THE Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has, once again, recognised the outstanding work done at Frensham Ponds Sailability.

At its recent conference, attended by around 150 Sailability groups from all over Britain, the RYA presented its annual awards.

RYA Sailability manager Joff McGill said: “It’s been an amazing year and so many people have contributed to that.

“I never cease to be amazed at what a group of people who share a passion can achieve – we must never underestimate what Sailability groups do and the impact they have.

“We were delighted to welcome more delegates than ever before.”

Winner of the Exceptional Contribution Award was Nick Clibborn from Frensham Pond Sailability, who has very enthusiastically and knowledgeably led Sailability race training for many years.

One of Frensham’s young sailors, Miles Norwood, was also runner-up for the Young Person Award. The award particularly recognised the coaching given by Miles to enable another young sailor to achieve his RYA Sailability certification.

? It came just weeks after Frensham Pond Sailability launched its second new Hansa 303 dinghy this year on Saturday, May 5.

The weather couldn’t have been better for the launch of ‘Melanie’, funded by a very generous donation from the Melanie Braysher Trust. The trust was formed to provide a permanent memorial to Melanie Braysher, a young girl who died from cancer in 1990 when she was only 11 years old.

Pennie Braysher, Melanie’s mother, explained that, because of her illness, Melanie had her left leg amputated, and she was then given a motorised scooter by a friend. The independence this gave her transformed her life.

The trust’s aim is to assist independent mobility for disabled children and young people.

Sailability trustee Brian Grimwood welcomed Pennie, together with other family members, and trustees at the launch. He said the new boat would be of particular benefit to Sailability’s Saturday Youth Group and was delighted that the guests had been able to see the young sailors and young helpers coming ashore prior to the launch.

The morning concluded with Pennie being taken for a sail in ‘Melanie’, helmed by 16-year-old helper Ryan Wilkinson.

Ryan was a member of the UK Cadet squad who competed in the Cadet World Championships in Argentina early this year. So ‘Melanie’ and Pennie, were in safe hands.

Frensham Pond Sailability is one of the leading Sailability clubs in the country, with an outstanding record of sailing successes.

For more information about Frensham Pond Sailability see the website, www.frenshampondsailabiity.org.uk and its pages on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.