A FORMER member of the West Wilts Youth Sailing Association (WWYSA) in Westbury has credited the club for helping to set him on the path to international success on the high seas.
Last year, Rob Bunce skippered the Land Rover Ben Ainslie Racing (BAR) Academy Team to success in the Youth America’s Cup, one of the world’s top sailing challenges, beating 12 teams from around the world to clinch the title.
Speaking to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA), Rob, who joined the WWYSA at the age of 14, said, “WWYSA was a great place to get qualified as a dinghy instructor and then to put my teaching skills into practice. Teaching has been a lot of fun over the years, no matter how challenging, passing on what I have learnt is a good feeling.
“Being involved there offered me the opportunity to get into the industry even if that was just as a dinghy instructor to start with. It also allowed me see other areas of the sport at a young age, whether that was keelboat sailing or big boats.
“Teaching sailing is always something I have enjoyed, especially racing, so WWYSA certainly helped to keep the fire lit whilst I was at school.
“I’m so thankful to everyone who has helped me over the years, from people that took me as their crew when I was young, to coaches and trainers along the way, and obviously my parents, who support me to this day.”
This year, Rob will be racing on a Pac52 in the USA and a Fast 40 in the UK. He also has big ambitions for the future, setting his sights on sailing in the Americas Cup and to achieve that, racing offshore in some of the world’s leading fleets, such as the TP52s and Maxi72s.
WWYSA is a charitable trust with the primary aim of introducing young people between the ages of eight and 18 to the sport of sailing.
Starting in 1967 the club, which is a Royal Yachting Association recognised teaching centre, celebrated its 50th anniversary last year. More information can be found on the website: http://wwysa.org.uk/
