Several of RYA Northern Ireland’s ILCA squad spent the New Year break at a warm-weather training camp in Valencia, Spain from 27 December to 3 January.

Supported by RYANI performance manager Hammy Baker, the contingent comprised ILCA 6 sailors Lewis Thompson and Daniel Palmer from Ballyholme Yacht Club as well as Bobby Driscoll (RNIYC) and Zoe Whitford (East Antrim BC), who received support from Irish Sailing, and Cormac Byrne (Strangford SC) who received support as part of Liam Glynn’s ILCA 4 Development Squad.

While this was the second year that Northern Ireland sailors have make the trip to Valencia for winter training, it was the first time they were joined by their counterparts from RYA Scotland and RYA Wales.

“It was great to have the other home nations with us,” Performance manager Andrew Baker said. “Ahead of the Celtic Cup (3-4 February in Plas Heli, Wales) and The Europeans (27 July-3 August, Ballyholme YC) I feel it’s important for the sailors to meet each other and create new training groups that are logistically in reach. There also seems to be more enthusiasm for the Celtic Cup and some competitive rivalries forming.”

For more on the RYANI ILCA training camp in Valencia, see the RYA website HERE.

RYANI is currently recruiting for two lead coach roles for the Development Academy and Team Racing as well as a Women On Water Ambassador.

The lead coach of the Development Academy provides a supportive learning environment for junior sailors within the academy, sharing their passion towards the racing pathway to the younger generation in Northern Ireland.

Meanwhile, in the Team Racing Programme, the role of the lead coach is to help deliver the programme, with structured sessions to increase the knowledge of this developing area of sailing. Team racing coaches should ideally have an in-depth knowledge of team racing rules and tactics.

The Women On Water Ambassador is expected to lead and develop the Women On Water Development Programme. By providing a supportive learning environment for women within clubs and centres, RYANI’s aim is to encourage higher participation levels, upskill people across a variety of pathways and develop a passion for people to develop in their chosen pathway.

For more details on these open roles at RYANI, see the RYA website HERE.

RYA Northern Ireland has announced the launch of its Coach Development Programme designed to develop a pool of coaches capable of coaching at a national level.

This free programme is inviting people already involved in coaching to apply to develop their existing skills through a series of workshops and on-the-water coaching days over the next 12-18 months.

In addition, not only will being part of the programme increase the chances of gaining paid work as an RYA coach, but members of the programme will also have free access to RYANI’s regional training day for Northern Ireland on Saturday 23 March 2024.

The RYA website has more HERE.

As RYA Northern Ireland marks its 50th anniversary and reflects on a fantastic year for sailing and boating in Northern Ireland, it’s time to submit nominations for its end-of-season awards and celebrate the best of the region in 2023.

The award ceremony will take place on Friday 19 April 2024 at Queen’s University Belfast’s Riddle Hall.

Alongside the regular categories of Race Coach, Race Official, Volunteer, Young Powerboater, Young Volunteer, Instructor and Young Sailor of the Year, as well as the RYANI Chair’s Nomination, this year there is the new category of Club Project of the Year, which replaces Club of the Year to align more closely with RYANI’s five-year strategy Navigating the Future.

The closing date for nominations on Wednesday 31 January 2024. For the different awards criteria and how to submit your nomination, visit the RYA website HERE.

RYA Northern Ireland’s new five-year strategy, Navigating the Future, recognises that volunteers are one of the main driving forces behind sailing and boating in Northern Ireland.

Now the organisation has announced a pilot scheme, We’re All In, which aims to reduce the impact of “volunteer burnout” and ensure the long-term sustainability of sailing in NI.

Clubs and centres will be able to apply for a small amount of funding aimed at increasing engagement, either via training of volunteers or holding a volunteer engagement day before the end of April 2024.

In addition to financial support, RYANI says it will work with clubs on a one-to-one basis “as we appreciate that each club is unique”.

Clubs who are part of the scheme will receive direct support from RYA staff about how to reach out to new volunteers most effectively and they will be supported through interactive workshops.

For more details on the pilot scheme, see the RYA website HERE.

This month, RYA Northern Ireland marks 50 years since its formation as the Ulster Branch of the Irish Yachting Association.

And to celebrate all aspects of sailing and boating in the region, a series of commemorative events will be held over the next year, culminating in a special evening in Autumn 2024.

RYANI chief executive Greg Yarnall said: “When we launched the Navigating the Future five-year strategic plan this year, we made a promise to celebrate the people and places in the sport and tell the stories of their accomplishments, dedication and commitment to the sport in Northern Ireland. The 50th-year anniversary gives us the perfect opportunity to do this.”

As part of this initiative, RYANI will be working closely with clubs and individuals around the country, encouraging them to share their stories to build a better understanding of Northern Ireland’s boating history during this period.

For more on this story, see the RYA website HERE.

Two of Northern Ireland’s most committed volunteers were recognised at the RYA Volunteer Awards in London last Friday (10 November).

Richard Robinson of County Antrim Yacht Club received an Outstanding Contribution award, while Jack Kennedy of Strangford Lough Yacht Club received a Young Volunteer award.

The event was attended by The Princess Royal, president of the RYA, and highlighted the amazing work of volunteers from all sections of the United Kingdom.

Commenting on the contribution of volunteers, RYA chief executive Sara Sutcliffe MBE said: “I am blown away by the commitment and dedication shown by our volunteers. I’m immensely grateful for everything you do, which simply put, keeps our sport and communities afloat.”

Jack Kennedy of Strangford Lough Yacht Club received a Young Volunteer award from Princess Anne

Richard Robinson supports County Antrim Yacht Club’s Training Centre as a qualified senior instructor, advanced powerboat instructor, safety boat instructor and windsurfing instructor. Over many years as a volunteer, he has taught hundreds of people to sail, led dozens of power and safety boat courses and facilitated thousands of races. Robinson is also the RTC principal for Belfast Lough Sailability.

Jack Kennedy, meanwhile, began volunteering aged 14, helping at Sunday sailing sessions for young children at Strangford Lough Yacht Club where he was also an assistant instructor. He soon progressed to become a senior instructor and powerboat instructor, helping to coordinate other activities including the regional RYA Women on Water festival and Discover Sailing days.

For more background on NI’s winning volunteers, see the RYA website HERE.

RYA Northern Ireland has officially named its performance squads for the ILCA and Topper classes ahead of the 2023/24 season.

According to RYANI, selection for both squads was based on the performance throughout the year across various events, both international and local — including the RYANI Youth Championships, which took place in September at Ballyholme Yacht Club.

RYANI performance manager Andrew Baker said: “The squads are great way to support committed sailors in their progression and it’s a critical step towards helping them at national level competition.”

For more details, including the full list of both performance squads, see the RYA website HERE.

Peter Gilmore has joined RYA Northern Ireland as its new marketing and communications executive.

The Cardiff University graduate, who was born in Dublin and grew up in NI, has most recently been freelancing as a journalist and a reporter with ITV and Greatest Hits Radio.

And he comes with a sailing pedigree too, having spent time on various RYA performance squads in his teens and also sailed across the Atlantic with his seagoing family.

For more on Gilmore and his appointment, see the RYA website HERE.

Hear from the RYANI’s performance manager Andrew Baker in the second RYA Connected Online session on Monday 27 November, where the focus will be on the talent and performance pathways for sailing in Northern Ireland.

The evening session will provide an update on selections for the 2023-24 performance squad — one of the pathways that’s helped the likes of current NI Overall Youth Sailing Champion Daniel Palmer to reach great success.

For more details and how to book your place, see the RYA website HERE.