5 Raising Performance Standards
Succeeding at Olympic level is a combination of preparation and execution. It is a matter of analysing previous scenarios and working out how to do it better next time. But what do you do to prepare for a Covid Games? No one knew the answer to that.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were a demonstration of how teams and individual sailors globally had made the best use of the limited opportunities of the previous 18 months during the pandemic and lockdowns. Our sailing and shore teams were thrown constant, unexpected and disruptive changes to planning during the long build-up. However, due to their dedication and support, the opening of the Games started in the best possible way with Hannah Mills nominated to be a flag bearer for Great Britain at the Opening Ceremony.
In true British spirit, the athletes selected to represent Team GB in Tokyo, and the small support team, showed great determination and fortitude, and it was testament to this that we topped the sailing medal table – winning three golds, one silver and one bronze. Hannah Mills is now the world’s greatest female Olympic sailor and most successful Welsh female Olympian of all time.
In a first for the RYA, a behind-the-scenes documentary of the British Sailing Team’s journey to Tokyo 2020 was filmed. The two-year project follows our team’s journey through Covid restrictions and preparations to Japan, capturing intimate moments in the team’s quest for success. The documentary will be broadcast on
Olympics.com and the Discovery+ channel over the summer.
Last summer saw the British Sailing Team’s
windfoilers give a masterclass
in the Olympics’ newest discipline at the very first iQFOiL World Championships in Switzerland.
Having built a formidable
training group operating from the British Sailing
Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, five of our male athletes finished
Team’s performance base at
in the top 20, while in the women’s fleet three Brits made the top 20.
The 2022 season got underway at Palma’s iconic Trofeo Princesa Sofia. Britain’s elite sailors brought home medals in six of the ten classes, including two golds, a silver and three bronzes.
As we start the two-year countdown to Paris 2024, our aim is to defend our title of the world’s most successful Olympic sailing team. Our athletes are also making strides to deliver the team’s social impact strategy, recognising the important role that sports participation plays in improving lives. In collaboration with the RYA’s sustainability team, we have also started to benchmark the CO2 footprint of our racing activity.
We have 900 active participants on our Learning Network which connects coaching and resources to recognised clubs.
This
year more than 40 universities took up our offer of resources to deliver Discover Student Sailing at fresher events around the country.
Over six weekends of on-water coaching and off-water workshops, more than 500 young sailors developed their skills at the
RYA regional training groups. They then
put those skills to the test at class events, the Eric Twiname Championships and the RYA Regional Junior Championships.
The British Keelboat Academy continues to support sailors aged 18-24 to develop the skills needed to race keelboats at a national level. A total of 67 sailors joined our tenth British Keelboat Academy squad.
Every four years we seek to host a major international event in the UK that aligns with UK Sport’s ambitions. This year we have submitted our bid to host the Formula Kite European Championships in 2023.
Tokyo Olympic Medals
As we start the two- year countdown to Paris 2024, our aim is to defend our title of the world’s most successful Olympic sailing team
RYA ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2022
13
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32
