Staffordshire sailing club helping lead nationwide drive to boost windsurfing

 

A Staffordshire sailing club is leading the way in helping sailing’s national governing body boost the number of people windsurfing throughout Britain this year.

 

Abbots Bromley-based Blithfield Sailing Club was one of five clubs from across the Midlands handpicked by the RYA to attend the first ever Midlands ‘Activate Windsurfing Day’ at Draycote Water near Rugby on Saturday (2 April), as part of the RYA’s nationwide campaign to get more people windsurfing at local sailing clubs.

 

Activate Windsurfing Day brought together clubs who have demonstrated a commitment to running well-organised and enjoyable windsurfing activities so they could learn from, and be inspired by, what each other does. The aim is to increase the number of clubs with buzzing, vibrant windsurfing sections to encourage even more people, first-timers or experienced sailors, youths or adults, men or women, to get involved in the sport at their local clubs.

 

Blithfield Sailing Club’s Simon Dugmore (red jacket) watches on as the windsurfers prepare their boards for sailing at the first Midlands ‘Activate Windsurfing Day' at Draycote Water, April 2011.

Simon Dugmore, windsurfing ‘champion’ at Blithfield SC, explained: “It was such a useful day. Not only did we get to share ideas and tips with other clubs who are passionate about promoting windsurfing but we also got to try out some of the latest windsurfing kit, got advice on funding and learned how to put activity pathways in place so that someone can learn to windsurf with us and then go on to develop their skills to compete at a high-level whether in racing or freestyle.”

 

Gillian Wright, RYA National Windsurfing Development Officer, said: “Our vision is to show windsurfers that sailing clubs are a great place to take part in windsurfing on a regular basis and to make some lifelong friends in a hugely sociable and friendly environment. Our ‘Activate Windsurfing’ days are aimed at windsurfers and run by windsurfers all of whom share the same passion for our fantastic sport and want to see it develop, thrive and grow.

 

“We want to raise the profile of those clubs who are doing a great job and want to be the best. We also want to work with those clubs who are less developed in terms of windsurfing and help them raise the profile of windsurfing within their club, encourage new members to join their club and inspire existing members to join in the windsurfing fun more often.”

 

For more information on getting involved in windsurfing at Blithfield SC visit www.blithfield.org.uk or to find out where to windsurf near you visit www.rya.org.uk/wheresmynearest

                                       

 

For more information:

Karenza Morton

RYA East Midlands Regional Communicator

Tel: 07837 707630

Email: press@tenpointstick.co.uk

www.rya.org.uk