Leicestershire Sailing Association
Registered Charity No: 1107119
We continue to follow advice from the Government, the RYA (our Governing Body), and Leicestershire County Council.
We will re-open for the 2022 Season in February and dates for our upcoming courses coming soon!
LEARN TO SAIL AT A PACE THAT SUITS YOU
All ages welcome!
Youth, Adult & Senior Courses running regularly plus Powerboat/Safetyboat Courses
(RYA Approved Training Centre & Sailability Centre)
2005 Norfolk Broads
RIP JOHN
The Committee and members of the LRYSA are saddened to hear of the passing of John Buckingham. John was one of the founders of the LRYSA along with John Saunders and our current chair Colin Magee. At the time sailing was just for the wealthy and privileged, John wanted to make sailing, canoeing, and other water sports accessible and affordable to the whole community with a focus primarily on the young. The Leicestershire Schools Sailing Association (as we were known then) was created in 1967 through his work with the Outdoor Pursuits Department at County Hall. John and the other founders set to work begging and borrowing boats and equipment to set up a watersports centre at John Merrick's Lake in Watermead Country Park where it is still based today. Over the years, thousands of young people and adults have benefited from Johns inspiration. For many years John was senior coach and chairman of the LRYSA supporting and developing our activities throughout Leicestershire.
John was also a dear friend with a wonderfully cheeky sense of humour and compassion for the less fortunate. Our thoughts and sympathy go to his widow Helen and his family at this sad time.
2018 Outstanding Contribution to Sailing Award
Sailing for Kids aged 8 to 18
Saturday Morning Kids Club for Beginners
Weekly - 9.00am to 12.30pm - £10 / week
Saturday Youth Advance / Race Training
Weekly - 9.00am to 12.30pm - £10 /week
Sessions re-start 5th February 2022
Sailing for Adults 18+
8 Week RYA Level 1 & 2 Course
Saturdays x 8 - 1pm to 4pm - £250 / course
Next Courses:
Start TBC for 8 weeks
Sailing for Adults 55+
Relaxed RYA Level 1 & 2 Course
Tuesdays 9.30am to 1pm - £10 / week
Powerboat RYA Level 1 & 2 Course
2 Days: TBC
Safetyboat RYA Level 1 & 2 Course
2 Days: TBC
All courses include instruction from our highly trained RYA Instructors plus the boat & safety equipment (wetsuit, buoyancy aids, helmets) that you will need to enjoy your time on the water.
Please feel free to email us for more details or if you'd like to register for one of our courses
Activities take place on John Merricks Lake located in North Watermead Park, Syston, Leicester.
The LRYSA (The Leicestershire & Rutland Youth Sailing Association) is a registered Charity with the aim to make sailing accessible to the whole community regardless of their mental or physical abilities, age or background. We have a strong reputation and many years' experience working with vulnerable young people and are the only RYA Sailability accredited Centre in Leicestershire.
All Instructors are trained to high RYA standards and we rely on local funding to be able to maintain these qualifications and also the level of boats and equipment we need to safely offer our services at a very low cost or often free to our most vulnerable groups.
We are fundraising to build specialised facilities for our disabled students (showers, toilets etc) but all our students
will benefit!
Please feel free to get in touch if you are interested or want some more information ....some of our Volunteer Roles available:
Sailing Instructors: We can help if some of your qualifications are out of date
Power Boat Drivers: To help us with Safety cover
On-Shore Volunteers: Especially if you have experience of working with vulnerable children (severely disabled, blind or autistic children)
Admin & Marketing Volunteers: creating marketing materials (such as flyers), social media, contacting local groups & businesses and helping us spread the Word!!
General Volunteers: we can always find you something to do!!
Details of Courses & Dates + More Information about Sailing
Feel free to Contact Us with any questions
A BIG THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE RECENTLY SUPPORTED US ......
Feb-19: Bruce Wake Charity - £10,000 (new facilities)
Jan-19: Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) - £2,100 (towards sessions for autistic children)
Dec-18: L&R Community Foundation: Private Donor - £1,500 (New container for site)
Sep-18: Samworth Brothers - £5,670 (New equipment + volunteer expenses)
Jun-18: L&R Community Foundation: Private Donor - £2,000 (Bell Boat items)
Nov-17: Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) - £1,580 (towards sessions for autistic children)
Oct-17: Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons - £1,000 (new wet suits & helmets)
Jul-17: Mayor's Charity Appeal Fund - £1,200 (New gates for JML Compound)
Jun-17: Hinckley & Rugby Building Society - £50 (Dragon's Den Runner Up)
Dec-16/Aug-17: LCC SHIRE Community Grant - £1,652 (enabling sailing activities for vulnerable people)
Jan-17: Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation (ASSF) - £600 (Training Sessions for Achieve with Us)
Dec-16: Voluntary & Community Sector (VCS) - £2,830 (Training new Instructors)
Sep-16: John Merrick's Sailing Trust - £6,000 (Fencing for JML Compound)
May-16: Sport England Small Grants - £4,746 (Purchase Xenon Boat, Trailer + Main Sail)
SOME OF OUR RECENT AWARDS (View more here)
Nov-2018: Hinckley and Bosworth Sport and Health Alliance SPORTS AWARDS 2018
WINNER! Outstanding Contribution to Sport in Leicestershire: The LRYSA
WINNER! Junior Volunteer of the Year: Heather Smith
Nov-2017: Hinckley and Bosworth Sport and Health Alliance SPORTS AWARDS 2017
WINNER! Young Volunteer of the Year: Dominic Skeat
Runner Up! Junior Sportsperson of the Year: Harry Whitelegg
Runner Up! Club of the Year: The LRYSA
Nov-2016: Hinckley and Bosworth Sport and Health Alliance SPORTS AWARDS 2016
WINNER! Young Disabled Sports Person: Edward Green
WINNER! Coach of the Year: Colin Magee
All courses are run to Royal Yachting Association (RYA) standards and all Instructors hold RYA Qualifications. The RYA undertakes an inspection of our activities each year. View RYA 2019 affiliated certificate here.
