Latest News and Offers

The UK's No.1 show for outdoor pursuits, The Outdoors Show, returns to ExCeL, London from 17 – 20 January 2013. Promising a great family day out, the show provides a fantastic opportunity to buy all the latest clothing and equipment at great prices, as well as offering FREE have-a-go attractions, special guest speakers and more. The Careers Zone offers all the information needed to turn a passion for the outdoors into a career. The zone will feature a stage packed with speakers from all aspects of the outdoors industry, as well as an information area where visitors can talk with a wide range of professionals on a one to one level.  Rockley Academy can be found in this zone on stand number OU482, so please pop along and say hello. That’s not quite everything! The Outdoors Show will once again run alongside The London Bike Show, The Active Travel Show and the Tullett Prebon London Boat Show. With a ticket to The Outdoors Show allowing visitors access into all four shows, there will be lots more to see and do, helping to create an entertaining, affordable day out for all visitors. 

Poole Park together with Rockley Watersports will be the host venue for this year’s Ecover Blue Mile, Poole event which will take place on Sunday 19th August.  Poole Park lies on the shores of the largest inland saltwater lake in the UK and offers the ideal environment for you to experience watersports either for the first time or for shorter taster. As part of the nationwide Join In! Weekend, we want to invite as many people as possible to Poole Park to take part in the Ecover Blue Mile Poole event and raise some funds for WWF to help protect our rivers and seas.

Something for Everyone

 We have linked up with Rockley, Naish UK, Sorted Surf Shop and Fatyak Kayaks to bring you a fantastic fundraising event that will feature stand up paddleboard and kayak sprint races and the Ecover Blue Mile. Everyone can sign up to take part and all equipment will be provided on the day.

Format and Programme

The day will be split into a morning session (10am-1pm) and an afternoon session (2pm-5pm) to give as many people as possible the opportunity to join in. You will be assigned a race number for both the Ecover Blue Mile and a Sprint Event. The winner of each race will go through to the Grand Final which will start at 17:00 hrs where the Medal Places will be finalised. There will be Prizes for Gold, Silver and Bronze.

Ecover Invitational Race (Pro-riders Only)

If getting wet is just not your thing, then come down to Poole Park at midday and watch the Ecover Invitational SUP Pro – an exhibition race for pro stand up paddle riders, who will battle it out over the Ecover Blue Mile course.  There will also be some pro-riders around throughout the day to provide tips and technique demonstrations.

Fundraising

WWF is the official charity partner of the Ecover Blue Mile and we encourage all participants who sign up to participate, to create a JustGiving Page and to ask their friends and family to sponsor them.  All donations will go towards supporting the work carried out by WWF to protect our rivers and seas.

We are delighted to be launching two brand new courses to our 2012 programme at our French Watersports holiday centre – an Introduction to Racing course and a Multi Watersports Activity week which will offer a taste of all our main activities from dinghy sailing and windsurfing to kayaking and for something a bit drier – biking along the forest trails.”

“Feedback from our families over the last couple of years has overwhelmingly said how much they enjoy our training programmes but they would love to have the option of a couple of extra courses.”
  Peter went on to say, “Our families are keen that we offer something to those looking to understand club racing, to help make the most of their new found abilities and keep sailing after their return home and something for those just getting started in watersports but unsure which activity they wish to concentrate on.
  We have listened and we have responded!”

Having caught the bug for sailing on a holiday or course it can be hard to know where to go next and how to continue to progress your new skills and enthusiam. In many cases the easiest way to get involved is to join the racing fleet at your local sailing club, either in your own boat or crewing for someone else. Rockley’s Introduction to Racing course is aimed at those new to racing who want an insight into the skills required to make that process less intimidating and ensure you will be a useful helm or valued crew. The new course is suitable for youths (12-16yrs) and adults (16+) and will run over 5 days, using a variety of single, double hander and multihull dinghies covering a variety of topics from how a race is structured, to tactics and strategy to help maximise your performance.

If you like the idea of trying watersports but are not sure which one will best suit you Rockley’s 5 day Multi Activity course aims to get everyone (10+ yrs) on the water giving them a taste of dinghy and catamaran sailing, windsurfing and kayaking there’s even bike trail riding to explore the vast pine forests of Les Landes.  This is a less formal course with plenty of tips and advice from the Rockley instructor team and gives families the opportunity to take part in activities together.

Peter said; “As a company we are always looking at new ways of encouraging children and adults to have a go at sailing and to get on the water. With the Olympics just around the corner our focus will be on getting people enjoying being on the water as the whole country gets excited about sailing and behind Team GBR.”

All bookings received before December 22nd get 5% discount off 2011 prices as well as a free Rockley Rash Vest or T-shirt. We are already getting lots of bookings for next year, especially the RYA Dinghy Instructor and RYA Senior Instructor courses, so it is worth booking early to get the dates you want plus of course to get a better price!