SIX sailing clubs and centres around Worcestershire are inviting you and your family to try the sport free of charge or at low cost as the Royal Yachting Association’s Push The Boat Out scheme bids to get the county afloat next month.
With Bewdley’s Alison Young set to fly the Worcestershire flag for TeamGB at Rio 2016, Push The Boat Out, the nationwide ‘have-a-go’ at sailing festival organised by sailing’s national governing body, is giving allcomers the chance to get on the water and experience a sport you might never have thought was possible from Saturday 14 to Sunday 22 May.
The six clubs and centres ready to help you Push The Boat Out are Arden SC at Defford, Aztec Adventure at Upton Warren, Trimpley SC near Bewdley, Sail & Paddle at Croft Farm, Severn SC in Bredon’s Norton and Barnt Green SC at Cofton Hackett.
Events can include dinghy sailing, windsurfing, bigger boats, sailing for the disabled and even powerboat rides and, although each event is different, all are geared to appeal to as many people as possible, regardless of age, ability or experience.
Visit the RYA Push The Boat Out website at www.rya.org.uk/go/PTBO to find out exactly who is doing what and when.
The British sailing team’s Young, who is currently in Mexico competing at the Laser Radial World Championships, started sailing with her family at Trimpley SC when she was nine and honed her fledging racing skills as part of the Worcestershire School Sailing and Canoe Association. Rio 2016 will be her second Olympics.
Gareth Brookes, RYA Midlands Regional Development Officer, explained: “One of the things I love about Push The Boat Out is hearing the number of people who say they didn’t know they could sail so close to home and that it wasn’t like they expected at all.
“There is still this image that sailing is an expensive, elitist sport to get into, but you only have to visit one of our local clubs and centres to quickly realise that just isn’t the case.”
All you will need to enjoy the RYA Push The Boat Out events is some comfortable clothes and old trainers you do not mind getting wet and, weather depending, a waterproof and/or sunscreen. Buoyancy aids, equipment and safety brief will be provided by the venues and refreshments will be available.
