Training Development

All Phases Completed

Since 2011, Stromness SC has been working on the training aspects of its Development Plan, aimed at introducing young people in Stromness to the exciting sport of sailing, passing on skills to a new generation and increasing Club membership.

A description of what has been happening is given below and further information about the funding provided can be found on the FUNDING/SPONSORSHIP web page on this site.

Phase 1 involved training up a small group of experienced members to become RYA certified Senior Dinghy Instructors, Dinghy Instructors and Coaches.

Phase 2 involved upgrading equipment and replacing the sails on the Club’s existing single-hander Topper fleet which is used for beginner training. These two phases were completed thanks to funding support from Scapa Flow Landscape Partnerships and Stromness Community Council, respectively.

Phase 3 involved raising funding for the purchase of four two-hander boats suitable for young people progressing from beginner to improver level and for adults. This phase was completed when the Club took delivery of four RS Feva dinghies which were immediately put into good use. Part of the total cost of £19455 was met from the Club’s own resources but the project phase could not have been achieved without the excellent funding support received in May 2014 from the National Lottery through sportscotland (49% - £9533) and from the Orkney Islands Council Community Development Fund (37.5% - £7296). The Club wishes to publicly thank those bodies for the help they have provided.

Louise Martin CBE, Chair of sportscotland, said: “We are delighted that our investment of £9,533 has helped Stromness Sailing Club to purchase four new boats, which I’m sure will become a real asset for the whole community.

“sportscotland is committed to maximising the opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to be involved in sport and physical activity and this investment shows our commitment to help develop and support a world-class sporting system at all levels, which will inspire future generations to be the best they can be.”

Earlier this month, Alan Clark (Regional Development Manager, Highlands & Islands and Grampian Region, sportscotland visited Orkney for the official opening of the new Stromness Golf Club training facility and this gave Stromness SC the opportunity to mark completion of Phase 3 by having a photo taken of the boats along with him, James Stockan (Orkney Islands Council), Kenny Holland (Stromness SC Commodore) and Mark Taylor (Stromness SC Chief Intructor).

Thanks to the completion of these three phases and the efforts of our volunteer instructors, coaches and support team, this year we have had twenty-one of our newest members under-going training, split equally between youth beginners, youth improvers and adult beginners.

Phase 4 involved purchasing a new safety RIB for the Club to support racing and training activities. We had further support from the Orkney Islands Council Community Development Fund, arranged a tremendous sponsorship deal from Scottish Sea Farms through their 'Heart of the Community' Trust and received donations from Aquatera, Talisman Sinopec Energy, Duncan Porteous with employer matching from RLG International, Scotmarine and Scotrenewables.

The sponsorship deal with Scottish Sea Farms has involved the Trust providing extra money, on top of their £4000 contribution towards the purchase of the new RIB, to purchase decals which will appear on training dinghy sails from the start of the 2015 season. When the season starts we will be taking some photos of the training dinghies showing the Scottish Sea Farm decals and of the new RIB which their sponsorship deal has helped us to purchase. The have also sponsored a Junior Champion trophy which is to be competed for by junior trainees each year. The first winner, in 2014, was improver Jenna Young.

In an article to be published in The Orcadian on 4 December 2014, Richard Darbyshire, Orkney Regional Manager, Scottish Sea Farms, said: “With so much of our activity being water-based it seems entirely appropriate that we sponsor the Stromness Sailing Club.  Safety and knowledge on the water is invaluable when living in Orkney and we look forward to hearing more about the junior members as they progress with their training and sailing experience.”  (For the full text of the article submitted to The Orcadian please follow this link.)