A brief history of SYCSA
In 1978 Somerset Local Education Authority stopped funding many of it's sporting activities, sailing included. To maintain a sailing provision Somerset Schools & Community Sailing Association (SSCSA) was born out of the ashes of the LEA withdrawal. The first recorded minutes of the Association are from the inaugural meeting on 25th January 1978. Here we must thank Admiral Sir Mark Pizey whose knowledge and contacts removed the barriers to the initial formation of the Association. The first Principal was A.S.C. Moore, Gus to his friends. Gus was a short man who stood out in a crowd, he and our next Principals Dennis Aston and Ron Burdon, guided the Association through its first faltering steps into a flourishing sailing group.
Although Gus is now dead, his vision lives on in SYCSA. As a tribute to him, the boat in the foreground is being named "Gus" by his widow, May Moore. Ron Burdon is standing to her right. Terry, Ron's son, is sitting in red to the left in the picture.
Originally SSCSA was based at Hawkridge reservoir @ Hawkridge Sailing Club. When in 1992, Wessex Water offered a change of reservoir, the 2 groups moved together from Hawkridge to Durleigh reservoir, and Durleigh Sailing Club was formed.
In the early days, there were 2 parts to SSCSA, a Dinghy Section and a Cruising Section. Due to funding difficulties, the latter had to be wound up in 1995, and a new group dedicated to teaching dinghy sailing was formed. We are now called Somerset Youth & Community Sailing Association, often shortened to SYCSA. The first recorded meeting of SYCSA was on 16th May 1995.
The Association was granted charitable status in 1996, which allowed us access to a wider range of funds. At that time we were concerned about our future, funding was low, our boats were getting old, and spirits were down, but we had a thriving Saturday Club, and a nucleus of eager volunteer Instructors and helpers. At this point we wrote a development plan and with the support of Durleigh Sailing Club and Wessex Water, we approached the Lottery Sports Fund for money for the "Fleet 2000" project. Our successful bid allowed SYCSA to purchase a new fleet of boats and look forward to a brighter future.Further projects Fleet 2000 and Beyond and Beyond Fleet 2000 firmly restored SYCSA to good health.
Durleigh Sailing Club and SYCSA working together, were rewarded by being given provisional Volvo Champion Club status in 1999 and in 2008 full development status. Also in 2008 SYCSA was awarded Onboard development status and RYA Sailabilty Foundation status.
In 2002 Ron and Dennis Aston (Past Presidents) were honored by the RYA, with two of the first RYA Awards for Work in the Community.In 2003 Maggie Heath & Eric Watts of SYCSA were also recognized for their work and honored in the next round of the RYA awards. 2005 saw Sian Sedgwick-Wilde presented with an RYA Community award for her work with the Saturday Club. In the same year Ian York was presented with the O2 award for his work in the sailing community. In 2007 Lisa Hodge who started sailing with our Saturday Club, become RYA Dinghy Instructor of the Year. 2007 also saw Pete Branson become runner up in the "Unsung Hero" category in the BBC West Sports Awards of the Year.
SYCSA members have taught sailing all over the world ranging from Australia to the West Indies, Camp America to Turkey, and for holiday companies such as Sunsail and Nilsson.
SYCSA runs courses and taster sessions for any interested parties, for example local Scout & Guide groups, Bridgwater Extravaganza, The Round Table, local Youth groups and Schools, Open Days, Cannington Summer Recreational Scheme.
We attract people from all parts of Somerset and sometimes beyond its boundaries. To continue our work we are always pleased to receive more help either as your time or as a donation towards our 2010 project "Enable Youth" and 2011 project "Enable All to Sail".
Come and join us.
To adapt a phrase "the future is bright, the future is SYCSA"
Peter Branson Chair of SYCSA May 2010
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