The RYA have announced details and the first recipients of the World Class Performance Programme. The money behind this programme comes from the Lottery good causes, and is designed to support sports in which the UK have Olympic medal prospects, sailing of course provides some of the best medal prospects of any sport, but has until now been one of the worst supported financially.
The RYA have identified 10 classes to be supported, the Olympic classes less the recently reinstated Star, and support also goes to Paralympic sailing, Matchracing and the Youth Squad.
The essence of the funding is that the more successful the class or discipline the more money is made available, so success should breed success, and all competitors have an interest in raising the standard in their class.
Sailors can receive subsistence and programme funding, coaching supplied by the RYA, and help with sports science and medicine. Overall a package which means our world class sailors can have the best equipment and spend more time training and preparing for competition.
One of the great advantages of the system seems to be that sailors can qualify for support by their results. Elite squad members must be in the top 10 at their world championship, and International squad members can qualify by being in the top 20 at the worlds or top 12 at their European championship. Additionally there is a National squad with qualification at major European regattas or by being highly placed in the UK rankings.
I can only conclude that this is a massive step forward for UK sailing, which has only been made possible by our purchasing of lottery tickets, so feel good when you gamble your weekly pound or two, and wish those fortunate few the very best at Sydney in 2000.
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