A youngster whose love of sailing has helped her overcome significant challenges in
her life was one of three runners-up when the prestigious Panerai Challenger Trophy awards were presented in London.
The Panerai Challenger Trophy was created by Italian luxury watchmaker Panerai
together with the RYA’s OnBoard programme and is designed to promote the power
of sailing in positively impacting young people’s lives. The initiative funds grants to
young individuals that have overcome physical, economic or social challenges to
achieve significant milestones in their sailing or windsurfing.
Vanessa’s efforts wins £5000 for her sailing club
Vanessa received £2,500 to continue her development in sailing, along with £5,000
for her club, Crawley Mariners Yacht Club (CMYC) in Felbridge, West Sussex, which
will be used to improve and update the club’s shower and changing facilities to
further support its junior sailors.
Vanessa spent several years from the age of two undergoing intensive treatment at
Great Ormond Street and The Royal Marsden for serious illness. She was then
encouraged to take part in active pastimes, and her family joined CMYC four years
ago. Vanessa achieved the globally recognised RYA Stages 1 & 2 in dinghy sailing
in 2018, and in 2017 & 2018 she went on two trips with the Ellen MacArthur Cancer
Trust (EMCT) progressing to her Start Yachting certificate. She has also raised funds
for the EMCT by baking cakes and selling them at her club.
Vanessa’s father Ian said: “Sailing has helped Vanessa’s confidence, independence
and physical fitness. She’s very excited at the prospect using her award to upgrade
her sailing dinghy and kit so that she can be drier and warmer. She is really pleased
that the club will be able to improve its facilities with its award too. The chance to sail
on the classic yacht Eilean was the highlight of her trip to London.”
The brand, known for its relationship to water sports, has recently unveiled their
sponsorship of America’s Cup Challenger, Luna Rossa.
Run by the RYA, OnBoard is a grass roots programme which introduces sailing and
windsurfing to young people aged 8 to 18, through schools, youth groups and
training centres. The low cost sessions are designed to promote equal access to sailing for young people from all social and economic backgrounds, whilst encouraging their character development.
Since 2005, OnBoard has introduced more than 900,000 children to sailing and
windsurfing in the UK, converting some 70,000 of them into regular participants. CMYC is an RYA OnBoard Centre, RYA Training Centre and British Youth Sailing Recognised Club. It works with local schools running RYA OnBoard taster sessions, and with other youth activity groups which use its lake and facilities.
For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit
www.rya.org.uk/go/onboard
