RYA Midlands

This close up of the racing at Hollowell Sailing Club was taken by Stewart Elder and shared with us for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition 📷 A massive thank you to everyone who has taken part over the last three months to help us put our brilliant clubs and centres in the spotlight!

These images from Ian Dooley at Rutland Sailing Club encompass not only his home club but also its youth and junior sailing, including at the Eric Twiname Team Racing Championships, along with stunning sunsets and model yachting and with locations from the Midlands to Mevagissey.

Submitted for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition, this selection as with so many entries underlines the varied ways we all enjoy being on or by the water! Entries have now closed but look out for our final few contributions over the weekend.

These young Topper sailors found themselves racing in a hail storm at the recent National School Sailing Association Single Handed Team Racing event with the moment captured by Oliver Izzard of Swarkestone Sailing Club and submitted for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition 📷 We'll be announcing the winner of the October round of our competition soon - not an easy task for the judges from our RYA Midlands Regional Volunteer Team with so many fantastic entries to choose from!

Can’t attend your RYA Connected conference in person? Don’t worry! We have a whole host of online webinars for you.

Check out what’s in store this November…

📅 06 November: Enable your yacht cruisers to start racing using RYA YTC

📅 13 November: Finding the right funder & writing a successful funding application

📅 20 November: Club Governance Structures

📅 22 November: Sailability Safety Forum: manual handling

📅 27 November: Introducing the role of Welfare Officer

Register today - http://rya.org/YYAo50Q3rHw

This action shot of an intrepid Optimist sailor was captured at Hollowell Sailing Club by Paul Mallard and submitted for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition 📷 Although entries are now closed, we hope you've enjoyed seeing how all ages in the region have been enjoying the sport in 2023!

RYA Midlands Learning & Development Bursaries will be providing grants for training and projects in 2024 to support individuals, groups and clubs who are keen to grow capacity and engagement - find out more about how and why you might want to apply 👉 http://rya.org/LWgg50PZNKB

In the final 24 hours of our RYA Midlands Photography Competition we had a flurry of fantastic entries! Look out over the rest of this week as we share our remaining contributions, starting with these pictures from Joanne Hill, of Swarkestone Sailing Club, where to finish the junior season the club held a party and night sail on the last day which "proved to be very popular and a great success despite the rain!" 🌙☔⛵

If you're involved in club life - whether on a committee or with training, racing, Sailability or your class - find out more about our biggest event of the year and create your own bespoke programme for the day - RYA Connected tickets are free and include lunch! 👉 http://rya.org/G1m050PYBwK

A massive thank you to everyone who has contributed to our RYA Midlands Photography Competition!

Here's one from Megan Hardiman of Bartley Sailing Club - capturing dad on holiday in Padstow and submitted, Simon says: “As old men on windsurfs just don’t feature enough in photo competitions…”

Entries close at midnight today (Tues 31 Oct) - last chance if you'd like to take part and you could win a prize! Share your pictures in the comments or email [email protected]

Three more images for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition! In this collection Darren Clarke of Glossop SC sets the scene for a Derbyshire Youth Sailing event and shares two more from an ILCA Grand Prix at Ogston Sailing Club 📷

There is still time to submit your photos for our competition but you’ll need to make it snappy! Entries close at midnight tomorrow/Tuesday 31 October 👻 Share your pictures in the comments or email [email protected]

Well done to our ILCA, Topper and RS Feva sailors who've made a brilliant start to their winter programme over half term with our Regional Training Group camps at Pwllheli and Rutland - here's a selection of photos from Performance Manager Tim Hall who's been on tour meeting and greeting everyone!

RYA Dinghy Instructors! If you'd like to teach Performance Sailing and Sailing with Spinnakers, we have an RYA Midlands Advanced Dinghy Instructor Endorsement course on Saturday and Sunday 11-12 November at Andrew Simpson Centres Birmingham 👉 http://rya.org/9ZO550Q2hkI

Thank you to Gerry Ball for these entries for our photography competition! 📷 Taken during a recent visit by our Regional Development Officer Ben Hodgson to moderate a windsurfing instructor course at Sea Cadets Thrapston Boat Station - it was fantastic to see seven young candidates on this course!

Are you looking forward to racing this weekend? A big thank you to Darren Clarke of Glossop SC for sending in this close-up from an ILCA Grand Prix at Ogston Sailing Club for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition! There is still time to take part in our October round if you're quick, share your pictures in the comments or email [email protected] 📷

Clubs and training centres! Let us know asap now if there are any courses you need to develop your team - fill out our Demand for RYA Instructor and Racing Coach Training survey by Tuesday (31 Oct) and check out our top tips at the same time! 👉 http://rya.org/kgMB50PYgyC

Not long now until our Midlands Wing Day! If you'd like to give winging a go - or get out winging in company while picking up top tips from RYA instructors - join us Carsington Sport & Leisure on Saturday 4 November 💨 http://rya.org/kfvS50PQHUR

This entry for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition was taken at an ILCA open as Storm Nigel came through: the sun was out, the wind was up and the clouds were darkening as the fleet awaited the start of the final race - Bartley Sailing Club member Richard Ludlum caught the atmosphere perfectly!

