OTLEY Sailing Club has been shortlisted for a prestigious national award in recognition of its outstanding achievements in making the sport accessible for all.

The volunteer-run club has a growing membership following the challenges of the Covid pandemic and is one of 12 finalists for the RYA and Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting Club of the Year Award, supported by Gallagher.

A public vote will help to decide the overall winner and club members are hoping local people will support their bid to claim the title and bring the trophy home to Yorkshire.

Family-friendly Otley Sailing Club offers a whole variety of ways for local people of all ages to enjoy getting on the water, including training courses, social events, dinghy racing, junior sessions and windsurfing, plus kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding.

The club has more than 350 members and is also a leading provider of sailing for disabled people through its Sailfree (RYA Sailability) programme, running an incredible 1,250 sessions a year for local schools, charities and community groups.

Gill Walton, Commodore of Otley Sailing Club, said: “We’re an approachable, relaxed and friendly club and we’re in a stunning location with a lovely clubhouse overlooking the lake, just a couple of miles from the centre of a busy market town, so it’s a real oasis.

“We managed to recover very successfully after the lockdowns and restrictions of the Covid pandemic and we do a tremendous amount of work to encourage people onto the water with a focus on providing inclusive activities for all.

“It’s absolutely amazing to have been shortlisted for the Club of the Year award and fantastic to have that recognition for all of the dedicated volunteers who give their time to support our activities. We are hoping that being a finalist will inspire people to find out more and vote for us!”

The club is RYA OnBoard accredited for its quality provision for 8 to 18-year-olds, which is inspiring the next generation of sailors and volunteers, and as an RYA Training Centre runs a full range of courses for both children and adults.

Sailfree activities meanwhile enable a variety of local schools and organisations to enjoy boating, including John Jamieson SILC, Hollybank Trust- Residential Unit, Green Meadows School, HFT Bradford and High Park School.

The club is also used by Leeds/Bradford Triathlon Club, Open Water Swimming, Life Guards, British Triathlon Federation, Leeds Triathlon Centre, and Triathlon Performance & Development. Double Olympic medal winners Alistair and Jonny Brownlee are among those who train at the club.

Recent investment by the club and grants, including from Sport England, has enabled the modern clubhouse to be further improved following Covid and flood damage, including the creation of a new wetroom and an accessible level patio ideal for training and wheelchair users.

The annual RYA and Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting awards recognise the achievements of venues and their volunteers and the dedication that goes into running a successful club. Otley Sailing Club is competing for the title against a whole range of premier clubs, including finalists from Northern Ireland, The Lake District, London and the south coast.

Rob Peake, group editor of Sailing Today with Yachts & Yachting, said: “The shortlisted clubs were selected by the RYA Awards Panel who judged them on how well they promote the sport, encourage people onto the water and make their activities varied and accessible to their community. With voting now open, it’s over to the public to determine the overall winner.”

Find out more about Otley Sailing Club at www.otley-sailingclub.co.uk and to cast your vote, visit the online awards page: http://awards.yachtsandyachting.co.uk/rya/ Voting will close at midnight on 22 January 2023 and the winner will be announced at the RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show at Farnborough International Exhibition Centre on Saturday, 25 February 2023.