It is set to be a landmark year for Hollowell Sailing Club as the club celebrates its 50th anniversary with the aim to get 1,000 local people sailing over the next three years.
Hollowell SC, winners of the RYA Club of the Year Award for Britain’s best sailing club in 2012, already has over 400 people sailing regularly as club members. But the club has now launched ambitious plans to makes sailing even more accessible for anyone within a 25-mile radius of Hollowell Reservoir, where the club is situated.
At the heart of the project sits the desire to promote active lifestyles in line with the new Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) strategy for sport. Through sailing Hollowell wants to help increase and sustain participation in 2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity once a week for over 1,000 local people.
As Rob Dunkley, Hollowell SC Commodore explains: “Residents of this area have indicated they have an interest in taking part in more sport and in particular watersports and we want to challenge them to do this.
“We’re passionate about messing about in boats and dinghy sailing can be anything you want it to be, from a lazy float about after a hard day at work watching the evening sun to a high adrenaline competitive race against the best. There is something to love and enjoy in this genuine sport for all.
“Without really knowing how, we have created a warm and welcoming community that shares its expertise, resources and enthusiasm with anyone who comes through the gate. We have invested heavily in our infrastructure over the past 20 years and have capacity for growth on the water. Our project is about increasing our capacity to reach out and meet more of the latent demand in our wider community.”
Hollowell SC will be opening its doors for anyone to try sailing and windsurfing for free when it hosts its annual Open Day on Saturday 7 May, while the club’s Tuesday Tasters provide the chance for newcomers to get a more in-depth introduction to the sport. The club also runs Back On The Water sessions for people who may have sailed in the past but want to rediscover the sport and brush up their rusty skills.
Further strengthening links with local schools, community groups and other organisations are also central to Hollowell’s plans, with its status as an RYA OnBoard club – providing low cost sailing opportunities for youngsters aged 8-18 – giving the club another platform to inspire the next generation. A whole family can sail for just £14.50 a month at Hollowell and you don’t need to own a boat as the club has dinghies members can hire at low cost too.
Rob added: “We know it is the sum of the parts that means more people are physically active for longer. One of the main reasons people stay is they form relationships on and off the water and enjoy the camaraderie. It is not just the number of times we launch and sail that counts, but it is all that goes alongside this to make us feel like being physically active all the time and over many years.”
Hollowell SC started with the launch of the first Mirror dinghy from a muddy shore in 1966, and on Saturday 23 April the club will mark its Golden Jubilee with a special Anniversary Celebration and Awards dinner.
Hollowell SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety. The club is also running a number of RYA learn to sail and improver courses throughout the year. For more information on what Hollowell SC could do for you and your family visit www.hollowellsc.org.uk