Places

Our places are where people and communities come together to share, develop and enjoy their common interest in boating, whatever form it takes or to whatever level. How

Whether a small rural club or a multi-use hub near an urban centre, we undertake to support facilities across Scotland to be successful, accessible, inclusive, valued, flexible and sustainable.

Brian finds his true north

The role of Regional Development Officer (RDO) is integral to our ambition to nurture boating people, places and communities at a local and regional level. In June 2022, Brian Pahlmann joined us as RDO for the North of Scotland.

Originally from Illinois, with a background in physical therapy and recent experience as Chair of ClubSport Aberdeen, Brian brings a fresh perspective to his role to support a range of places scattered across a large, geographically fragmented region.

“I’m completely new to the boating scene, however I believe that no matter what the sport, the principles are the same for developing people and resources, and building regional capacity and participation,” says Brian.

“North region has about 30 clubs, and many had not been particularly engaged with RYA Scotland in the past. So, I began by introducing myself – through emails and phone calls but also in-person visits – and simply saying ‘Here I am, what can I do to help you?’ Some clubs had previously been quite self-sufficient, but the pandemic had changed things and they felt they could do with support. In many cases, they just needed a sounding board or some objective input.

“Often, I’m using tools from the Changing Lives programme, such as community mapping, to help places identify and respond to needs in their communities. For example, for Invergordon Boating Club, linking their activities to Changing Lives proved useful in writing grant applications for new boats. And at Chanonry Sailing Club, I have used other Changing Lives tools to help them explore their ‘why’ – their purpose.

“I’m also actively supporting Cromarty Boat Club to develop its idea for supporting families bereaved through suicide, and Loch Broom to make governance changes (see next page).

“Another goal of mine is to convince more clubs and training centres in the region to offer the OnBoard programme. I see it as a potential solution to many of the challenges our clubs face – engaging younger people, and building confidence, teamwork and communication within their communities.”

Loch Broom evolves to serve its coastal community

Ullapool’s Loch Broom Sailing Club is in the process of becoming a SCIO (Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation) with advice and support from RDO Brian Pahlmann. The decision to change its legal status was prompted by the need to come to grips with issues of liability and insurance as it looks to gradually grow its junior dinghy sailing activities in future. The club’s junior sailing leaders Gillian Meighan and Jason Leon explain:

“Though our club mainly has a yachting membership, it has run junior dinghy sailing for many years, and every summer holiday we offer a week of more formal training for kids. We are somewhat restricted by our facilities, but we have aspirations of making sure that more local children can get out onto the water.

“Ours is a coastal community with a long history of people going to sea and making a living from it.

“We feel very strongly that more kids should be able to enjoy the sea, to connect with it and feel safe on it, and so better understand the marine environment and ecology.

“We recently secured substantial funding from the Community Regeneration Fund for a number of new dinghies – a complete game changer! And thanks to refurbishment of the Ullapool shorefront currently underway, we will soon have access to more shared hard standing space. Our next challenge is to get more instructors trained.

“We will be growing our junior sailing gradually, bearing in mind the capacity of volunteers and the size of our community. The help we’ve had from RYA Scotland –from Brian but also from Robyn Phillips during our junior week, and on instructor training – has been invaluable in encouraging and supporting us to pursue our aspirations.”

Sharing safe waters in Dundee’s dock

Dundee’s Camperdown Dock provides safe, enclosed water where even the most cautious novices can get afloat – be it on paddleboards, kayaks or dinghies.

Dundee Sea Cadets have opened the doors of their base within the dock to Ancrum Outdoor Centre and others – a superb example of how the flexible and collaborative use of facilities can widen access to boating.

Recognising the positive impact of this partnership and use of facilities, a joint Impact Award has been presented to Michael Wilkinson, Chief Instructor for Dundee Sea Cadet Boat Station, and Andrew Best, Principal of Ancrum Outdoor Centre.

Having worked together for some time to grow opportunities for youth sailing in Tayside, the pair’s plans for a collaboration at Camperdown Dock gained momentum in the wake of the Covid pandemic.

Now, Dundee Sea Cadets provides use of its base at the dock to Ancrum Outdoors (formerly based at the more exposed Grassy Beach), while Ancrum provides use of its boats and equipment to the Cadets. Dundee University Sailing Club is also using the facilities for winter race training.

Future stars shine in late summer

Our ambition is to provide an inspiring, supportive and rewarding performance training environment for aspiring young sailors, in safe and suitable places as close to home as possible.

The RYA Scotland Late Summer Championships 2022 provided a showcase for this ambition in action. Held at Loch Tummel Sailing Club, Perthshire, over a weekend in late September, the event brought together young sailors from the youth and junior pathway classes –Optimist, Topper, ILCA, 420, Feva, Techno and iQFOiL.

With both competitive Championship racing and regatta fleet race training on offer, young participants were supported to pursue their own goals for the weekend – whether a first foil tack or racing for the first time, to more experienced racers looking to bag a class win.

Boost for training centre inspections

RYA Recognised Training Centres (RTCs) are at the frontline of the organisation’s brand –whether in Scotland or around the world. They are ambassadors for our values in action. To ensure they uphold the highest standards in safety and learning, annual inspections are held. For 2022-23, we saw a pleasingly high level of engagement from small boat RTCs around Scotland, with a higher return rate than normal. At 96%, it is a 19% increase on the previous year, which had been challenging for inspections due to restrictions during the Covid pandemic. This year’s uptake reflects a return to a degree of normality after the pandemic. The number of active small boat RTCs also rose from 108 in 2021-22, to 113.

96% inspection return rate from…

113 Small Boat RTCs in Scotland