Port Dinorwic Sailing Club / Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli crowned RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2021
RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Awards
Port Dinorwic Sailing
Club / Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli have been crowned RYA
and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year 2021 supported
by Gallagher, at
the virtual RYA
Dinghy Show (27th February 2021).
The annual
award recognises the outstanding achievement of clubs across the UK.
The North
Wales club were one of 10 regional finalists selected by
the RYA Awards panel and were ultimately crowned overall
winner following a public vote. The coveted trophy was
presented by Dinghy Show host, professional sailor Hannah
Diamond and RYA CEO Sarah Treseder.
Port Dinorwic SC / Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli were
awarded for being at the ‘heart of the
community’ for their innovation
and efforts to ensure activities could continue to
run safely once lockdown restrictions eased.
When many
of their members were unable to get out on the water, the club’s
ingenious online activities including training
and eSailing continued to keep them entertained and
engaged. Their social media campaign attracted new members from
the local area, boosting their membership, and
they also invested in a beach winch, allowing sailors to
pull their boats up the beach while remaining socially
distanced.
Commodore
Noel Bristow said: “Wow! I’m blown away! On behalf of all our
members, who I know will be delighted, I’d like to say a huge
thank you to everyone who has voted. We were really
proud to be recognised in the ‘Heart of the Community’ category
and now to be named RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the
Year is- it’s fantastic! Thank you to everyone who
voted and RYA Cymru Wales for all your support”.
During the virtual awards ceremony British Sailing Team athlete Kirsty
Urwin congratulated all the finalists: “This year more than any other has
provided clubs with challenges but has also proven what can be achieved under
these testing circumstances. It has been a pleasure to hear everything that has
been achieved."
RYA Director of
Sport Development Rob Clark said: “A huge congratulations to Port Dinorwic
Sailing Club and all their volunteers. Whilst this has been an extremely
challenging year for all sports organisations, Port Dinorwic SC’s hard work,
commitment to their members and innovation made them stand out to the judges.
Congratulations to all of our inspirational finalists.”
The 2021 finalists are:
-
Bolton Sailing Club
-
Chelmarsh Sailing Club
-
Debdale Outdoor Activity Club
-
Emsworth Sailing Club
-
Guernsey Yacht Club
-
Island Barn Reservoir Sailing Club
-
Port Dinorwic Sailing Club
/ Clwb Hwylio Y Felinheli
-
Prestwick Sailing Club
-
Ripon Sailing Club
-
Strangford Sailing Club
Special commendations were also awarded to
Cowes Sailability for their work connecting with isolated members and
Llandudno Sailing Club for becoming an integral part of the one of
the North Wales field hospitals whilst enabling members to
return to boating as quickly as possible.
Thank
you to Gallagher for once again supporting
the award, Moors Brothers for donating the trophy and
to RS Sailing for donating a fantastic prize for the
winning club.
2021 categories
‘Heart of the Community’ Recognition for a club who supports
their local community. This could be through the efforts of the clubs
volunteers, allowing use of the club facilities to provide a service for those
in need or encouraging local community groups to get out on the water.
‘Modern and Innovative' Recognition for a club who makes a
break from traditional ways of running a club or delivering boating activity.
This could be delivering different formats of training or racing to engage with
new participants, new membership models or embracing the use of modern
communications.
‘Sustainability’ Recognition for a club that has embraced
sustainability and demonstrably reduced its own and/or its members’ impact on
the environment through education, action or improved facilities.
‘Inclusive and open to all’ Recognition for a club or
project which has been impactful in developing participation amongst people
with disabilities or from other under-represented or disadvantaged groups.
‘Boosting membership’ Recognition for a club that has delivered the most impactful participation project, the outcomes of which are, attracting and retaining new participants and growing their membership. *not awarded this year due to the challenging environment all clubs were
having to operate under.
Applications for Club
of the Year 2022 will open in August 2021.
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