Saltash Sailing Club (SSC) has developed a Topper Race Academy after the pandemic negatively impacted both its volunteer base and its formerly strong youth racing section.
Aiming to reengage existing volunteers, as well as attracting new ones, the club launched the Academy this year and more than 12 young sailors are already involved, with nine registered for the regional regatta and lots of Toppers signed up for Tuesday night club racing.
Volunteers have been quick to assist: two former Topper zone squad sailors have been running on-the-water demonstrations, coaching and mark laying, there are five new actively engaged adult volunteers and three former instructors have also returned. The adult volunteers are looking to get formal RYA validation and to be assimilated into the wider club volunteer team.
James Mills is Vice Commodore of SSC. He explains that volunteers have lots of different reasons to get involved: “The motivations for volunteers within the Academy can vary. For example, we have people who want to keep their qualifications up-to-date and valid as well as former Topper sailors who are now in their later teens and want to pass on their skills while also learning about race management.
“There are also experienced sailors who want to mentor or support their own children and others.
“We even have a mum who is fed up with sitting on the sidelines while her husband and children sail, so she’s volunteered to crew the safety boat!”
James himself is one of the Academy volunteers: “As an SI, Race Coach as well as Vice Commodore, my own motivations were to:
- Build confidence in the sailors so that they are well prepared to race and actively participate within the Topper traveller event and club racing
- Engage and attract current and new volunteers
- Provide more focussed coaching than can often be achieved on a general club cadet night with mixed boats and abilities.
“I am also a relatively newly qualified Race Coach level 2 and I was keen to put what I have learnt into action and provide a return on the investment to achieve that qualification.”
SSC continues to develop its Assistant Instructors and cadet Dinghy Instructors, putting between four and six through validation each year, and it also upskills current instructors to Senior Instructor, Powerboat Instructor and Race Coach levels.
The Academy is running weekly on-the-water and classroom-based sessions. It targets and engages the parents and cadets via social media and runs a cadet night. It celebrates and promotes development success through a Topper Star Sailor award and makes racing fun. “The fun element plays a huge part, “says James. “It has to be fun and engaging for the sailors and, just as importantly, fun for the volunteers.”
The South West Topper Traveller Regatta took place on 8 May at the club, and was a huge success. Now James and the team plan to take the Topper Race Academy on the road to more regional events.
