Please select your home edition
Edition

SEAS scheme gets national award

by RYA Cymru-Wales 20 Feb 2019 12:51 PST
Jon Gamon and Conway's SEAS Group - MoreThanSailing © RYA Cymru-Wales

A North Wales sailing centre has received a national award for a scheme which has seen more than 50 disabled sailors regularly involved in the sport through more than 400 sessions.

Jon Gamon and the SEAS (Supporting Enabling Accessible Sailing) Sailability group at the Conway Centre on Anglesey collected the #MoreThanSailing Award at the 2019 RYA Sailability Annual Awards, at the Sailability National Conference and Awards Dinner at Wyboston Lakes.

The conference was the most popular to date, with more than 160 delegates, representing 57 Sailability sites across the UK in attendance. Seven different awards were presented, recognising individuals and organisations whose contribution and achievements have made a real impact.

The #MoreThanSailing Award, recognising a new and innovative project, activity or piece of work that has enabled inactive disabled people to become more active, was presented this year for the first time.

Jon Gamon commented, "It's great to take this award back to North Wales. It means such a lot, it's amazing.

"Setting up the SEAS Sailability group has been a real community effort, there's been lots and lots of people involved and to be able to take this back to the Conway Centre and show everyone, they'll all be really proud.

"Why Sailability? Sailing is one of the few things that levels the playing field, it's the one thing that everyone can do.

"When you get in the boat it doesn't matter what's right or wrong with you, that all goes away and people can compete at the same level."

RYA Sailability Manager, Joff McGill explained, "Congratulations to all of this year's award winners.

"The Sailability Annual Awards recognise the dedication, commitment and contribution of so many, but of course it's way more than that, there are so many other people who have given so much and we're just recognising a few of them.

"SEAS is a story of partnership funders such as the Outdoor Partnership, all the local groups, the volunteers, colleagues at RYA Cymru Wales but Jon Gamon and his drive, determination and very big smile has been at the heart of it.

"An open day this April attracted 57 sailors. Word was out there...but the funding only covered 6 people per session, every other week.

"A call out on Facebook found 17 volunteers, and the sessions were running every other week for around 50 people nearly 400 individual sessions were delivered over the 10 weeks some doing all the sessions, most doing at least three.

"Those local groups now enjoy the beauty of the Menai Straits, the experience of being on the water, and the chance to swap tales of derring do at the BBQ after every session."

RYA Cymru Wales chair and interim CEO Mike Buttterfield added, "This is really great news and reward for a lot of hard work.

"SEAS has been a major part in rebuilding the Sailability provision in North Wales and the success it has had shows the potential. Congratulations to Jon and his team."

To find out more about disabled sailing and RYA Sailability visit rya.org.uk/sailability.

For further details about Welsh sailing and watersports, please go to RYA CYMRU Wales page on website or Facebook page or follow on Twitter @RYACymruWales. You can also keep up to date by following RYA Cymru Wales on Instagram.

Related Articles

49er, 49erFX and Nacra 17 Europeans Day 4
Bergmann with Wille keep their nerve to move into FX lead Olympic veterans in the 49erFX Marla Bergmann with Hanna Wille (GER) kept their nerve and used their speed to move into the lead, scoring the fewest points on day 4. Posted today at 7:49 pm
Windies Multihull Trophy winners announced
Thirty multihulls competed across eighteen events from Barbados to the British Virgin Islands. With the conclusion of the 2025 season, the Caribbean Sailing Association's Budget Marine Windies Multihull Trophy results are in! Posted today at 7:12 pm
Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup Day 4
Hutchinson adding the missing element as American Magic Quantum Racing close in on title Now holding a 13-points lead after today's two races contested at the Galicia 52 Super Series Royal Cup, American Magic Quantum Racing crew are on the cusp of completing their first 52 SUPER SERIES regatta win since victory in Barcelona in September 2022. Posted today at 5:39 pm
Emirates GBR looking to bounce back
At the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend Emirates GBR Driver Dylan Fletcher said the team was "looking to bounce back" at the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix this weekend, following a "tough time" at the back-to-back US events in LA and San Francisco in March. Posted today at 5:30 pm
BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival 2026 dates
The event has moved forward a week from previously published dates For 2026, the BVI Spring Regatta & Sailing Festival has moved the event forward a week from previously published dates to March 23-29. Posted today at 5:07 pm
Rooster Sailing's 2025 Collection Just Dropped
From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers From the redesigned Technical Shorts to the all-new SB2 Deck Trainers, the 2025 collection has been developed with real sailors, for real conditions. Posted today at 4:00 pm
2025 Santa Maria Cup in Annapolis, USA Day 2
Final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage A thrilling second day of racing at the 2025 Santa Maria Cup saw the final four skippers emerge from a competitive qualifying double-round robin stage. Posted today at 4:47 am
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
Scandinavian Gold Cup at Sopot, Poland Day 1
A slow start with very little wind The Scandinavian Gold Cup opened Thursday in Sopot, Poland, with seven 5.5 Metres competing for this historic and iconic trophy that dates back to 1922. Unfortunately, there was not enough wind to even complete one race. Posted on 5 Jun
Brooklyn kids launch 7 ft boats they built by hand
Join us in celebrating the accomplishments of our boat-building students Brooklyn Boatworks, a local nonprofit that teaches NYC public school students—mostly from underserved communities—to build and launch their own wooden sailboats from 3 sheets of plywood, a set of plans, and tools. Posted on 5 Jun