Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association
What is the LRYSA about
A Brief History
In 1967 an initiative from Leicestershire County Hall prompted a group of teachers to form a sailing association with one guiding principal, to provide access to sailing for any young person in full time education. They called themselves the Leics Schools Sailing Association (LSSA).
With very little funding they begged and borrowed boats and equipment wherever they could then setting up sailing bases throughout the County. Each base was run by a senior instructor in their spare time. All schools and scout groups were taught to sail to a high standard.
The name LSSA was changed over the years to the LRYSA, Leicestershire And Rutland Youth Sailing Association. This was because Rutland Water was now included in our association, and other youth groups and individual young people and adults were coming to the LRYSA to be taught to sail.
The association flourished until around 1993 when many of the founding fathers retired or could no longer continue for various reasons.
What's new
In the last 8 years a full programme of activities for young people has been established. Novice sailors begin to learn to sail through the 6 local schools that train with us, or the Saturday morning kids club at Bosworth Water Trust. From there they can move to our race training classes and begin to compete in the Mayors trophy series designed to get young people used to competitive racing through a series of regattas held throughout the county at various venues. Our youth racing team, representing Leicestershire at national level, is selected from among these children. Hard to reach groups and disadvantaged groups are among the children who compete this programme.
The LRYSA have been active at John Merricks lake for nearly 50 years where Sailablilty courses for the disabled, scouts, schools, and emergency services regularly train. In our endeavours to continually improve, the LRYSA committee are undergoing a project to erect modern facilities and buildings at John Merricks Lake. Once completed the new facilities will enable the LRYSA to increase their activities for the local community. As always endeavouring to make sailing accessible and affordable to all.
All activities are governed and approved through the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). All courses and instructors hold current Royal Yacht Association (RYA) accredatations ensuring all the instructors are of the highest qualification.
