BRITISH Youth Sailing’s new recognised club scheme is gathering pace with another five clubs added to the quickly growing list.

The initiative, which includes Poole Yacht Club, recognises clubs that meet British Youth Sailing’s vision to develop and retain the best young racing sailors in the world.

The latest addition of five clubs brings the number of British Youth Sailing Recognised Clubs to 22.

The new additions are Brightlingsea Sailing Club in Essex, Crawley Mariners Yacht Club in West Sussex, Kent Schools Sailing Association, Royal Torbay Yacht Club in Devon and Waldringfield Sailing Club in Suffolk.

Each club has proven their commitment to the development of junior and youth racing and race training.

Chris Atherton, the RYA’s senior high performance manager, said: “Since we launched the BYS Recognised Clubs scheme we have seen a very positive reaction to the initiative.

“Our aim is to develop sailing from a young age and clubs from around the nation have really invested in this mentality by supporting the scheme and applying to become a Recognised Club.

“Everything is pointing to a very positive future for youth sailing and we encourage clubs to apply for the scheme if they feel they meet the criteria to help increase participation at grass root level and to grow the sport.”

In order for a club to be considered for BYS Recognised Club status it must prove it meets a series of exacting standards.

Clubs must run a regular race training programme within at least one of the BYS Recognised Classes – the Optimist, Topper, Laser 4.7, Cadet, RS Tera (Sport), RS Feva XL and BIC Techno windsurfer at junior level, and 29er, 420, Laser Radial, Laser Standard, Nacra 15 multihull and RS:X windsurfer at youth level.

Club sailors must compete at BYS Regional Junior Championships at least once every two years.

Training must be delivered by qualified RYA Coaches to RYA Recognised Training Centre standards or equivalent, with a Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy in place.

The recognised clubs scheme replaces the long-running Champion Clubs programme which came to an end at the start of 2018.

Full list of clubs: Norfolk Broads Yacht Club, Norwich, Norfolk, Brightlingsea Sailing Club, Essex, Kent Schools Sailing Association, Felpham Sailing Club, West Sussex , Papercourt Sailing Club, Ripley, Surrey, Hillingdon Outdoor Activities Centre, Greater London, Waldringfield Sailing Club, Suffolk, Crawley Mariners Yacht Club, West Sussex, Worcestershire Youth Sailing Association, Bromsgrove, Worcestershire, Hollowell Sailing Club, Northampton, Windermere School, Cumbria, North Lincolnshire and Humberside Sailing Club, Lincolnshire, Ripon Sailing Club, North Yorkshire, Derwent Reservoir Sailing Club, County Durham, Royal Lymington Yacht Club, Hants, Warsash Sailing Club, Hants, Paignton Sailing Club, Devon, Poole Yacht Club, Parkstone Yacht Club, Cardiff Bay Yacht Club, Cardiff, Pembrokeshire Yacht Club, Milford Haven.