Prestigious onboard status for Blue Circle Sailing Club

After making some improvements to the club facilities this season the Blue Circle Sailing Club (BCSC) in Cliffe, North Kent, has been awarded the prestigious RYA OnBoard status by the sport’s national governing body and will be leading the way in introducing young people to sailing in Britain in 2012.  

The 2^nd Cliffe Scout Group joined Training Principle Richard Lambert when the club was presented with the OnBoard plaque on 29^th October.

Blue Circle Sailing Club, founded in 1956, enjoys fantastic sailing and windsurfing conditions on a 140 acre lake, separated from the Thames estuary only by a sea wall. The location, good sea breezes and added safety of inland sailing make BCSC the perfect place for any learner, adults and juniors alike, to gain confidence on the water and improve their skills.  

Sam Rowe, OnBoard Development Officer for Kent, said: ‘It is fantastic that Blue Circle Sailing Club has achieved RYA Onboard status. Having learnt to sail here myself many years ago I appreciate what a fantastic stretch of water it is. Although it is a small club the members are very dedicated to promoting sailing and have put in a lot of effort to achieve OnBoard accreditation. I’m really looking forward to working with the club over the coming years to increase youth sailing and hopefully windsurfing in the local area.’

OnBoard is the RYA’s nationwide grass roots scheme to provide youngsters aged 8 to 18 from local schools, community and youth groups with opportunities to sail regularly at low cost and continue participating at specially-designated OnBoard clubs in their area.

The first OnBoard sessions at BCSC will take place in May 2012 and are open to youngsters who want to get out on the water and learn a new skill.

Training Principal Richard Lambert commented: ‘We are delighted to have been awarded RYA OnBoard status. Blue Circle Sailing Club is a fantastic training facility and we look forward to working with lots of youth groups from North Kent over the coming season and beyond.’

Please get in touch with Richard Lambert via the club’s website www.bluecirclesailingclub.co.uk if you need any further details about next season’s OnBoard sessions or if you are interested in joining the instructor team.

Over 10 years OnBoard aims to introduce a minimum of 500,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting more than 10 per cent into regular participants.

For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit the RYA’s website www.rya.org.uk,the OnBoard website www.ruob.co.uk, or contact Sam Rowe at kent.onboard@gmail.com for further details about OnBoard in Kent.

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