Preparations for the Orkney 2025 Island Games are ramping up as sailing dinghies that will be used in the event’s regatta arrive on Orkney.
Orkney Sailing Club took delivery of 24 brand new ILCA sailing dinghies at the Hatston Training Centre, where they will be kitted out by volunteers from the Orkney, Stromness and Holm Sailing Clubs.
The boats have been purchased with £189,032 of sportscotland funding. Crucially, they will be given to Orkney sailing clubs after the Games, ensuring the clubs are kitted out for years to come and there’s a lasting benefit for the sailing community in Orkney.
The funding was part of a £1million package of investment from sportscotlad to sport in Orkney made last year. The investment allowed for a significant improvement in a range of Orkney’s sports facilities and provide better opportunities for sport on the islands for many years to come.
The package, made up of Scottish Government and National Lottery funding, has aided preparations for the Orkney 2025 Island Games. It will help provide competition venues which will be homes for local sport, benefitting schools, Active Schools Orkney, clubs and the local community for generations, as well as a range of other support to help boost Orkney’s sporting future.
Funding awards for facilities, equipment and coaches will improve Orkney’s sports infrastructure in the short and the long term. While funding for Orkney athletes will allow them the best possible preparation for a once in a lifetime chance to compete at a home Island Games.
Chief Executive of sportscotland, Forbes Dunlop, said: “It’s fantastic to see preparations for the Orkney Island Games progressing so well.
"The 24 sailing boats that will be used for the Games will be of huge value to the local community and the sailing clubs on Orkney for many years to come.
“We are delighted to be working with partners including Orkney Islands Council, Orkney 2025 and the Scottish Government to help deliver a lasting benefit from the Island Games.
“This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to support sport in Orkney and other rural and island communities across Scotland.”
ILCAs (previously known as ‘Lasers’) are the world’s most popular adult and youth racing dinghy, a challenging single-handed boat which rewards athleticism, subtle steering and tactical excellence.
The International Island Games rules require the host island to provide brand new boats, all identical, and this has been made possible for the Orkney Games by the funding from sportscotland, and the support of The Royal Yachting Association Scotland (RYA Scotland) who are loaning the boats to the Orkney Sailing Club for the Games.
Brian Pahlmann, RYA Scotland Regional Development Officer said: “We are incredibly excited to see the Island Games coming to Orkney, and are delighted to be building towards a strong sailing legacy, supported by sportscotland and our team at RYA Scotland.
"Most, if not all the 24 boats supplied for the Games will remain on Orkney in the local sailing clubs, meaning more boats in more communities throughout the islands. This will remove a significant barrier to participation in sailing for a lot of local people for many years to come.
"Along with the boats, Orkney clubs will be able to put recent coaching and mentorship from RYA Scotland into practise, utilising a strong set of new Dinghy Instructors from an RYA course which ran earlier this May.
"We're confident that recent collaboration amongst peers combined with continued development support from RYA Scotland will add depth, quality, and sustainability to sailing activities on Orkney. Now, we look forward to seeing more people from the community experiencing the substantial benefits water based activities offer, from improved wellbeing to confidence, independence, skill development, and fun."
Preparations for July’s sailing regatta are now at an advanced stage, and excitement is building as the 12 islands which will compete in the sailing are due to name their teams imminently.
Kirsty Talbot, Director of Orkney 2025, said, “We are thrilled to see the fleet of new sailing boats has arrived on Orkney and are so thankful to sportscotland for funding them. Orkney 2025 will provide local sailors with a unique chance to represent Orkney on home waters, showcasing their talent and commitment. With the Games fast approaching, we are delighted by the positive impact they are already having on the sport and look forward to the lasting legacy they will leave behind.”
