New Year Message From The Commodore

My sailing club Bough Beech hosted the first RYA University Team Race Development Selection weekend just before Christmas. No less than 74 sailors attended, many of whom I am delighted to say had won their spurs at BSDRA member schools. The next two weekends will be at Oxford and again amongst the selected few there are still many BSDRA faces. This is in large part down to the efforts of the sailing staff at our schools.

Part of the role of the BSDRA is to provide assistance to those who run sailing as well as to organise events for the sailors themselves. Thus last year we were fortunate in having recent Silver Medallist Matt Findlay (now GBR1 Captain) talk us through various training exercises, and I know some of you have since managed to get Matt to help run sessions at your schools. 

For the past 18 months I have been heavily involved with the RYA Team Racing programme. One of the biggest issues we have come up against is communicating to your sailors. The RYA organises several camps that would be of interest, the most obvious one being the “Pre University Course” held at Oxford. We have a Facebook “wall” for team racers run by Matt Findlay, but if the RYA had the email addresses of all your Sixth Form sailors then they could be given notice for all the various activities. I will follow this up in an email to all staff in charge.

For those of you brave enough to be sailing this term good luck and keep warm.  Meanwhile I am looking forward to see you at the INSET Day: