A volunteer at Llangorse Sailing Club has been presented with an RYA Cymru Wales Impact Award for inspiring others to enjoy the sport.

Lorina Walden from Kington is a dinghy sailing instructor and has also been the club’s Training Principal for six years.

Her volunteer roles have been vital in supporting the club to encourage new members of all ages to develop a passion for sailing.

The club is an RYA Recognised Training Centre and in addition to running learn to sail courses, Lorina introduced informal Development Days to help new members gain further skills and confidence.

Participants are able to turn up and go sailing in the knowledge that there is help at hand if they need it, and the sessions have been proving popular, with more than 20 regulars by the end of last season.

Lorina said: “We wanted to bridge the gap between those completing beginners’ courses and our experienced racers to help our new members and families take out club boats, stay engaged and feel more able to join in. It’s about inclusiveness and building a community.”

Llangorse SC a friendly and welcoming non-profit club offering dinghy sailing, racing and training at the second largest inland water in Wales. Lorina joined in 1997 when looking for a watersport that the whole family, including her husband and three sons, could enjoy together.

She explained: “It’s quite inexpensive and we just loved it! Next thing you know, I’m helping out and racing and the years roll by, and now my middle son is looking forward to coming back to the club with his own little boy to introduce the next generation to sailing.

“It’s a fantastic little club in a beautiful location and I’m so surprised to receive an Impact Award when I look at what other members do as well, because so many people give so much of their time. Although I’ve received the award, I’m part of a big team effort at the club.”

Commenting on her own role as a volunteer instructor, Lorina added: “I genuinely like to help people. It gives me a bit of a buzz and it never ceases to amaze me how you can take out little ones who might be apprehensive at the beginning, and after five days they are sailing across the lake and having a whale of a time. It’s amazing to see how they come on in such a short space of time and it’s rewarding to be able to give back.”

Lorina was nominated for an RYA Cymru Wales Impact Award by sailing instructor Paul Gomm, who said she her contribution had helped the club to be sustainable and maintain and grow its membership.

He said: “Lorina supports the work needed behind the scenes as well as the hands-on instructing. She is particularly good at bringing on children through the RYA sailing programme and has inspired a lot of families who are now sailing because of her dedication.She has worked hard to foster an open-hearted club and encouraged more people to get on the water.”

The RYA Cymru Wales Impact Awards are run by the sport’s governing body to recognise those who go above and beyond to support activities afloat, in line with its strategy - Together on our Waters – to create a connected, inspired and inclusive Welsh sailing and boating community.

Lorina, who works in IT, has now handed over Llangorse SC’s Training Principal role to spend more time with her grandchildren but plans to continue supporting the club’s training as a volunteer instructor and the club generally as a Trustee.

The club has an open day on Saturday, May 10 2025 from 10:30am to 3pm for anyone who would like to give sailing a go.

Email [email protected] for further information about the open day, visit Llangorse Sailing Club to find out more about the club’s activities or explore how to begin your own sailing journey at RYA Start Boating.