2021 Event Updates
Looking forward to the season ahead of us, below are a few updates for our 2021 events as things stand;
DHTR (scheduled 20/21 March @ Alton Water) - The March dates are postponed, we are working with the hosting organisation to identify a suitable weekend in the summer term in which to run this event.
12-hour race (scheduled 03/04 July @ Aztec Adventure) - updates to follow shortly
NYR (26-30 July @ Plymouth Youth Sailing (PYS)) - NSSA and PYS continue to develop plans to try and ensure the postponed National Youth Regatta 2020 is able to continue as planned in a COVID safe environment between the 25th and 31st July 2021. Plymouth should be hosting a number of other events this summer, including the postponed Mayflower 400 celebrations. We will be contacting team managers in the coming weeks with updates but, if you would like to discuss the NYR in the meantime, please feel free to contact Steven LLoyd (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or visit Adrian Kemp the event director, who is on the Port of Plymouth Sailing Association virtual stand at the RYA Dinghy show this weekend. The PYS event secretary, Jane Pink, can also be contacted at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to register interest in participating.
SHTR (23/24 October @ Cardiff Bay) - currently scheduled to go ahead as planned
We will continue to post updates both on here and our Socials as we have them and if you have any questions in the meantime please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Event Update - 12-hour Race
The NSSA have, after much consideration, decided to postpone the 12-hour race until early July 2021. This decision has been made taking into account current restrictions due to COVID-19.
2020 AGM
On Wednesday 29th July 2020 the NSSA held their Annual General Meeting via Zoom, it was a very successful meeting and a good turn out was seen.
The minutes for this meeting are attached below.
In memory of Barbara Darling
The NSSA are saddened to share the news of the death of Barbara Darling on 4 July after a short battle with cancer.
Born in Corbridge in 1937, Barbara spent her early childhood in North Yorkshire and Northumberland and obtained a scholarship for a Stockton girls’ school before going to Alnwick Teacher Training College to become a secondary school maths teacher.
Jobs in Ripon and Manchester allowed her to enjoy her love of hockey and the outdoors and she became heavily involved in outdoor education at many schools she worked at; leading walking & climbing expeditions to the local hills and Scotland. As part of these activities she was introduced to sailing and after returning to the North East in the late 1960’s she joined Tynemouth Sailing Club and started crewing for David in his National 12.
Sailing formed a large part of their leisure activities after their marriage and as part of her teaching career she also became involved with the newly formed National School’s Sailing Association (NSSA) and became a Sailing Master (the basis for the RYA’s Dinghy Instructor qualification). She regularly took youngsters sailing or into the hills in a 29 seater bus - which she drove!
A move to Leeds led her and David to join Ripon SC along with their young daughters, Fiona & Naomi, in the early 1980’s. Barbara got involved with the training programme, eventually becoming Training Principal, and also set up a large amount of the structure the club still benefits from today within their Youth & Junior programme, running the club’s first RYA Young Opportunity sailing course in 1987 as well as taking young sailors from across the region to the NSSA’s national events for over twenty years.
After their retirement back to the North East in 1996, Barbara enjoyed sailing and being actively involved at both Tynemouth SC and Derwent Reservoir SC in the family’s National 12s, RS200 and Mirrors as well as acting as Training Principal at Tynemouth SC while they established their training centre.
Barbara helped set up the Yorkshire & Humberside School’s Traveller Series in the early 1980’s and, on her return to the North East in 1996, set up the North Youth Traveller Series. The two series have now merged and form the NE Region’s Youth Traveller Series. She also continued her long association with the NSSA acting as their Treasurer from 1995 - 2006, contributing to a consolidation and restructuring of their operations to accommodate the new look of sailing within education.
Barbara was presented with the RYA’s President’s Award in 2003 in recognition of her contribution to youth sailing development in the north.
In recent years Barbara & David joined Bassenthwaite SC having spent many happy weeks there as part of the annual Bass Week regatta and they both enjoyed pottering on sunny afternoons or joining in with the racing. Whilst her ill health in the last few years had prevented her from participating herself, she found great joy in spending time at sailing clubs and watching the sailing, particularly as her grand-children took to the water and learnt to sail themselves.
Our thoughts are with David, Fiona & Naomi and their families at this time. As the next generation of young sailors come to love the burble of water under their bow; may her legacy and contribution to the sport live on.
NSSA eSailing Championship
The Notice of Race, Sailing Instructions and organisations guidance for this event are now available;
The Team Trophy awarded at the National Youth Regatta is hugely sought-after, this year teams will compete for the crown of 'top team' using the Virtual Regatta platform. With a prize fund of £100 in RS Sailing Store vouchers, this is an event not to be missed. Local groups to run local Championships by 17th July to select your representative. Should more than 19 groups who wish to participate in NSSA Finals on Mon 27th July we will hold NSSA Semi finals (if required) on Fri 24th July. Finalists will have the fantastic opportunity to compete against Sam Whaley, a member of the British Sailing Team.
Please click here for the combined NOR and SIs for this event
For guidance on how to run your local championships click here
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