Club together

Only a small percentage of windsurfers are members of a club. But research suggests those who are club members are much more likely to participate in activity more regularly.

Amanda says clubs have many pros in attracting and maintaining regular windsurfers of all levels, most notably decent changing facilities, somewhere to get refreshments and an active social scene.

Priory Sailing Club in Bedford is one inland club that has invested significant time, effort and resource into boosting its windsurfing element over the past two years with great success.

Philip Winfield, the RYA Regional Club Coach for windsurfing, worked closely with Priory on turning their development plan into active members.

“In the ‘80s and ‘90s Priory had a vibrant windsurfing section, with an active youth section of regularly attending,” he explained. “The club organised windsurfing holidays, competitions and raced the dinghy sailors using a handicap system. A number of local schools, who had their own windsurfing instructors, also used the club regularly. But the inevitable happened and the young people grew up and moved on, leaving a massive void in participation.”

Fuelled by the arrival of one family, the Woodings, who wanted to learn and continue windsurfing at their local club, only 500m from their home, the old kit was dusted off. When members and the public saw boards back on the water a new chapter for the club began.

In total the club brought 12 new boards and a variety of sail rigs, including with a £12,000 grant from the local Harpur Trust charity, while Bedford University agreed to lend a further four boards when needed. A student, Josh Brown-Bolton, joined as an instructor.

With commodore Tim Hewett, a Windsurfing Development Plan was formed and Robbie Bell, RYA Regional Development Officer, supported the club to part-fund the training of volunteer windsurfing Start instructors from the club membership, which Phillip delivered.

“The club got 12 volunteer sailors to undertake the training plus First Aid and Powerboat Level 2,” continues Phillip. “Six of them then undertook the Start instructor course.

“2013 was a very successful year with members, school groups and the local community participating in a range of programmes. Youth and adult sessions, summer holiday courses, improver courses and ‘have a go’ sessions are all available now.”

Amanda concludes: “There are pockets in Britain where inland windsurfing is vibrant. Our message is don’t turn your nose up about what may be on your doorstep.

“I think if I lived near a lake now I would go windsurfing more often than I do. That is the mindset we want everyone else who loves the sport to embrace and just get out windsurfing wherever and whenever they can.”

Find out more about windsurfing at www.rya.org.uk

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