Shows
Off The Water's PodcastOff The Water meets Finlo CottierOff the Water is back ahead of the 2023 season with some updates from the team at RYA Scotland alongside a short interview with our new CEO Finlo Cottier.
Originally from the Isle of Man, sailing brought Finlo to Scotland’s West Coast where he began work as an Artic scientist, eventually becoming a Professor at the Scottish Association of Marine Sciences (SAMS) in Oban. During this time Finlo was an active volunteer as Commodore at Oban SC and a as a deputy coxswain for the RNLI, so has kept close to the water throughout his roles.
T...2023-03-3133 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water Episode 20 - VolunteersWhy is lack of volunteers one of the biggest barriers to the growth of sailing clubs today? What needs to change?
In this episode of Off The Water we return to the topic of volunteers and volunteering. As we emerge from the lack of formal activities brought about by the pandemic, alongside many other aspects of social change, finding, retaining and supporting volunteers has been brought into sharp focus.
The recent launch of RYA Scotland’s Volunteer Development Framework also provides a perfect opportunity to reflect on the overall impact people who volunteer have on th...2022-06-2540 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water Episode 19 - Rory McKinna and Para SportsThe Off The Water podcast aims to provide some insights from people involved at all levels of recreational boating in Scotland.
In this episode Marc Turner catches up with new Regional Development officer for the West of Scotland, Laura Cowan. We discuss her experiences of RYA Sailability in her previous role with Prestwick Sailing Club, before hearing from Rory McKinna on his para sports journey in sailing so far.
Rory has enjoyed sailing a Hansa 303 at various locations around Scotland, the UK and Europe, enabled by his family, alongside volunteers from class associations, clubs and c...2022-04-1534 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 18 - VISA GB come to ScotlandMarc Turner met up with Lorraine Dodge and a group of visually impaired sailors at the end of a week’s sailing on the Clyde last year and thought it a great idea to share the story of their trip and the organisation.
To find out more about this charity, ran by visually impaired sailors, we caught up with Lorraine Dodge, a trustee with VISA-GB, who, alongside volunteer skipper Steve Benn and sailors Liza Marsden from Ayr and Robert Smith from Ayr, joined us in our latest podcast.
Before we recorded the podcast Lorraine briefly to...2022-01-2841 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode17 - Dinghy AdventuresOff the water is back on the airwaves as most of the team were back on the real waves over the summer. However as the longer nights set in we are excited to be able to share some of the inspiring stories from 2021.
Robyn Phillips joins Marc Turner as the host of this episode, as Robyn has probably done the most sailing this summer, from cruising, instruction, coaching and racing, both keelboats and dinghies, however she caught wind of an adventure that some of the young people at Aberdeen and Stonehaven Yacht Club (ASYC) undertook in...2021-12-1737 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 16 - The Ellen Macarthur Cancer TrustThe RYA Scotland podcast catches up with sail based charity the Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust who have a base in Scotland. We find out a little more about how they use sailing to help rebuild the confidence of young people in recovery from cancer along with the plans for restarting activities this summer.
Since starting activities at Largs in 2013, Ellen Macarthur Cancer Trust has welcomed hundreds of young people to Largs with support from the Peoples Postcode Lottery. The impact of the trust has been immense not just for the young people, but also for the volunteer...2021-07-0523 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 15 - The Hunter FamilyIt is widely acknowledged that many people get involved in sailing through family participation, and this episode explores this with a quiet, unassuming family from the Isle of Arran as the Off The Water podcast catches with the Hunter family.
They are an inspiration on so many levels as they all have made a profession out of sailing, through their passion for all the activities on offer, from racing to cruising and the limitless sense of adventure it allows.
Ian and Sally have shared many nautical miles in ocean crossings and deliveries, although Sally’s in...2021-05-3051 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 14 - Equality, Diversity and InclusionIn this episode of the Off The Water podcast we dive into equality, diversity and inclusion.
This is a clearly a huge area and can be perceived in many ways by different groups and individuals. To provide some insights we asked two new members of the RYA Scotland team to hold a discussion on the topic to bring out some key themes for them around the perception of our sport and to share their experiences and realities of the topic.
Georgia Moran has just joined as the Regional Development Officer for the East after a...2021-03-2242 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 12 -The EnvironmentThe 12th episode of Off The Water explores the environment which we enjoy our activities within. As both a global and local issue it can be perceived as overwhelming and certainly has many aspects to understand where we can help reduce our impact on it and maintain it for future generations.
Certainly it takes a positive collective attitude and many small steps to reach the net zero goal set out by world leaders, but what can we do in the boating community?
Hosts Robin Nicol and Marc Turner open up the discussion with three inspirational pe...2021-02-2150 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 11 - VolunteeringOff The Water is back for 2021 with a new season of conversations which affect the boating community in Scotland.
Hosts Nikki Stewart and Jack Mitchell share an interview which gets to heart of why we volunteer and about the ethos and culture of our volunteers. RYA Scotland are fortunate as we have a volunteer run board with one person in particular who works in the voluntary sector and has agreed to share their experiences of volunteering.
Helen Keenan, is head of Volunteering for Marie Curie UK and she brings unique insights from her career in...2021-01-2336 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 10- Outdoor Education CentresIn Off The Water this month our hosts Nikki Stewart and Jack Mitchell gain some real insights into the value of Outdoor Education Residential Centres as they have become under serious threat during restrictions brought in to combat Covid-19.
