Royal Southampton Yacht Club increases dinghy fleet and participation

by RYA on 25 Aug 2015 The Royal Southampton has been expanding its dinghy fleet at its Beaulieu output at Gins, and the Commodore, Gordon Agnew has taken time out to thank members who have helped make the extension of dinghy activity on the Beaulieu River possible.

The club has been growing its dinghy fleet over the past two years and has been anxious to see the dinghy activity on the river increase among both members and cadets.

John Pockett of the RYA Southern Region says “This is a very good example of a club’s best practice to make sailing more accessible. Non-members can attend the RSYC junior training sessions, which again encourages participation and membership.”

Increasing the size of the dinghy fleet is a major factor in allowing the club to run cadet days, family dinghy days and recently introduced Friday evening sailing sessions at Gins, without having recourse to other agencies and sailing clubs.

The Commodore singled out 15-year-old Izzy Shepard for not only winning the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week art competition with her entry to the Best of British Competition in 2012 but also her entry into the same competition in 2013 with her picture of Sea Life and Sailing.

“Her two wins have enabled us to buy two Picos, one named after Isabella and the second named after her sister Amelia,” he said.

Club also showed its gratitude to member Jane Windsor for her donation which added Pico Jilly to the fleet, while the Roper family, Bill and Margaret added a Laser Dobbin to the fleet by very kindly donating the family dinghy to the Club. Rear Commodore Sailing, Bob Trimble, and his wife Jan gave the Club the Pico Silver.

The Commodore said “We now have six Picos, two Toppers, two lasers, Gull and Wanderer and those, together with our safety boat, give us a solid base to build on in the future based at Gins. Hopefully we will acquire more dinghies and really begin to benefit everyone, both adult members and cadets in the future.