If you have a great photo of activities with your Midlands club or centre, we'd love to see it and you could win a prize - share in the comments or email [email protected] 📷

If you're involved in running youth and junior activities at your club or centre, check out the latest training insights and opportunities in this must-read OnBoard blog for the Midlands from our Sailing Development Officer Tom Davenport! 👉 https://www.rya.org.uk/news/mids-onboard-blog-oct2023

A stunning sunset off Sagiada on the Greek mainland to finish the day! Like this morning's sunrise picture, this entry into our our RYA Midlands Photography Competition was taken by Brendan McGrath during a September trip from Corfu with Leicester-based New Parks Cruising Association - Brendan recalls: "Sadly the sailing wasn't as good as the views, we only had enough wind to switch off the engine for about two hours during the whole week!" 📷

Find out more about Leicester-based New Parks Cruising Association at http://rya.org/Hvj650PZx93 ⛵ and if you'd like to take part in our competition, simply share your photos in the comments or email [email protected]

There's still time to become an RYA Powerboat Instructor this year if you're quick! We have a a skills assessment day this Saturday 28 October followed by the PBI course 30 November to 2 December at Shustoke Sailing Club - book now at: http://rya.org/jbMn50PQlCj

A beautiful sunrise to start your week! This entry into our RYA Midlands Photography Competition was taken by Brendan McGrath while anchored off Paxos during a September trip with New Parks Cruising Association around the Ionian Sea 📷

Find out more about Leicester-based New Parks Cruising Association at www.sailnpca.org ⛵ and if you'd like to take part in our competition, simply share your photos in the comments or email [email protected]

The Bartley Beast is back! Entries are now open for the return of this popular winter series at Bartley Sailing Club - 4 days, 2 races a day, 6 to count - 11th November, 9th December, 13th January and 10th February - sign up! ➡️ https://ow.ly/IAK150PZr3Z

The Seldén SailJuice Winter Series 2023/24 kicks off in the Midlands with the Fernhurst Books Draycote Dash on 18 & 19 November 2023 at Draycote Water Sailing Club - entry now open! ➡️

Seldén SailJuice Winter Series reminds us that winter is finally upon us As the 'season of mists and mellow fruitfulness' fades, the return of the Seldén SailJuice Winter Series reminds us that winter is finally upon us.

Looking for a fun day out that doesn't break the bank? Hollowell Sailing Club's annual Iced Tankard open is this Sunday 22 October with a warm welcome for visitors and FREE entry! Lunch just £3 per person, three races, tea and prizegiving... details and sign up at: http://rya.org/TjoQ50PP35S

Get set for RYA Connected in the Midlands! If you're involved in club life - whether on a committee or with training, racing, Sailability or your class association - this event is for you! Find out more about what's happening at our Midlands event and sign up for your FREE ticket 👉 http://rya.org/eEEp50PYBwL

Looking for an RYA First Aid course? ⛵️🚑 There are spaces available on a course running at Aztec Adventure Upton Warren on Saturday 18 November ➡️ http://rya.org/eNoy50PYlgZ

Clubs and training centres! Let us know if there are any instructor and race coach courses you need to help develop your team need by filling in our quick survey before 31 October 2023 👉 http://rya.org/kbWH50PYgyF

Check out the latest entry for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition! In action is Megan Hardiman showing just how much fun an ILCA 6 is in a blow - as captured by mum Andrea of Bartley Sailing Club 📷 Share your pictures in the comments or by emailing [email protected] to put your club in the spotlight and you could win a prize! ⛵

Youth & junior sailors! It's the final round of the fabulous Derbyshire Youth Sailing traveller series this Saturday (21 Oct) at Swarkestone Sailing Club, which includes an all-comers race and the DYS annual prize giving and pizza supper, heaps of fun so don't miss it! Details at: http://rya.org/4arQ50PXSPi

The RYA affiliation process is changing... find out more about how this will affect your club, class or centre at: http://rya.org/Y2Gi50PX0wx

A very calm Hollowell Sailing Club! This atmospheric autumn view was captured by Greg Croxton during a recent Club Championship and is the latest entry for our RYA Midlands Photography Competition 👏📷

If you have a great photo of activities with your Midlands club or centre, share in the comments or email [email protected] for our October round and you could win a Helly Hansen 12L lightweight dry bag! 🍁⛵

If you'd like to give winging a go for the first time - or get out winging with others and pick up some top tips from RYA instructors - join us Carsington Sport & Leisure for our RYA Midlands Wing Day! 💨 http://rya.org/kfvS50PQHUR

Well done to Mark and Matt representing the Midlands region and joining the Midlands regional training team following the course.

https://www.facebook.com/100063798321929/posts/787269210076349/

Hollowell Sailing Club's annual Iced Tankard open is on Sunday 22 October with a warm welcome for visitors and FREE entry! Lunch just £3 per person, three races, tea and prizegiving... find all the details and sign up at: http://rya.org/TjoQ50PP35S

Thank you to Andrea Hardiman of Bartley Sailing Club for this entry to our RYA Midlands Photography Competition: Dartmouth Regatta in summer looked liked relative chaos but it wasn't so bad from the water! If you have a great photo on the water or on shore with your Midlands club or centre, home or away, we'd love to see it and you could win a prize! Share in the comments or email [email protected] 📷