STAUNTON Harold Sailing Club has been recognised as one of the best in Britain by the sport's governing body, the Royal Yachting Association.

The south Derbyshire club has been shortlisted for YHA's Club of the Year accolade.

The award recognises clubs that excel at promoting the sport and the overall winner from a short list of five will be announced at the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show at Alexandra Palace, London on March 3.

Nick Waters, Staunton Harold SC Commodore, said: "People know when they come to us they will get a really warm welcome and enjoy our activities in a safe environment, whether they are beginners or experienced sailors.

"We are a close-knit group and everyone appreciates the value of working hard for the good of the club.

"We are delighted to have been nominated as club of the year finalists and we're look forward to the show next month."

Staunton Harold SC has made great strides in creating even more opportunities for local people to get involved in sailing over the past 12 months.

Their commitment to improving their facilities and equipment is paying dividends, with 87 new members recruited in 2011 and total membership now at around 400.

Yet they continue striving to renovate and extend the club further to open up their doors wider still.

The club has a range of learn to sail and windsurfing activities, with clearly defined pathways to enable people to improve and develop their skills.

Staunton Harold's "Friday Night Club" has proved a major success in getting families involved in informal coaching sessions and, through RYA OnBoard, the nationwide grassroots sailing and windsurfing scheme, continues to forge links with local schools and youth groups.

An active junior squad enjoy regular weekend training camps throughout the year, learning and improve their sailing skills together.

As a Volvo RYA Champion Club, the club's talented youngsters are frequently fed into the RYA's World Class racing programmes.

RYA volunteer development officer Jackie Bennetts, who coordinates the awards said: "All this year's finalists are excellent, well run, vibrant and forward looking clubs, who really excel at what they set out to do.

"The club of the year awards are a fantastic opportunity to highlight and promote all the good work clubs and their members put into keeping our sport alive".

The other four nominees for RYA Club of the Year 2012 are Chichester Yacht Club (West Sussex), Leigh and Lowton Sailing Club (Greater Manchester), Salcombe Yacht Club (Devon) and Hollowell Sailing Club (Northamptonshire).

For more information about sailing and windsurfing opportunities in Derbyshire visit www.rya.org.uk/regions/eastmidlands