Norfolk and Suffolk Clubs Push the Boat Out 

Sailing clubs and centres across Norfolk and Suffolk opened their doors and invited people to come along and have a go at sailing as part of RYA Push the Boat Out weekend.

The event, part of National Watersports Month, saw 260 open days and sailing taster sessions take place across the country, drawing some 24000 visitors and inspiring over 17,000 people of all ages and abilities to take to the water.   

Horning Sailing Club joined in to Push the Boat Out as part of Horning Boat Show Day 3 May 2014. Members took over 80 visitors out on the water, aged 3 to 80+, and they were joined by local MP Norman Lamb who went for a sail in a Rebel One Design Keelboat. Snowflake Sailing Club also joined in the event. Horning Sailing Club 

Horning Commodore Robert Hancock was pleased to welcome so many visitors to the club, saying: "It was a great day, with a real buzz around the club. Having reached the finals of RYA Club of the Year earlier this year, it was good to have been able to open our doors to the community and have a fantastic day, with a brilliant team of volunteers making everything possible." 

Brancaster Staithe Sailing Club held an Open Day on 11 May, where despite very windy day some 73 visitors got on the water in exciting conditions. Video watch     http://www.bssc.net/    

On the same day Beccles Amateur Sailing Club opened it’s doors. Although visitors couldn’t go on the water because of the weather, the number of families who joined was impressive, with lots signing up for “Sailing School”, the club’s training programme which runs from from May through to July. http://www.becclesasc.co.uk/    

Norfolk Punt Club’s Open Day had two parts, firstly a sign up session as part of the “Go Wild” event at Barton Turf, on Sunday 11 May, followed by an opportunity to get on the water the following Saturday 17 May at the first of their “Social Saturdays”.  http://www.puntclub.co.uk/   

Prospective new members had a good morning joining in club racing at Blakeney Sailing Club’s Open Day on Saturday 17 May http://blakeneysailing.co.uk/ , and on the same day visitors were able to try sailing at Hickling Broad Sailing Club, with further opportunities for prospective members to take part in racing on Sunday  http://www.hicklingbroad.com/    

Meanwhile Norfolk Broads Yacht Club gave visitors the chance to try taster sessions on the water, take a tour of the facilities and have a go on the Volvo Grinder Challenge. http://www.nbyc.co.uk/    

Holly Hancock, RYA Sailing Development Officer for the region said: “ There was a really good atmosphere at Waveney & Oulton Broad Yacht Club where some 120 visitors were taken out on the water.  There were also boats from Waveney Sailability on the water for people with disabilities to try.”  http://www.wobyc.myzen.co.uk/   

Coldham Hall Sailing Club and Norwich Frostbites SC held a Club Cruise on Sunday 18 May where18 boats took part, with visitors of all ages in a variety of craft.  Coldham Hall Sailing Club NFSC

A Sailing & Windsurfing Festival at Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre provided lots of opportunities for people to get on the water through taster sessions, courses, and an OnBoard mini regatta for the youngsters.Norfolk County Council - Whitlingham Outdoor Education Centre 

And finally Rollesby Broad Sailing Club held its Open Day on 24 May  Rollesby Broad Sailing Club   

RYA Sport Development Manager, Duncan Truswell said: “We’re grateful to the many clubs, centres and volunteers who supported Push the Boat Out. This year 140% more clubs took part and as a result we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of people attending the events and those experiencing sailing.   

“Push the Boat Out is all about people connecting with their local sailing club or provider and discovering how easy it is to get involved in the sport. So far we know that clubs gained more than 1,000 personal memberships and over 500 families became members of the clubs they visited. For our clubs and the sport this is a huge success.  We’re now analysing the great feedback we received from the clubs and using it to inform the planning of next year’s event in order to deliver a bigger and better opportunity for clubs to promote themselves in 2015.”    

For more information on RYA Push the Boat Out visit PTBO