Training Success at Snettisham Beach SC
Snettisham Beach Sailing Club (SBSC) is bucking the trend with an increasing number of young people want to learn to sail despite Sport England’s recent announcement that the Olympic Legacy effect is declining.
The SBSC RYA Training Centre of Excellence was established in 2010 to provide a recognised training programme so that children and adults could learn to sail and become active club members. The success of this strategy is seen in the increasing number of sailors taking part in the club’s regular racing programme, up 11% this year alone.
Over the years the Training Centre has grown from providing a basic programme only at weekends to offering a full range of courses on most weekdays and weekends throughout the summer. These are run and managed by a full time RYA chief instructor, Jane Leet and a team of club members who are also RYA qualified instructors.
SBSC is increasingly popular as a training venue as it is unique in North Norfolk in being able to offer tuition on both inland water and the sea. Beginners have the security and safety of learning basic skills on a lake immediately adjacent to the club and as they gain proficiency more advanced lessons are taken on the sea.
Jane says: “The popularity of the Training Centre has increased this year both for individuals and groups; seven local schools, including Churchill Park, a school for children with complex needs, each bring parties of children 8 – 16 years old for a series of six weekly lessons.
“The ladies only courses are fully subscribed for June and July but there are still places on the September ladies courses. There is a full range of youth and adult courses running throughout the summer as well as an opportunity to book taster sessions and private tuition.”
In addition to sail training Jane runs RYA powerboat level 2 courses, often required when hiring a boat at home or abroad. The club has a fleet of 24 boats used for training and provides buoyancy aids and safety equipment for all students.
SBSC is an RYA approved training centre and RYA OnBoard centre, and an RYA Champion Club. To see their full range of RYA courses and the prices (discounted for SBSC members) visit training-centre.php