Loch Tummel Sailing Club earns RYA Champion status

Jul 4 2008 by Andrew Welsh, Perthshire Advertiser Friday

A STRONG commitment to nurturing young talent has earned a Perthshire watersports organisation a national accolade.

Foss-based Loch Tummel Sailing Club has been awarded Champion Club status by the Royal Yachting Association for its youth work.

The prestigious award was presented by Angie Sword, RYA Scotland’s ‘on board’ manager, during celebrations to mark the opening of Loch Tummel’s newly enlarged clubhouse.

“We’re really happy to be able to support our young sailors and the local sailing club,” she said yesterday.

Neil Ferguson, commodore at the club, located on Loch Tummel’s south-west shore, described the recognition as “great news”.

“It is recognition of what we have done to help develop the local junior sailors, and the success they have had over the past few seasons at events and regattas,” he told PA Sport.

The RYA programme recognises UK-based clubs with a commitment to youth sailing and race coaching.

It aims to encourage young sailors and windsurfers at grassroots level to stay in the sport and learn to compete, while encouraging clubs to help develop their skills.

The scheme’s key challenge is to encourage more young people to participate in sailing.

RYA’s local high performance manager Roy McCubbin said the Loch Tummel sailors can expect to benefit from additional advice, coaching, and facilities.

Another major plus for members will be access to Volvo Eco Challenge grants to help make the club more eco-friendly.

“It an exciting time to be involved in the programme and the incentives are there for every club,” said Mr McCubbin yesterday.

“The easier we can make it for more clubs to do that then the quicker the sport of sailing will benefit.”