WINDERMERE School is making waves in the world of yachting after becoming the first school in the UK to be awarded Champion Club status by the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

Since the inception of the original Volvo RYA Champion Club programme in 1997, the scheme has recognized, promoted and invested in clubs which have continually introduced young people into sail racing and encouraged them to progress via good quality race training in a safe and fun environment.

As an RYA Champion Club, Windermere School will be entitled to a series of benefits including development advice and support, recruiting, training and contracting in coaches to support the delivery of club programmes; the accreditation and branding of an RYA Centre of Excellence and access to the very best coaching resources.

Graeme Rowe is the RYA Principal and chief sailing instructor at Windermere School and has been race coaching for over fifteen years.

“Champion Club Status shows that as a school we are serious about sail racing and that we are dedicated to providing as many opportunities as possible for the students to become exceptional athletes," he said. "It is a fantastic achievement and could not have been done without the help of the staff and the many kind contributions from the Friends of Windermere School."

RYA Champion Clubs are recognized as being ‘Centres of Excellence’ for junior race training and racing and many form the foundation of the British sailing teams.

In order to gain RYA Champion Club status, Windermere School had to show that it not only introduces young people into racing, but also that it develops their enthusiasm and talent.

Ian Lavender, headmaster of Windermere School, said: "Many people have worked very hard to make this possible, from staff, parents and governors; but I would particularly like to congratulate Graeme Rowe for the way he has transformed sailing at Windermere School. To me what is important, however, is not the status itself, but the increased opportunities that can now be afforded to our students.”

The school applied for the Champion Club status following a program of assessment and improvement at its Hodge Howe Watersports and Outdoor Education site, located on Windermere, less than a mile from both the junior and senior school sites.

Duncan Truswell, RYA Youth Racing Manager, said: “These Champion Clubs are rightly recognized as the very foundations of our performance programmes, not only providing great coaching, advice and support, but also as those locations which provide great places for young people to have fun, alongside learning to sail, race and develop their enthusiasm for competitive sailing and thereby progress within the sport. “