Western Isles Sailing Coaching Weekend  

A good turnout from Stornoway Sailing Club, Uist Boat Club, and Barra Watersports Club made a good weekend even better on 1^st & 2^nd October 2011.

A good turnout from all over the Western Isles ensured that the most was made of The Western Isles Sailing Development Group's meeting on the weekend of 1st October, hosted once again by the Uist Boat Club in Lochmaddy.

Having been only formed in May by sailing, windsurfing, and powerboating interests throughout the Outer Hebrides, and backed by RYA Scotland, Western Isles Sailing is committed to not only raise the profile of each of the sports under the national governing body's remit, but also increase participation, raise standards, and enhance facilities at their disposal. The weekend provided an important opportunity for all attending to discuss sailing, windsurfing and powerboating development throughout the islands, and the group heard from Barra Watersports on their progress with their planned watersports centre. It is hoped that Stornoway will be able to establish a similar facility, starting with the essentials of a dinghy park and slipway to support the highly popular dinghy scene.

It was heartening to see that five junior club members from two clubs were able to attend, and all agreed that it was important they were involved in the behind-the-scenes development work and that they were able to understand and contribute towards the effort that must go into making these events happen. Western Isles Sailing were also lucky to secure training with renowned race officer Iona Cornish, from Royal Findhorn Yacht Club, who introduced those attending from all three clubs to the skills and internationally recognised standards necessary to host their own sailboat races.

The weekend was rounded off by a day racing dinghies on the water, in absolutely perfect conditions which saw the sun shining and the wind building from a gentle zephyr to a more exciting and gusty force four and, inevitably, a few capsizes. Everyone got a chance to practice their newly-acquired race officering skills, and to take part in the racing between the seven dinghies, which were generously provided by Uist Boat Club, along with their safety boats and thanks are extended to them for their use.

Anyone interested in learning to sail or able to help out in the running the Uist Boat Club should contact Peter Keillor. For further information about sailing in the Western Isles, please contact WIS Development Coordinator Toby Marshall