With the buzz of last weekend’s RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show still in the air, we’ve rounded up some highlights from this jam-packed marine event. This year, the Farnborough Exhibition Centre had even more in store, housing over 170 exhibitors, with talks from experts including members of the British Sailing Team, GB Para Sailors and watersports Champions.
The weekend was kicked off by show hosts Eilidh McIntyre, Lee Timothy, Peter Hart and James Hardy, from which point it became a sea of excitement and a festival of marine adventure experts and enthusiasts.
We were treated to a masterclass on forecasting by the British Sailing Team’s Meteorologist, Simon Rowell. His weather forecasting tips pulled in a varied crowd, from kids to professionals, as he led us through identifying weather systems and how to get ahead of them. This world-class meteorologist’s key point on this, was on the importance of synoptic charts, as he told the crowd:
“Synoptic charts give you more than just numbers and directions, they give you a feel for what’s actually happening” – Simon Rowell
Holly Basset provided some essential tips for paddleboarders. This three time National Champion gripped the crowd with her expert advice on paddleboarding in all locations and conditions. Holly’s guide on techniques and kit was enough to inspire us fairweather paddlers to get ahead of the season and start paddleboarding all year round!
The British Sailing Team’s physio “H” Draper led an interactive session for the whole family. As a fitness and injury specialist, she gave us her top tips on getting fit and some welcome warnings on preventing injury this season. H got the crowd involved, with kids and parents joining her on the stage, and led a session on some take home harder stretches and balance positions to challenge your muscles and stability. With some of the volunteers starting to wobble with a smile, H asked, “Is anyone aching yet?!”.
Proving there are no barriers to sailing adventures, para sailors Rory McKinna, Adam Billany, Matt Rumball and Jazz Turner pulled in a large crowd and many passers by. Drawing from their experiences from the Combined Worlds to SailGP, they captivated the crowd with thier excitement and aims for the future – for themselves, for the sailing community, and for all society. Team GB para-athlete, Jazz Turner, told us her hopes for the para-world reflect her hopes for the wider-world – equal treatment – and that they see combined racing to be the future of sailing.
Mia Adcock and Rachel Dobrijevic inspired us with their successful winging group ‘She Flies’, as they encouraged women to be bold and courageous in starting their own extreme sporting journey. In a celebration of women at the top, this duo were full of excitement for the future and urged a seemingly already convinced crowd to get involved.
Our photos from the weekend…
The 2024 RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show promised inspiration, discovery and progress. From masterclasses by members of the British Sailing Team and essential tips from a watersports National Champion, to para-athletes on the (literal and figurative) main stage and a celebration of women in sport, we were hardly disappointed.
With such a varied audience of experienced sailors, watersports experts, adventure enthusiasts and kids, last weekend’s RYA show had a festival-like energy.
The dinghy and watersports season feels well and truly underway!
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