Who Should Pay for the British Keelboat Academy?

One of the themes that comes out time and time again in the sport of sailing is the lack of identifiable career progressions and event hierachies. The world governing body, ISAF does a good job of looking after the Olympic classes, but development of sailing talent for things like offshore racing or ‘big boat’ sailing is less structured. (Well, we say that, but actually, in places like France there is a quite well understood progression… )

Unlike many other sports, sailors are able to be competitive at an age where most other athletes have retired and taken up commentary positions. The Volvo Ocean Race has had to mandate that in the next race three crew must be below the age of 30, which might sound like a ‘youth friendly’ position, but not many brand managers would consider 30 being youth.

So how does the sport develop young talent who are not on the Olympic path? The RYA and UKSA’s British Keelboat Academy is an interesting concept. Launched at the end of last year, the programme aims to create the next generation of UK competitors for the Volvo Ocean Race, America’s Cup, Audi Med Cup etc. The program has developed out of a previous program that have developed an alumni of UK sailors who are now successful at the top level of the sport.

It’s an interesting idea, but the programme is dependent on commercial sponsorship and the goodwill of private benefactors for funding. The Academy is getting great support from the Alumni and many other parties, but there is no certainty for the program after this trial year without additional external funding.

There are some large structural issues that make developing a program like this difficult. Sailing is becoming less and less nationalistic, therefore there is not the same value to the country in developing a UK sailor who might then go on to sail on a ‘Spanish’ team in the Volvo Ocean Race as there is developing a Rugby or Cricket star who goes on to represent the national side. We were going to use the example of British F1 drivers having a positive effect on the country’s national psyche, but Hamilton and Button in recent years were driving for UK based teams (albeit with German and Japanese engines).

If the long term goals of programmes like the Keelboat Academy is to produce enough elite sailors to create UK teams, then the backers of those UK teams must buy into the concept now. Up until now, teams have not had the longevity of football clubs or motor-racing teams. Traditionally, sailing teams have come together for a single event and then disbanded.

With the creation of super-teams like Emirates Team New-Zealand, Alinghi and TeamOrigin perhaps there is scope to create development squads or ‘B Teams’ to create long term stability and continuity. The development of talent for the future would give sponsors more confidence in the long term success of a team and help the sport in general.

With TeamOrigin scheduled to compete in the Audi Med Cup, World Match Racing Tour and Louis Vuitton Trophy, they have the most to gain from a pool of world class UK talent.

We’ll be watching the Keelboat Academy to see how it gets on in 2010.

RYA Look for Worlds Sponsors.

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is looking for a title sponsor to head up the four sailing regatta weeks which will make up one of sailings largest international events; the Laser World Championships to be held in Britain in 2010.

The event, set to attract over 1200 world class competitors from around the globe, will be held at two separate venues.

The Scottish Sailing Institute at Largs Sailing Club will welcome more than 500 sailors, including aspiring 2012 hopefuls for the Laser Radial Women’s and Men’s World Championships from 7-14 July 2010, with the Laser Radial Youth Worlds to follow from 18-25 July.

Meanwhile, Hayling Island Sailing Club will see in the region of 300 budding Olympic Champions contest the Laser (Standard) Senior and Junior World Championships from 27 August-5 September 2010, with the Laser Masters Worlds from 11-19 September welcoming around 400 sailors in four age categories from 35 years and upwards.

RYA Competitions Manager David Campbell-James commented: “This opportunity provides a fantastic platform for association with a hugely popular international sailing event.

“We look forward to working with a sponsor who shares the RYA’s passion for increasing national interest in sailing and showcasing Britain as a World Class sporting venue.”

The sponsorship opportunity will provide exposure to the world’s largest class in sailing as well as branding rights and association with a highly regarded World Class event.

New Look ‘Big-Boat’ Development Program. RYA and UKSA Team Up.

4/5 sailing websites say “The future looks bright for Britain’s up and coming young keelboat sailors”. The latest press release about UKSA and the RYA announcing a new ‘British Keelboat Academy’ opens with the line that has been repeated verbatim by content hungy sailing media.

But ‘cut and paste’ journalism aside, it’s good news for young UK sailors. The RYA Keelboat Program has relied heavily on philanthropic support and corporate charters to fund the development of this area of the sport and the new announcement should add welcome stability. There is a tendency around the world to focus development money into Olympic classes and dinghies, so its great to see the UK investing some money into developing ‘big-boat’ talent.

