SAILING CLOSE TO THE WIND
How Ripon Sailing Club turned lockdown into an opportunity to grow
NAVIGATING a course through troubled waters is an apposite metaphor for one particular club in these unprecedented times.
For the 600 members of Ripon Sailing Club – or any sailing club across Yorkshire or Britain – it is an analogy that sums up the challenges they have faced.
As with all sporting institutions, amateur or professional, coronavirus has forced many to sail close to the wind, but the good people at the Ripon club on the banks of Farnham Lake in Knaresborough have found various ways in which to not only keep their heads above water, but to thrive.
So much so that Ripon Sailing Club has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award following a hugely successful year both on and off the water, despite the challenges of the pandemic.
The volunteer- run club is one of 10 finalists from across the UK selected for the RYA and Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Awards 2021, supported by Gallagher.
A public vote will help decide the overall winner and members are hoping people from Ripon and across Yorkshire will support the club in its bid to claim the title and cap a difficult year with a happy ending.
“To be the regional finalist for the north east is a huge deal for Ripon Sailing Club,” says Jamie Kerslake, who at 32 is the club’s youngest ever Commodore.
“It’s been a hugely challenging year, we’ve had to take sailing online which has been a real challenge given we’re traditionally on the water.”
Within days of the first lockdown beginning back in midMarch, Ripon SC was already running regular activities online; virtual sailing, fitness classes, coaching, quizzes and specific junior sessions among them.
“We moved really quickly, because we’d had in our heads this was going to come,” continues Kerslake, whose club was later that year among the first to get members back on the water once the first lockdown ended.
“So we got online very quickly. We’re lucky to have a committee that are very tech savvy.
“My big fear was that people would migrate away from the club and away from sailing, but actually we’ve retained 100 per cent of members and even gained new ones.
“That’s absolutely fantastic.” Those numbers are impressive and sheds a light on just how popular the sport of sailing is.
Ripon SC has 600 members aged from two all the way through to people in their eighties.
Established in 1957, their clubhouse sits on Farnham Lake, 65 acres of spring- fed water on an old gravel quarry.
“It’s not the biggest bit of water in the world but it’s a lovely place to sail,” says Kerslake proudly.
“We’re a members club, run by members, for members. There’s no staff, we’re all volunteers, a community amateur sports club.
“All these people have given up their time to keep members engaged with the club and with sailing as a sport.”
Olympic year provides sailing with a shop window it only enjoys every four years – five in this case due to the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games.
“Traditionally it’s a good time for our sport,” says Kerslake.
“We do see an upsurge in interest, particularly in 2012 but also 2016 as well. Great Britain does so well for medals and the RYA ( Royal Yachting Association) do so well at promoting it that we see a lot of people get interested.
“The challenge is to put sailing to the forefront of people’s minds and to give them opportunities to sail in 2021, within the constraints of a pandemic.
“It has been difficult trying to keep people engaged but at the core of our sport we have a very dedicated group of sailors, a really dedicated governing body in the RYA and I think sailing is in good heart.”
Speaking as to why Ripon was selected as the best club in the north east, Rob Peake, group editor of Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting, said: “A good club will show you how to get better at sailing and encourage you to continue sailing.
“A great club will help you simply enjoy sailing – and it will welcome people from all parts its local community.
“The Club of the Year Award is unique in that it recognises the hard work that goes on behind the scenes by volunteers to make sailing clubs great, and to encourage more people into our sport.”
Michelle Gent, RYA programmes manager, added: “A huge congratulations to all 10 Club of the Year finalists. This has been an especially challenging year for clubs and the people involved in the running of these organisations have worked tirelessly so that others can safely get afloat.”
Voting will close on January 25 with the overall winner to be announced at the RYA Virtual Dinghy Show in the Spring.
For more information about Ripon Sailing Club and to cast your vote, visit: https://awards.yachtsandyachting.co.uk/riponsailingclub/
At the core of our sport we have a very dedicated group of sailors. Ripon commodore Jamie Kerslake on the health of sailing.