Llyn Brenig Sailing Club's training team wins an RYA Cymru Wales Impact Award

Sometimes the best nominations come from the youngest members. The training team at Llyn Brenig Sailing Club has received an RYA Cymru Wales Impact Award, after a nine-year-old sailor suggested they deserved recognition.

Led by chief instructor Gary Richards, the team has introduced nearly 100 children and 60 adults to sailing, with 110 of them achieving their RYA Stage 1 or Level 1 certificates.

"It was amazing to understand it was a child who from the heart suggested the team for an Impact Award," Gary said. "It means a lot to have been put forward by a young person. It's a sport that can open a lot of doors and it's nice to know that what we do has an impact on their lives and that's why we do it."

The club was formally nominated by parent Lian Crierie. "The training team, through hard work and dedication, have injected a refreshed and new spirit and energy into the club," she said. "As a result we are now proud to have a growing youth squad who are developing confidence, friendships and love of the sport."

Gary became chief instructor around 2023 and has since built a volunteer team of around a dozen assistant, dinghy and powerboat instructors. Their work has created a thriving junior section, with young sailors supported to travel to events further afield.

"We see young people developing sailing and life skills and our sailors also come home from events with some good results," Gary added. "Helping them to achieve milestones they've worked so hard for is really rewarding."

RYA Cymru Wales' Impact Awards recognise the people at the heart of the sport in Wales, from instructors and volunteers to clubs and training centres, and the award was presented to Gary by RYA performance manager Sarah McGovern. Afterwards, the youth sailors celebrated with hot chocolate at the club.

Anyone interested in learning to sail, from children to adults, can find out about training at Llyn Brenig Sailing Club through the club and RYA Cymru Wales.