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Challenging times ahead were predicted by the RYA Director of Racing Ian Walker when he addressed delegates at the RYA NW Affiliate Clubs Conference on Saturday.

He was the keynote speaker at what was the best-atttended of this event so far. He is a year into what he described as his first 'proper job' after a 26 year professional sailing career that included an Olympic silver medal in the 470 class at Atlanta (1996) , another in the Star class at Sydney (2000) and winning the Volvo Ocean Race in 2014-15 as skipper of the Abu Dhabi entry.

He said the UK has qualified for all ten Olympic sailing classes for Tokyo 2020, part of the target of being the most successful nation in boating competition.

Another recent 'win' was being chosen to host the 49er and Nacra 17 European Championships at the Weymouth and Portland Sailing Academy in 2019.

The vision for the British Youth Team was to develop and retain the best young sailors in the world, but a challenge was to get rid of the current 'pyramid' model of the pathway and turn it into a box whereby those who missed selection for the next performance tier would be channeled into other equally vital areas of the sport.

The sport relies on some 80,000 volunteers in the UK but this has challenges from the ageing demographic of sailing. Societal and perceptual changes are a factor. Another issue is a general decline in racing.

Among the changes in prospect he detailed all trapeze harnesses having to be quick release by 2023, new race formats, the eradication of redress. further moves to gender equality, and new safey measures to deal with foiling craft. There have already been 19 foil strikes in the Nacra 17 class, one of them very seriouis. There was also the possibility of 'electronic officials' in real time by 2014.

Looking forward to the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo he said because of BBC funding issues, coverage of sailing was likely to be much reduced with it being lost from the 'Red Button' ... See more

Well done to all the recipients and winners!

September Regatta -day 2

Club members have reinstated the club mooring in the Ribble estuary at Seafield Road

'That's the way to do it!'

well done the safety boat team (Rob)

* Emergency Call 77/18 🚨 *

The team were called out yesterday at 13:00 to a person in the water opposite Lytham Windmill. Fortunately, there was a boat event taking place close by, so Ribble Cruising Club's rescue boat responded to the emergency call, rescued the casualty and landed them at awaiting crews from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Lytham St Anne's RNLI page and North West Ambulance Service #Paramedics who medically checked the casualty over. ... See more

A very busy day at Fairhaven Lake, in sunny and windy conditions for a special 'Try Sailing' day.

Another lovely evening down at Fairhaven Lake for the PTBO - 'Try Sailing' evening.

Attention - Please keep an eye out.

Alert!
The outboard engine has been stolen off Bay Sea School's boat in Morecambe. It's a Honda 5hp long shaft. Please contact john@bayseaschool.com if you see a used one for sale.
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Many thanks ... See more