At the end of 2024 the Committee and I decided we would enter as many of the RYA Awards as possible following our successful nomination in 2024 for the Green Award.  A sub committee consisting of Andrew Farebrother, Liz Ballinger and David Long came together to look at the awards which we could apply for in 2025.  The structure of the RYA awards changed in 2025 from those awarded in 2024.   In 2024 a “Club of the Year” was awarded from the winners of 4 different categories of which the Green Award was one of them.  Details are available on the RYA website.

We decided to apply for 4 awards, namely:

• RYA Awards for Inspirational Race Coach or Instructor – We nominated Margaret Pell (Senior Instructor) and Nigel Silman (Chief Instructor).  This award celebrates those who dedicate themselves to coaching, mentoring, and inspiring sailors to achieve their best on the water.
• RYA Green Blue Team - This award celebrates teams who have inspired and supported affiliates in implementing sustainable practices or introducing environmental projects that reduced carbon footprints within organisations.
• RYA Rising Star – We nominated Alex Llewellyn for this award.  This award celebrates exceptional young volunteers (25 or under) recognising the outstanding impact they have made to their boating communities.

Success!!

At the RYA Dinghy and water sports show on 22^nd February, Margaret, Nigel, Andrew, Dave, Liz were all invited with their plus 1’s to attend the award ceremony where the finalists and overall winners were announced.  Many of our members came and provided additional support from the sidelines and witnessed our success.  Liz was unable to attend.

The RYA Awards for Inspirational Race Coach or Instructor was awarded to Margaret Pell and Nigel Silman.  WWYSA was then announced as the RYA Green Blue Team winner for 2025.  Full details are available at http://rya.org.uk/news/rya-awards-2025.

Alex did not make the finalists this year but has received a small award in recognition.  This was given to him in March.

The Green Blue Team award is known as a RYA Affiliate Award.  Since winning the award this year, we have been contacted by the RYA asking if they can come to our Club to create a video about the Club and the Green Blue Award as well as take some photographs.  Our Principal is currently arranging a convenient date for this but this is likely to be a Monday evening sailing session at the end of May or start of June.  We also get to display the Pennant on our website, socials and correspondence.

Although the Sub Committee submitted the application for the Green Blue Award, the Club could not have applied for it without the support of your Committee and the help of our Bosun and his unsung team of supporters who regularly work away silently in the background to ensure all of our boats and kit are in a good state of repair.  On behalf of everyone who gets to use the equipment on a regular basis, THANK YOU!

A number of people have asked what the Club did to win the Green Blue Award.  The information below is taken from our application made in September 2024.  If you have any questions surrounding this, please let me know.

Following success at the RYA awards in 2024 for Green Club of the Year, at WWYSA we continue with our green ethos and have been inspired to deliver a whole host of environmental benefits evolving our Development Plan.

During 2024 we have been engaging with our membership and celebrating our successes implementing these sustainable practices:

• Purchased 3 new electric outboard motors to replace all petrol motors
• Invested in re-usable crockery and cutlery - multi-use plastic cups/plastic plates
• Sourced named mugs for our volunteers from the local pottery supporting the local community heritage of traditional skills
• Encourage members to use ‘swap shop’ for used sailing kit so that all supplies are fully utilised providing a financial and environmental benefit
• Reduction of carbon footprint through installation of solar panels providing adequate electricity to recharge the batteries for the outboard motors and lighting.

Our environmental project work has continued, we have successfully helped to reduce our carbon footprint by:

• Only using non-toxic cleaning products
• Recycling of plastic, paper, glass and food waste
• Exploiting all potential avenues to re-purpose and re-use equipment before purchasing new
• Repurposing boats beyond reasonable repair, e.g. a Topper which was damaged in a storm had parts re-used to maintain other boats and then was re-purposed using ‘scrap’ metal to make a stand for it to serve as a training rig for dry tacking and gybing
• Undertake repairs in-house where possible
• Ensuring any outside contracts are locally sourced
• Kept inhouse the maintenance of our grounds
• Promotion of green culture for all users of the lake.

 Implementation of innovative approaches to minimise environmental impacts by:

• Embedded a culture of sustainability and awareness to minimise the impact on the lake and lake shore
• Using our rainwater storage tank to clean boats and hard standing

• Fundraising for lake dredging to provide a better sailing facility, acknowledging the impacts on the water quality. This leads to healthier fish and wildfowl around the lake and attracts new species. Dredging required in next year to maintain water quality, the environment for the wildlife and give an opportunity for the membership to participate in a larger engineering project
• Regular upkeep of the lake and lake shore with ‘work days’.

Overall, at WWYSA we aim to have an inclusive, sustainable, environmentally friendly, well-equipped club with a positive atmosphere and outlook. Supported by a diverse membership, approachable instructors and a visionary committee, we will deliver our Development Plan which covers our aims. This will stand us in good stead as we continue to constructively target our resources for a successful future.

We will continue to work closely with the local community strengthening relations and providing an accessible sailing opportunity for many.

As a registered charity and as a very small club it is important that whilst we maximise our facilities and potential we do not overextend or overcommit.

Sustainability, retention, and engagement is our foundation and our future, and we are developing and educating both our junior members and adult volunteers so we continue to be successful.

Finally, we are currently looking to revise our Development Plan which is a 5 year plan on the future and direction of the Club.  If you have any ideas, then please share these with David Long, Principal, in the first instance.

We are so proud of our awards, we even made a small YouTube video.  Feel free to watch along below.