The NSSA seeks a motivated and enthusiastic individual to help further develop its reach and maximise its potential. The successful candidate will be responsible for increasing links with class associations and other youth groups, leading on procurement of grant funding for both the NSSA and affiliated counties/associations and leading creation and sourcing of materials for the website and managing the NSSA’s social media presence.

Please click here for the job description and person specification.

Applications, consisting of a CV and covering letter, should be sent to NSSA Secretary Ellie Gaddes at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by Friday 24th March 2017.

On the weekend of the 8th and 9th October 2016 Aztec Upton Warren hosted the National Schools Sailing Association Singlehanded Team Racing event.

A mixture of conditions created an exciting playing field for the racing, which led to Derbyshire A’s team of Kate Robertson, Emma Robertson and Liam Weighill taking the first place title from reigning champs Cambridgeshire A (Michael Carver, Harry Moffatt and Tom Bryant, after 2 wins out of 3 races.

The event sailed 8 rounds of the Swiss League style racing leading to semi-finals and finals. The semi-finalists of the weekend were Worcestershire A and Cumbria D. Cumbria had further success as their Cumbria A team were this year’s winners of the Under 16 trophy. The most improved team from last year and winning the Lancashire Plate were Watford Grammar A.

All competitors sailed brilliantly over the weekend and on behalf of the NSSA we would like to thank the organisers for yet another fantastic event. Also to all of the competitors for taking part, we hope you had a great time and got to experience some exciting racing!

We now turn our focus to the next event, the NSSA Match Racing. This year based at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy over the weekend of the 5th and 6th November. Information is found via this link (http://www.rya.org.uk/racing/keelboat-racing/match-racing/Pages/national-match-racing-series.aspx) but get in touch with us if you have any questions.

Happy sailing everyone and see you out on the water soon!

As most team managers will be aware, it is a requirement of NSSA events for all adults who are accompanying teams to any of our events and staying overnight with the children to have had an enhanced DBS check, including of the Children’s Barred List. Adults who are supervising children but not staying with them overnight on the same campsite may not need to have a Barred List check if their supervision of the children is alongside someone who has had a Barred List check, though they will still need to have an Enhanced DBS check. This check will usually be done through your local association, centre or school group. Adults who are attending the regatta and helping with the running of the event (such as race officials and safety crew) are not supervising the children and so they don't need to have a DBS check, as long as they are not camping overnight with the children. If you are unsure which adults will need to have which checks you can contact the NSSA Safeguarding officer Jennie Conway for advice.

 

The membership structure of the NSSA was changed at the 2015 AGM, and came into force on 1st April 2016. The changes now require all sailors wishing to participate in NSSA events to be individual members of the NSSA in their own right.

Membership Fees (As agreed at the 2015 AGM)

Category  
Youth £10 or £5 if a member of an affiliated organisation
Adult
£20 or £10 if a member of an affiliated organisation
Family £20

 

Terry White MBEIt was with great sadness that we received the news that Terry White MBE had passed away last Sunday, Sept 20th 2015.

Terry was a founding member of the National School Sailing Association, its Treasurer for over 25 years and a Vice President. He was very much the an old school "gentleman" A headmaster in Northampton he was very much involved with School Sailing on Pitsford Reservoir. This was the site of some of the first NSSA Regattas. He made one of the trophies (bowl, made from bog oak) and was responsible for turning the tea urn which Capt Mount-Haes gave him one day (from the back of his Bentley), into the trophy we all know as the Mount Haes Trophy.

Through the 1970's and much of the 80's Terry was Mr NSSA. He would quietly point out how involved the NSSA had been in the early days of the proficiency scheme, with much of the funding for the first National Coach in 1969 coming from the then Department of Education and Science. No doubt, in no small measure, due to his contacts and influence.

He retired to Norfolk in the late 1980's but continued to support the NSSA. He will be sadly missed.