Sailing club gets OnBoard with initiative

With a year until Rio 2016, Shropshire SC, near Ellesmere, is laying down the foundations for local youngsters to follow in the footsteps of Britain's Olympic sailing heroes through the RYA's hugely-successful nationwide OnBoard initiative.

RYA OnBoard provides low cost sailing opportunities for school and youth groups, enabling kids aged eight to18 to learn to sail. If the youngsters enjoy the sport, and want to start taking it more seriously, OnBoard clubs have pathways in place to enable them to develop their skills further and, if they wish, start racing.

Shropshire SC has a vibrant youth squad, and by becoming an OnBoard club, Shropshire SC now has an even greater opportunity to invite young people who have not experienced sailing before to get involved.

John Ridgers, Shropshire SC training principal, explained: "However well a sailing club can present itself to a local school or youth organisation, being part of a scheme that has been designed and promoted by its National Governing Body, and is delivered in annually inspected training centres by RYA recognised instructors, indicates a high quality of training in a safe and inspiring environment.

"Being an OnBoard club will also allow us to access a wealth of information and support from the RYA and our local Sailing Development Officer, meaning we can grow our own expertise and keep improving the quality and variety of opportunity we can offer youngsters throughout our local community."

Shropshire SC already has affiliated membership links with a number of local schools including Ellesmere College, Oswestry School, Morton Hall, Packwood Haugh and Lakelands Academy.

Next term it is hoped The Marches Academy in Oswestry will become the next school to start sailing at the club.

Some 30 youngsters already sail regularly at the club as part of the youth squad.

"Once a sailor joins and becomes a youth member they are automatically invited to become part of our squad, being able to borrow club wetsuits and buoyancy aids until they get their own, and are able to hire our club sailing dinghies when not in use," Ridgers added.

" It means the sport is affordable and accessible in a way that many people still believe it isn't."

Any local schools and youth groups interested in getting involved in OnBoard at Shropshire SC should contact training@shropshiresailingclub.co.uk or for more information about Shropshire SC visit www.shropshiresailingclub.co.uk - to learn about OnBoard visit www.rya.org.uk/go/onboard