Williams win leads to sailing success and is a boon to club fleet
by Emma Slater, RYA 31 Jul 2014 00:06 NZST
30 July 2014
Back in March at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show, seven year old William James from Torquay was crowned winner of the RS Design a Sail competition.
Picked from amongst some 500 entries and chosen from a final shortlist of five, William clinched the winner's prize of an RS Tera dinghy, courtesy of RS Sailing. Not only did he win his very own RS Tera, which he has since named 'Free Will', RS also kindly donated a further two RS Tera's to William's sailing club, The Royal Torbay Yacht Club (RTYC), which will be on loan to the club for a year to build the fleet and enable even more young people the opportunity to get out on the water.
"We are passionate about club growth and club sailing" commented Jon Partridge, European Sales Director, RS Sailing. "Having just one Tera a club doesn't really achieve much, but having three means more young people the chance to get involved.
"We hope that Will uses his boat a lot and it sets him up for a lifetime on the water."
Since winning his prize William has been putting it to good use and is currently standing in first place in the RTYC Junior racing 'Summer Junior Handicap Slow' which is made up of 20 boats from the Tera and Cadet fleets. He has also been having some one-to-one coaching with 17 year old Morgan Peach who is member of the RYA UK Youth Squad.
"William was very confident about his design and winning the competition and since getting his boat we are always at the boat park", commented William's dad, Nick James. "William is showing a real interest in learning all about the boat and getting on the water as often as possible."
"Since getting my boat I have won four firsts and two seconds" William told us, and from watching him on the water this young man could be one to watch in the future!
As for the two further RS Tera's on loan to the club it appears they have been put to lots of good use as well, as Adrian Peach and Bill Butcher form RTYC explained. "Firstly our thanks go to RS Sailing for loaning the club the two Tera dinghies to build our fleet.
"We now have a very strong Tera fleet and recently ran our first Tera open meeting when we had 21 Tera's from across the region competing. We also hope to be hosting the South West Tera Championship next year."
Tony Wood, RYA Regional Development Officer for the South West added: "The results of this competition have made a huge difference to the Tera fleet down in Torbay giving even more young people the opportunity to go sailing."
William concluded by saying: "Thanks to the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show and thanks to RS for my boat, because I love sailing it."
To find out more about the RS Tera visit www.rssailing.com
Find out more about the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show 2015 (28 February – 01 March) at www.dinghyshow.org.uk
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