A GLIMMER of sunshine broke through as Helensburgh hosted the final RYA Scotland Winter Academy event of the season on Sunday.

Held over the winter months to provide a fun training environment for youth and junior sailors to continue their development, the programme has been running since last October, when more than 80 young sailors in Optimist, Topper, Techno293, Feva, ILCA, 29er and IQ Foil classes took part.

A spokesperson for the RYA in Scotland said: “A huge thank you to all the venues, volunteers, parents, coaches and sailors for their contributions throughout the chillier months.

“It was fantastic to see so much progression and enjoyment amongst participants. Now on to some warmer sailing as the season continues.”

Helensburgh Advertiser:

Meanwhile, the focus on youth sailing is also in evidence at Cove Sailing Club, which has announced details of an RYA Scotland ‘Get Onboard Day’ later this year.

‘Get Onboard’ is the RYA’s children’s sailing programme and offers children the opportunity to try watersports through their local club or centre in a safe, fun and structured environment.

The Cove event, part of the club’s 2024 calendar, details of which have been released this week, will take place on Saturday, May 3.

Other events in the Cove club calendar for the coming months include the opening muster on Saturday, April 20, the ‘Cruise in Company’ to Ardentinny on June 8, the Cove Regatta on June 15 and the annual Loch Long Week, taking place this year at Aldeburgh Yacht Club in Suffolk, from July 21-26.

Helensburgh Advertiser:

There are also regular race nights every Tuesday and Friday from April to August.

For full details of what’s going on at the club over the coming months see the ‘Cove Sailing Club, Argyll’ page on Facebook.

And the onset of spring and the start of a new sailing season is underlined by Helensburgh Sailing Club’s annual ‘pre-launch party’, taking place this Saturday, March 23, from 7pm, to which all club members and their families are welcome.