Luxury boat builder begins recruitment drive for 150 new staff

A Norfolk boat builder has announced it is hiring 150 new employees in a bid to keep up with demand from around the world. Oyster Yachts is looking to up its headcount to more than 420 people by February 2020 across a range of roles. These include laminators, boat builders, joiners, electricians and engineers. The roles will be hired across the luxury boat builder's sites, in both Wroxham and Ashmanhaugh as well as further afield in Southampton. Oyster owner and chief executive Richard Hadida, said: "This represents a hugely exciting time for Oyster. It is wonderful to see the brand returned to its former glory, with a full order book and a dedicated team of people in Wroxham, Southampton and Ashmanhaugh building beautiful sailing yachts, using the best of British craftsmanship. "We look forward to welcoming many more on board in the coming months." Mr Hadida bought the company in March 2018 and has since invested heavily in the brand.

The Needles, Sailing The English Channel.

22nd Hobie 16 World Championships Highlight

Solent Sailing Ep 20 - Ashlett Creek

Norfolk Broads on Barton Broad, racing in the hirers regatta.

Arcona Yachts in association with B&G

£16,000 donation for sailing charity

The Isle of Wight Foundation has donated £16,000 to Cowes Sailability Club, an Island charity that offers recreational boating opportunities for adults and children with physical and learning disabilities. They plan to buy a specially designed Island-built motorboat that is fully wheelchair accessible which is currently being built by Cheetah Marine of Ventnor. Each year the IW Foundation, comprising Ringway Island Roads, Meridiam, VINCI UK Foundation and VINCI Concession gives grants of between £3,000 and £16,000 to Island charities, good causes and organisations working to tackle social exclusion. Since 2014, nearly £500,000 has been given to such causes.

Does this go-anywhere traditional British cruiser suit you?

Wessex Heartbeat at Southampton Sailing Week

Maldon Yacht Club launch petition Save Our Sailing

HUNDREDS of protesters have signed a petition in a bid to save a sailing club’s base which is earmarked for beach huts. The SOS – Save Our Sailing – campaign has been launched to try prevent Maldon Yacht Club losing its premises near Promenade Park. Earlier this year, the Standard reported the 79-year-old club was in danger of shutting up completely due to Maldon District Council’s plans to use the land for projects to boost tourism. Paper and online petitions have been set up to gather support. A spokesman said: “The SOS Save Our Sailing banners were put up on Friday. “Our club decided to bring it into the public eye. Hopefully it will help our case. “Our club is worth fighting for so thank you to all the people that have signed it. “It’s a waiting game now, but hopefully we will know more soon.” He added: “The sailing clubs on the Blackwater are being very supportive, which we thank them for. “It’s great for us to know how many people are with us and hoping to help us change Maldon District Council’s mind and let us go on for five or ten years, or work with us. “What a wonderful Christmas and New year that would make. In the meantime, people are still sailing and enjoying the river.” Maldon Liberal Democrats have supported the group by setting up an online petition on their behalf which has attracted more than 1,000 signatures. Lib Dem general election candidate Colin Baldy said: “The yacht club has done its own paper petition so one of my volunteers has set up an online petition with the yacht club’s permission. “Maldon Lib Dems are supporting Maldon Yacht Club’s fight against eviction from their base. “Community groups such as the yacht club are vital in raising the quality of life for local residents. “Maldon Yacht Club were not properly consulted before they were issued with the eviction notice from Maldon District Council. The council says they want to install more beach huts on the site, so this decision seems to be all about money.” For details of the petition, visit change.org/p/maldon-district-council-stop-mdc-evicting-maldon-yacht-club.

Poole to lymington and home

RYA Webinar- How to grow volunteers at your sailing club

Is your sailing club one of the 52% of RYA Affiliated clubs who are telling us that a ‘lack of volunteers’ is the number one constraint to increasing membership? Or perhaps you feel your club is in a vulnerable position due to a small number of people doing the majority of the work? The RYA has taken an extensive research project to find out why volunteering is such a challenge for many of us and what we can do about it. On Thursday 05 December at 7.00 pm, members of RYA Affiliated sailing clubs and other organisations are invited to hear the insights from this research by joining a free RYA webinar focused on volunteering. RYA Director of Sport Development, Alistair Dickson explains: “Our sport always has been and probably always will be reliant on the support of passionate and motivated volunteers. Our research has been a real eye opener in terms of understanding what motivates or prevents people from volunteering and how clubs can amend their volunteer management processes to match”. As well as hearing these findings, club members will also have the opportunity to listen to the experiences of other venues who have managed to successfully increase their number of volunteers. “As in our previous webinars, we’ll be joined by an expert panel to discuss the findings and you’ll have the chance to ask questions which can be answered live. If you can’t join us, please sign up anyway and you’ll be able to hear the recording after the live show” Alistair concluded. The webinar will be about an hour long and is a continuation of the RYA’s Futures Webinar Series.

Ben Ainslie and INEOS TEAM UK join Great Britain SailGP Team