Himley Hall Shortlisted for Britains Best Sailing Club Awards

Himley Hall Sailing Club, near Dudley, has officially been recognised as amongst Britain’s best after being shortlisted for the prestigious RYA Club of the Year Award 2015.

The RYA, sailing’s national governing body, presents the annual award in recognition of how well clubs promote the sport of sailing, encourage people onto the water and make their activities varied and available to their community.

And after a landmark year for Himley Hall, the club has made the final shortlist of five for the first time, alongside clubs from Norfolk, Wales, Essex and Hertfordshire.

The winner of the RYA Club of the Year Award 2015 will be revealed by RYA CEO Sarah Treseder at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, London on Saturday 28 February (4pm).

Himley Hall club commodore, Tony Sutton, believes the nomination is a nod to the power of volunteers. He said: "This is a massive achievement for a club our size. We’re only a small club with around 120 regulars sailing over the course of the season, but we reckon over 90% of members, including our juniors, helped the club in some way during 2014. 

"It may have been cutting the grass, maintaining boats, catering, painting, helping with the new decking, mending the starter's hut, coaching, manning the safety boat, rigging and putting away boats or just handing out buoyancy aids to youngsters, it all helps and keeps the club running smoothly. 

"It’s all unpaid but everyone does it because they love sailing. It’s that friendliness and a willingness to muck in and help anyone I think really sets us apart.”

Over the past year Himley Hall has made a huge impact on encouraging sailing within the local community. A Sportivate project in partnership with West Midlands Police saw more than 80 young people aged 11-22 from all backgrounds take part in regular sailing sessions, while more than 130 youngsters tried sailing through a new formal partnership with Ellowes Hall Sports College, in Lower Gornal, which has put sailing on the curriculum. 

In addition, over 100 adults tried sailing for the first time for free taster sessions run by Himley Hall as part of the national ‘have a go’ RYA Push The Boat Out event and for Himley Hall’s Armed Forces Day celebrations.  Himley Hall also regularly hosts Cubs/Scouts sailing to coincide with camping weekends at Kinver while Wombourne Guides enjoy evening activities at the club.

Himley Hall SC is a recognised RYA Training Centre, meaning it conforms to the highest standards of quality and safety, and all these standout 2014 community initiatives, plus the club’s own training and racing activities, is run entirely by volunteer instructors, coaches and assistants.

Lucy Griffiths helps co-ordinate the club’s junior activity, including through RYA OnBoard, the national grassroots programme providing low cost opportunities for schools and youth groups enabling kids aged eight to 18 to learn to sail and stay in the sport. 

She added: "Ellowes’s Headteacher talked of the club having a Messianic zeal to spread the word about sailing. I think we have and it's great to have this recognition. It just shows what a small group of determined people can achieve.”

Do you want to try sailing at Himley Hall this year? The club will once again be running free taster sessions with qualified coaches as part of RYA Push The Boat Out on Saturday 16 May. Places are limited and must be booked in advance.

Meanwhile if you already know you want to learn to sail this year, and get involved in an exhilarating, outdoor sport where everyday life really does get left on the shore then the club’s 2015 RYA adult learn to sail courses start in June. For full details of these, and all other activities, going on at the club this year visit www.himleyhallsc.org.uk

Special thanks to Arthur J. Gallagher who supports the RYA Club of the Year Award and to Sailing Awards who donated the perpetual RYA Club of the Year trophy when the award was first introduced in 2008. For more information visit www.rya.org.uk/go/cluboftheyear