etch16d2 2349    The 2016 winning Welsh team with the Eric Twiname Shield TrophySince its inception, the Trust has helped many people and, to give a flavour of its activities, the following are just some of the causes which have been supported in the past:

THE RYA ERIC TWINAME JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Trust is lead sponsor for this premier national event for Juniors (16-year-olds; pre-Youth). It is one of the largest sailing events in the calendar for regional teams in Optimists, Toppers, RS Fevas, RS Teras and 4 classes of Bic Techno Windsurfers. It is also used by Laser 4.7s as the first part of the selection process for the National Junior Squad. Over 330 competitors attended the 2019 Championship  held at Rutland Sailing Club on 4/5/6th May. For further information and results see http://www.ryaracingevents.org.uk.

The 2020 and 2021 RYA Eric Twiname Championships were due to be held at Rutland and Bassenthwaite Sailing Clubs respectively but were both cancelled due to the pandemic. The 2022 event will take place at Rutland Sailing Club on 30th April, 1st and 2nd May. 


THE RYA ERIC TWINAME YOUTH & JUNIOR TEAM RACING CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Trust is also lead sponsor for this highly successful team racing event, which attracts young sailors from a broad spectrum of the sailing community. Up to 55 clubs and schools enter teams, and all the Youth and Junior classes are represented. The 2020 event was cancelled due to the pandemic but the 2021 event went ahead at Oxford Sailing Club, Farmoor. Further information and results can be found at http://www.ryaracingevents.org.uk. The 2022 event will take place at Oxford Sailing Club, Farmoor, on 8th/9th October. 

 


SUPPORT BOATS:
The Trust has in the past funded the provision and insurance of a total of 34 RIBs. These have been loaned to most of the RYA pathway supported and recognised junior and youth classes with each outfit consisting of a new XS 5.0 metre RIB with 50hp 4-stroke Yamaha outboard motor and a road trailer. Boats have been regularly replaced according to their usage. This scheme has now been discontinued. 

PROVISION OF BOATS TO CLUBS: as at March 2022 some 430 dinghies and windsurfers - including Toppers, Cadets, 420s, Optimists, Fireflies, Laser Picos, RS Fevas and RS Teras - have been purchased with grants awarded to sailing clubs, all for use as club training boats. Of this total some 300 Teras have been supplied as part of an initiative launched in 2011 when the Trust teamed up with RS Sailing to provide subsidised RS Tera Sports dinghies at heavily discounted prices. This is considered to be an ideal way to encourage sailing clubs to establish 'grass roots' Junior fleets and Junior race training programmes. (see also News section on this website)   

Two fleets of RS Fevas were purchased by the Trust in 2004/05, one located at Spinnaker Club in Ringwood, Hampshire and one at the RYA's Team Racing Academy at West Kirby Sailing Club. These were loaned (for a small fee towards their upkeep) to clubs/ schools for team racing and other activities. Both fleets were donated to their respective clubs in 2008/09. In 2015 the Trust helped part-fund a new flight of 6 RS Fevas for West Kirby Sailing Club.   

TEAM RACING BOOK: Team racing is really back in favour and is the mainstay of school and university sailing. There were no books on the subject since the original Twiname publication, but in 2002 the Trust sponsored a new book by Steve Tylecote.