The new programme combines the former RYA Keelboat programme and UKSA’s GBR Yacht Racing Academy giving those involved access to the expertise and facilities of both organisations. Run to RYA standards and delivered by UKSA’s head coach, Luke McCarthy, the British Keelboat Academy will offer 50 individuals aged 18-24  a one to two year mixed programme covering all aspects of training, racing, boat work, and electronics.

Ben Willows, Director of Operations at UKSA, said:

“We are delighted to be joining forces with the RYA to create the British Keelboat Academy. Both organisations are passionate about giving young sailors the opportunity to get out on the water. We hope to inspire and support even more young people and widen access to top level racing for those already involved in the sport and also for those that wouldn’t normally have the opportunity.”

RYA Racing Manager, John Derbyshire commented:

“Providing a constant stream of talented sailors into keelboat campaigns remains a key priority for this programme. We’re really pleased to be moving this into a new era and working with UKSA on this joint approach is exciting. The mix of expertise and resources UKSA and RYA are bringing to the Academy programme will create an invaluable and world leading training resource which will continue to produce top class keelboat sailors. We plan to develop and extend the network of sponsors and partners, many of whom have supported us throughout this year, as we seek to add more value to the programme.

The RYA and UKSA will continue to run the TP52 John Merricks II, provided by the John Merricks Sailing Trust for selected campaigns in 2010, and its ‘Crewsearch’ scheme which matches sailors with skippers and boat owners looking for young talent for their keelboat campaigns.

RYA Appoint New CEO : Sarah Treseder

The RYA have announced that it has appointed Sarah Treseder as its new Chief Executive to replace Rod Carr OBE.

Richard Langford, RYA Chairman said of her appointment:

“Finding someone to fill Rod’s shoes was obviously quite a challenge for us. However, Sarah’s excellent management experience and leadership skills combined with her own personal recreational boating will be a true asset to the RYA, its members and the boating community as a whole.Her appointment, I believe, will bring an exciting new dimension to the RYA and to the marine leisure sector”.

Sarah will take up the post in February 2010, when she will work alongside the current CEO, Rod Carr OBE, for a month before his retirement in March.

Sarah Treseder:

“To be Chief Executive of the RYA is a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, and I will devote all my passion, dedication and experience to making a success of the role.

“I have been involved in cruising and racing boats all my life, and I believe that my varied experience in business and on the water will help me to connect with the sport at all levels; from grassroots programmes to the higher echelons of the racing community.

“I am very much looking forward to joining the team at the RYA next year and to working alongside Rod for the month. He has made an enormous contribution to boating in the UK and will be a hard act to follow”.

Sarah joins the RYA from The Admirable Crichton, a private luxury events company, and has extensive management experience combined with a broad sailing experience from cruising in the south west of England, France, the Channel Islands and further afield to racing in dinghies, yachts and keelboats. Currently, Sarah joint owns a Sigma 33 which she sails on the south coast.

Green Blue – Helping Sailing Improve Sustainabilty Credentials.

Sailing is positioned by many sponsorship seekers as an environmentally friendly sport. This is certainly true when compared to something like offshore powerboat racing or Formula 1, but in reality, despite being powered by the wind, sailing can always improve its sustainability credentials. At a Grand Prix level,  professional teams fly around the world to events and the manufacture of new age materials can produce some pretty environmentally unfriendly waste.

The Green Blue is  a great concept, backed by the British Marine Federation and the Royal Yachting Association (RYA). The organisation’s 2009 conference will feature Sir Keith Mills, Deputy Chair of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games 2012, and Principle of Team Origin as the keynote speaker.

The focus for the day will be ‘Success and Sustainability for the UK Recreational Marine Sector – Using sustainability to drive performance and cut costs’ and Sir Keith will open proceedings with his insights into sustainability for London 2012 and for the future of the marine sector.

The event programme is aimed at recreational marine businesses and includes thought provoking presentations from leading environmental solutions providers, case studies from companies with success stories to share, and interactive workshops on resource efficiencies to be gained in water, waste and energy.

This year’s event, sponsored by The Crown Estate, will be held at one of London’s most sustainable conference venues, the Coin Street Neighbourhood Centre, on Wednesday 4 November

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