Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst Yacht Tender 1456x180px TOP

OnBoard youngsters make a splash at Salford

by Alan Henderson / RYA 4 Nov 2010 00:42 PDT 29 October 2010

There was fun both on and off the water at the OnBoard Fun Festival on 29th October at Salford Watersports Centre. 10 teams of youngsters from across the Region completed a range of wet and dry challenges on a mild day with good breezes.

47 children of ages five up to 17 came in teams from Burwain Sailing Club, Salford Junior Sailing Club, Hollingworth Lake Activity Club, West Lancashire Yacht Club, Astbury Sailsports and Glossop Sailing Club. All the children had learned to sail with the RYA’s OnBoard initiative, and all were keen to show off their skills in friendly competition.

The Fun Festival was the final event in the Manchester OnBoard series, and in teams of three to six kids, the teams joined in a number of tricky challenges. In one, the child steering the boat was blindfolded, and had to sail guided only by the instructions of his/ her non blindfolded team mate. Onshore, there was nappy racing, with kids wearing their buoyancy aids round their legs, and regularly tripping up! There was conventional fleet racing on the water, in which each team selected their champion to go into battle against the other team reps.

In all there were eight types of race, and five of the ten teams won one or more events, so competition was keen. The winning team were Astbury Popular, while Hollingworth and Burwain both showed promise in the fleet racing. West Lancashire took the award for youngest team, after including children as young as five in their team!

The organiser, RYA OnBoard Development Officer Adam McGovern said, “The weather gods seemed to be with us, which made for a fantastic day’s racing. It was great to see so many teams, plus such young kids joining in the fun. It was a really good way to finish the OnBoard season here in the Manchester area.”

Run by the RYA, OnBoard is a grass roots programme which introduces sailing and windsurfing to young people aged 8 to 18, through schools, youth groups and training centres.

Over a ten year period OnBoard aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting over 10% of them into regular participants. So far it’s nicely on track.

For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit the RYA’s website or the OnBoard website.

Related Articles

Australian Sailing Team and Element 6 Evolution
Elite Partnership Continues Towards LA 2028 The Australian Sailing Team's (AST) ILCA program is built on a legacy of excellence, underpinned by world-class athletes, a strong squad culture, and elite equipment. Posted today at 4:59 am
58th Governor's Cup Match Racing Day 1
Cole Tapper (AUS) and Justin Callahan (USA) lead 6-0 There are always favorites before the start of major sailing events, but there are usually a few surprises as well. However, after the first day of the 58th Governor's Cup International Youth Match Racing Championship, there were no real surprises. Posted today at 4:48 am
43 Copa del Rey MAPFRE Day 2
Early Bird rises to coastal challenge to retain perfect scoreline The four divisions which are competing for the ORC European Championships titles at the 43rd Copa del Rey raced their statuary coastal race around the Bay of Palma and out to its western fringes today. Posted on 30 Jul
2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior Worlds, day 6
Medal Series line-up locked in With just one day to go before the champions are crowned, Day 6 at the 2025 iQFOiL Youth & Junior World Championships delivered high-stakes racing and emotional turning points. Posted on 30 Jul
Rolex Fastnet finishers wait with bated breath
Aiming to claim the elusive prize for IRC Overall Celebrations were finally subsiding this morning in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin's Port Chantereyne following Peter Harrison, Pierre Casiraghi and the Yacht Club de Monaco team's superb victory in the successfully rejuvenated Admiral's Cup. Posted on 30 Jul
A Heartbreaking Loss for the Sailing Community
US Sailing is deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred on Monday US Sailing is deeply saddened by the tragic accident that occurred on Monday, July 28 near the Miami Yacht Club, resulting in the loss of two young sailors and injuries to others. Posted on 30 Jul
St. Thomas Junior Sailing Summer Program
22 Students Graduate from the St. Thomas Sailing Center Twenty-two St. Thomas teenagers graduated on Friday, July 25, from the 4th annual Junior Sailing Summer Program, run by the St. Thomas Sailing Center. Posted on 30 Jul
CYCS' Maine stretch heads into third weekend
Following Camden Classics Cup The CYOA's CYCS wrapped up its second of three consecutive weekends of Gulf of Maine racing with the Camden Classics Cup last weekend, July 26 and 27. Posted on 30 Jul
Anticipation rises in centenary Rolex Fastnet Race
The podium places in the different classes have begun to take shape Of the 444 yachts competing in the centenary edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race, some 380 are eligible for overall victory under IRC Time Correction. Posted on 30 Jul
Admirals Cup: Day 8 - Minnows win AC25
Two small sailing countries have struck a hammer blow for the sport, taking top places in AC25 In a result that is a hammer blow for the sport and the revival of major offshore teams trophies, Monaco and Hong Kong have provisionally taken first and second in the world championship of offshore racing. Posted on 30 Jul
C-Tech 2021 SnuffAir 728x90 BOTTOMLloyd Stevenson - AC INEOS 1456x180px BOTTOMDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px_cruise BOTTOM