The RYA Club of the Year Award 2017- Winner and Finalists

The RYA Club of the Year Award 2017- Winner and Finalists

Introduced in 2007,this annual award has recognised and promoted the outstanding achievements of clubs across the UK. Ten years on, it has been updated to reflect the changing environment in which clubs now operate.

In recent years we’ve learnt more about why people take up our sport, how they participate and what they like about their clubs.We believe the Award will now better recognise the individual projects and activities run by clubs that attract people to take to the water and to enjoy sailing regularly.

As in previous years, the quality of nominations was high, making it an extremely tough job for the Awards Panel to choose just five clubs as finalists. However, after much deliberation they selected the following clubs, recognising them for their achievements across five brand new categories:

Innovation,
Inclusivity,
Increasing Participation,
Facility Development and
Communication

Ullswater Yacht Club, based in the Lake District, is winner of the Increasing Participation category. Having started 2016 deep in flood water, the club members made a massive effort to get up and running for the start of the season.

The club development plan in Sept 2015 identified a number of areas including wanting to increase membership and activity. To achieve this the club embarked on a number of initiatives to promote itself, following their tough start to 2016.

The club developed a comprehensive marketing strategy using both social media and re-vamped publicity and information leaflets to promote the club at local events. They attended the local country show, commissioned a publicity video, and improved their use of Facebook, Twitter and the club website. A weekly article in the local newspaper, provided free publicity throughout the sailing season and ensured the club was more visible than ever before.

With all this publicity attracting new members and novice sailors, the club delivered a range of on-the-water activities, including taster sessions, Level 1 & 2 courses, a series of summer clubs such as “Big Splash & Little Splash” to get children on then water having fun and a Friday night sailing youth club for local children.

The decision to run the ‘I am Team GB’ event in August saw over 1000 people visiting the club, over 500 taster sessions delivered, over 70 people signing up to ‘Go Sailing’ sessions in September, and almost filling the first courses in 2017.

A great achievement, given the challenging start they had to the season.

Heart of England Offshore Cruising Association

As winners of the Innovation category, Heart of England Offshore Cruising Associationare recognised for enabling people in the Midlands who love sailing offshore to stay connected to their passion despite living so far from the sea. Set up 25 years ago, by a number of ‘graduates’ from RYA shorebased courses the Association now has its base in a local Sports and Community building. Monthly meetings from September through to April, with guest speakers helps to keep members connected when not sailing.

Throughout the year the Association offers a range of yacht sailing opportunities, in the UK and in warmer climes, catering for beginners through to experienced offshore racers. One key aspect of the Association is that members don’t need to own or have access to a yacht to be involved. The club organises rallies, charters and ‘shared cost cruising’ to make offshore sailing more accessible, with trips last year including to the Channel Islands and Malta.

As well as its cruising activities, the Association takes part in some of Britain’s most iconic yacht racing events, including Cowes Week and the Round The Island Race, while this year Association boats will enter the legendary Fastnet Race for the third time too.

Heart of England Offshore Cruising Associationoffers people in the Midlands a way to meet other people just like them, somewhere they can develop their skills and knowledge, opportunities to get out on the sea regularly, whether they love cruising or want to go yacht racing, despite being based about as far from the sea as you can get, in Britain.

Rudyard Lake Sailing Club

Finalists last year, we welcome once again,Rudyard Lake Sailing Club, aswinners of the Communication category. Having embraced digital and more traditional media to better connect and communicate with people, they have also introduced new activities to create a powerful support network for novice sailors.

Recognising that effective communication is a two way process the club consulted its members and this feedback formed a key part of the 5 year development plan. Two years into this plan, the club’s efforts are paying dividends with membership increasing by 15% in the last year andadults doing RYA courses increasing by 140% increase. The numbers taking part in social and ‘Go Sailing’ improver sessions also trebled last year.

A commitment to promoting the club and all aspects of what is has to offer led to the creation of a PR Officer role, with responsibility for increasing the clubs presence on social media platforms, whilst also getting on the local radio and distributing leaflets in public locations and schools advertising club activities. Facebook ‘likes’ are up 50% on last yearand a record 140 people sailed at their Open Day, with pre booked Push the Boat Out sessions fully subscribed.

Their website is modern and easy to navigate with sections specifically aimed at novice sailors and new members. A weekly Commodores blog keeps members up to date with what’s happening at the club and ensures everyone knows how they can get involved.

Communication and engagement with past, present and future members underpins all that the club does.

Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club, are this year’s winners of the Inclusivity category, having worked effectively with their Local Authority to raise awareness of sailing and provide accessible opportunities for all.

In 2014 the club was invited to become a partner in a local Community Sport Activation programme, Feel Good in Hartlepool, which led to the creation of a Sailing Activator position in 2016 to deliver sailing opportunities to local people.

The club runs at least three open days each year, some of which are tailored and targeted at specific under-represented groups; women, people with disabilities and young people. These open days offer a free opportunity for people to walk off the street and give sailing a try.

As a result of these open days the ‘Ladies That Launch’ sessions have grown and become a regular feature in the sailing calendar from April to September.

Cadet sailing has also seen a dramatic increase, with numbers attending the weekly sessions doubling in 2016. Adult improver sessions along with adult training has also benefitted from the additional publicity and promotion in the local community.

Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club have ensured that anyone, from any walk of life is able to experience the joys of sailing. Whether young, old, able bodied, or with disabilities, the people of Hartlepool can now access affordable and accessible sailing.

With all this publicity attracting new members and novice sailors,the club delivered a range of on-the-water activities, including taster sessions, Level 1 & 2 courses, a series of summer clubs such as “Big Splash & Little Splash” to get children on then water having fun and a Friday night sailing youth club for local children.

The RYA Honours and Awards Panel felt that Ullswater Yacht Club has overcome a number of significant challenges in recent years. A major restructure of club management, reversing a downward trend in membership and the commitment and efforts of the membership have ensured this club goes from strength to strength.

By implementing a clear strategy this club has refreshed its image and raised its profile within the local community. The resulting increase in activity in 2016 provides a strong foundation on which the club will continue to build in coming years.

A great achievement, given the challenging start they had to theseason.

Whitefriars Sailing Club, in Gloucestershire, iswinner of the Facility Development Category.

Priding themselves on being ‘the friendly club’ with an emphasis on enjoyment rather than competition, they offer a full calendar of club racing, open competitions, training courses alongside a programme of leisure sailing and social events for people of all ages.

The club was set up in 1969, with the current clubhouse built in 1999. Since then, the club has continually evolved to meet the needs and expectations of its members, but in recent years,it identified two issues that were holding this progress in check: a lack of dry storage and the need for a covered area for training activities.

Unable to extend the clubhouse, due to its position, an alternative solution was required, and so the Training Barn came to be built. To keep costs within budget and utilise the skills and experience within the membership the club settled on the innovative idea of using two rows of shipping containers, placed 5 meters apart on a concrete pad. Finished with a pitched roof incorporating grp panels for natural light it was then clad in profiled metal to resemble an agricultural building, in-keeping with its surroundings.

The Training Barn provides the club with much needed additional space. The inclusion of an accessible toilet, drying and storage facilities along with an indoor training space means that Whitefriars Sailing Club is now in a better position to respond to and meet the needs and expectations of its members, both now and in the future.