With sailing and boating being introduced to thousands each year through these centres we catch up with three voices within this sector and hear about some of their experience of the benefits these centres provide.
Jane Campbell Morrison, the chair of the Scottish Adventure Activity Forum has brought together many organisations to back the #SaveYourOutdoorCentres campaign and...2020-10-2346 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode9 - WindsurfingRobin Nicol and Marc Turner take over the Off The Water podcast this month, with a fantastic insight into the journey of a windsurfing family from Loch Insh who have followed a performance pathway to international success.
Islay Watson (19) recently won silver at the first IQ Foiling European Championships in Switzerland is joined by her mother Kim as the share their journey into windsurfing, the challenges and explain what it is like to race the newest Olympic class of foiling windsurfers at International level. It's an epic for sure.
To find out more about windsurfing a...2020-09-2533 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 8 - Gone CruisingSailing and Cruising is the focus for this episode of Off The Water. Scotland has many and varied cruising areas and since the 10th of July many participants have been able to get afloat and enjoy some time exploring and enjoy our waters, by sail or motor.
Hosts Jack Mitchell and Nikki Stewart are joined by producer Marc Turner, who is also a RYA Cruising Instructor to talk all things cruising and sailing, with conversations with three enthusiastic sailors, who have made it afloat this season.
They include a relative newcomer, Katie McCorkindale from Dunoon...2020-08-2847 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 7 - Clubs Return To BoatingIn the second part the Off The Water team touches base with the volunteer led clubs and the challenges they have encountered to engage members. As restrictions eased the clubs have had to implement measures as they return to activity and adapt to a new normal, each with their own distinct set of circumstances.
Regional Development Officers Jack Mitchell and Robin Nicol meet with Lorna Drummond from St Andrew’s Sailing Club, Joe Swierczek of Cumbernauld Sailing Club and Neil Beveridge from Prestwick Sailing Club to hear their stories and how they are managing the cha...2020-07-2935 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 6 -Training CentresIn the next two episodes of Off The Water we look at how the easing of restrictions is allowing more activity on the water has affected clubs and training centres in Scotland. In the first part our hosts Nikki Stewart and Jack Mitchell discuss the current updates to guidance and catch up with training centres beginning to enable activity.
Recognised Training Centres (RTCs) provide RYA Training in a safe environment with successful learning experiences available across a range of water-based activities.
Nikki Stewart, RYA Scotland’s Coach Development Manager is in conversation with Sami Poole of...2020-07-2444 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 5 - Women In Sport / eSailing ChampsOur hosts Nikki Stewart and Jack Mitchell are joined by colleagues Robin Nicol and Claire Caffrey in Episode 5 in a series of discussions around women in sport and catching up on the latest successes in eSailing alongside the updates as restrictions around activity ease in Scotland.
Claire and Robin follow up on the key themes of how sport can change lives with an interview with Eilidh Gibson, a Scottish Slalom Canoeist whose project 'Slalom Inspires' aiming to inspire and empower girls into the incredible sport of canoe slalom. As our own Pioneer Project shares similar aims we l...2020-07-0349 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 4 - Our Mental HealthIn Episode 4 of Off The Water we explore the benefits that our activities have on our Mental Health.
Our presenters Nikki Stewart and Jack Mitchell conduct two deeply insightful conversations around mental health in relation to boating and getting afloat in Scotland. They are joined by Robert Nesbitt, Head of physical activity and sport at the Scottish Association of Mental health ( SAMH ) and Pamela Dewar, the Changing Lives lead for sportscotland.
Robert Nesbitt sets the scene as SAMH proactively promoted resources and raised awareness of mental health during lockdown, linking positive mental health with physical...2020-06-0859 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 3 - Return to BoatingIn this Off The Water podcast, our presenters Jack Mitchell and Nikki Stewart discuss what moves could see a return to activities again with James Allan CEO of RYA Scotland and Howard Pridding, Director of External Affairs at the RYA.
The RYA in England have moved quickly in issuing guidance to many members, clubs and training centres as restrictions have been eased, while the home countries administrations implement different guidance around easing of lock down restrictions. At time of recording the Scottish Government issued the Routemap to a phased return across sectors and can be found here. ...2020-05-2440 minOff The Water's PodcastOff The Water - Episode 2 - RYA TrainingIn the second Off The Water podcast, our presenters Jack Mitchell and Nikki Stewart discuss RYA training and how it is currently being affected by lock-down and what moves could see a return to activities again.
RYA Training is a cornerstone to many clubs and training centres providing safe and successful access to different areas of boating. The hosts are in conversation with coach assessor and former Clipper skipper, Dan Smith who had just registered Scotland's newest training centre, Sailing Intuition, alongside Robyn Phillips, Senior Instructor with Aberdeenshire Sailing Trust and Scottish National Topper Coach, both providing som...2020-05-1024 min
Off The Water's PodcastOff The Water - An RYA Scotland Podcast for the Scottish Boating CommunityOff The Water aims to provide an audible look at what's going on across the boating community in Scotland from the National Governing Body. Our presenters Jack Mitchell and Nikki Stewart discuss some of the areas affected by the current lock down, with interviews from leading figures and providing some insights into the challenges we face. It is an recreational activity so we have some lighter points and positive stories to listen to while away from your screens.
In the first episode we meet with Stuart Carruthers, the RYA Cruising Manager, catch up on the eSailing experiences...2020-04-2742 min