help promote them too. Please email details to Helen Skelton-Smith, who looks after the South communications and we can promote them on the RYA South Facebook and Twitter, and perhaps local media too. 

OnBoard Skill Development Days 

OnBoard Development Days will be taking place in March and April. These are perfect for dinghy and windsurf instructors who would like to learn new skills and improve delivery of all levels of OnBoard sessions at your club. 

Sailing:

• Royal Victoria YC on 4 March

• Lymington Town SC on 18 March

• Emberton Park SC on 25 March

• Bosham SC on 1 April 

Windsurfing: 

• Calshot Activities Centre on 20 March 

They cost £25 per person and you can book here.

RYA South Regional Training Day

I am pleased to report that bookings for upcoming South Regional Training Day are now open! You can book here.

It takes place on 11th March at Thorney Island and as previously reported, this year’s day has been expanded so that it now includes everyone who is involved in the practical delivery of activities supported by the RYA small craft schemes. So… dinghy, keelboat, multihull, windsurfing, powerboat, winging, race coaches, plus Sailability groups, Training Centres and Clubs, are all welcome.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Creating a great participant experience’, which will help shape the comprehensive programme of workshops, a full-group session plus small group sessions and activities – all of which are tailored to needs of our South region. 

It will be a day well worth coming along to. I, of course, will be there along with Duncan West and Leon Ward, along with RYA Chief Instructor Rachel Andrews or Liz McMaster. Accommodation, lunch and refreshments included in the cost of the day. 

RYA Workshops

A FREE Person Centred Coaching Workshop will take place on Monday 13 March at Andrew Simpson Centre (Reading). The day is suitable for anyone involved in RYA activity, whether from a club, centre or Sailability venue, and would like to learn more about how to deliver on the water sessions for people from diverse communities. It will cover a range of topics plus practical tips and know how on how to successfully adapt a session. I think the day will be really beneficial and help boost confidence. Book here.

A Connect with Coaching Workshop will take place on the Saturday (25 Feb) of the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show at 9pm – 10:30am. Hosted by Dave Mellor (RYA Coach Development Manager) and Tim Cross (RYA Coach Developer), the workshop is for anyone who holds an RYA Race Coaching certificate, and will support race coaches (in particular RCL3’s) to reflect upon their individual coaching practice and share ‘tools’ a race coach can use to increase sailor engagement while supporting sailors to learn and develop their racing skills. 

To register for this workshop send an email to coachingdevelopment@rya.org.uk with the subject of “Dinghy Show CWC workshop” by Monday 20th February. Please state your name, email and your club/training centre within the email. 

Race Coach Level 3 courses 

A Race Coach Level Three 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. We have both a dinghy and windsurf course available, please note that candidates need to attend both weekends of the chosen course. Book here. 

Course 1 – Dinghy specific – weekends of 22nd- 23rd April and 6th-7th May at WPNSA/ Portland House.

Course 2 – Windsurf specific – weekends of 20th- 21st May and 14th-15th October. Venue TBC. 

This course does has an application process, which can be found here. Once an application form is complete and reviewed by the Coach Development Team,  candidates will be sent the link to book onto the course. The course costs £300 and includes all coaching and Saturday night accommodation on both weekends, along with catering. 

Race Coach Level 2 

If your club would like to run a Race Course Level 2 course please do get in touch with Duncan West to organise this. Email Duncan or call him on 07747 111447. More information on race coaching can be found here.  

RYA Courses

We have a range of courses taking place over the next few months around the region. If your club has any RYA Dinghy Instructors looking to advance to become a RYA Senior Instructor, then we have two SI courses available. Each 4 day course costs £275. 

RYA Dinghy Senior Instructor Courses:

• Tackt-Isle Adventures & UKSA over 18/19 March and 25/26 March 

• Watersport Academy & Caldecotte Xperience over 15/16 April and 22/23 April. 

In addition we have:

• Advanced Instructor Skill Development Day at Chichester YC on 26 March 

• Advanced Sailing Instructor Endorsement at SWAC on 29/30 April

• Powerboat / Safety Boat Instructor Skills Development Day at Lymington Town SC on 25 February

Book here. 

Youth and junior activity 

We have lots of vibrant youth and junior activity in our region so I’m sure many youngsters are looking forward to the upcoming Regional Junior Championships. The Windsurfing event is 10th – 11th June at Bristol Corinthian YC, Axbridge Reservoir, and the sailing event is the following weekend of 17th – 18th June at Oxford Sailing Club. Bookings open later this month hopefully. 

Bookings for the Youth National Championships are now open too!

RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show

Not long until the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show here! It’s all there: talks, kit for boats and boards, clothing, exhibitors and clubs, plus RYA experts including the South team. Takes place at Farnborough Conference Centre on 25-26th February. More information and free tickets for RYA members here – Remember there’s a 10% discount code for clubs. Here’s the code you need to use: RYAEX23200

And last but not least…

I am very thrilled to be involved in the organisation of the upcoming 2023 Formula Kite European Championships which will take place on the waters off Eastney Beach in Portsmouth! From 19th – 24th September you will be able to watch the world’s best racers from the Olympic circuit battle it out to become the European Champion. I hope to have lots of local children and young people from Portsmouth take part in some activities from a specially created Beach Classroom which is all very exciting. 

In case you’re not sure what kite foiling is let me enlighten you: riders ‘fly’ above the water on hydrofoils attached to boards, which are powered by huge kites propelling them to incredible speeds of up to 45 knots (51mph). It will be the first time the UK has hosted an international Formula Kite regatta since the exciting new discipline was added to the Olympic roster. I’m sure it will be a fantastic spectacle and well worth putting in your diary. 

Until next time,

Susie