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Derbyshire sailing club shortlisted for top award

8 February 2012

The national governing body award recognises clubs which excel at promoting the sport of sailing, encourage people on to the water and make their activities varied and accessible to the community.

The overall 2012 winner from the shortlist of five will be announced at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, London on Saturday, March 3.

Staunton Harold SC has made great strides in creating even more opportunities for local people to get involved in sailing over the past 12 months. Their commitment to improving their facilities and equipment is paying dividends, with 87 new members recruited in 2011 and total membership now at around 400, yet they continue striving to renovate and extend the club further to open up their doors wider still.

The club has a range of learn to sail and windsurfing activities, with clearly defined pathways to enable people to improve and develop their skills, whether in racing, cruising, instructing or volunteering, and fully embrace life as a member of a buzzing, welcoming sailing club. 

Staunton Harold’s ‘Friday Night Club’ has proved a success in getting whole families along to make the most of informal coaching sessions. Meanwhile, through RYA OnBoard, the nationwide grassroots sailing and windsurfing scheme, Staunton Harold SC continues to forge links with many local schools and youth groups, combining OnBoard sessions with the Friday Night Club to provide the opportunity for other family members to also enjoy their first taste of sailing. 

A very active Junior squad enjoy regular weekend training camps throughout the year, where they can learn and improve their sailing skills together. As a Volvo RYA Champion Club, the club’s talented youngsters are frequently fed into the RYA’s World Class racing programmes.

Nick Waters, Staunton Harold SC Commodore, said: “People know when they come to Staunton Harold SC they will get a really warm welcome and enjoy our activities in a safe environment, whether they are beginners or experienced sailors. We are a close-knit group and everyone appreciates the value of working hard for the good of the club. We are delighted to have been nominated as RYA Club of the Year finalists and look forward to attending the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show next month.”

RYA Volunteer Development Officer Jackie Bennetts, who coordinates the awards, said: “All this year’s RYA Club of the Year finalists are excellent, well run, vibrant and forward looking clubs, who really excel at what they set out to do. The Club of the Year Awards are a fantastic opportunity to highlight and promote all the good work clubs and their members put into keeping our sport alive.”

The other four nominees for RYA Club of the Year 2012 are Chichester Yacht Club (West Sussex), Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club (Greater Manchester), Salcombe Yacht Club (Devon) and Hollowell Sailing Club (Northamptonshire).