Water sports centres under new command

Royal Navy Adventurous Training has taken over command of two water sports centres in the West Country.

Falmouth Water Sports Activity Centre and the RN/RM Sail Training Centre at the Camber in Plymouth were run by RNAS Culdrose and 30 Cdo IX Group respectively.

The two sites were formally handed over to Commander Sean Winkle by Culdrose’s Executive Officer, Cdr Ken Barlow and Commanding Officer of 30 Cdo IX Group, Lt Col Will Norcott and renamed the Royal Navy Water Activity Centre Falmouth and Camber.

Cdr Barlow said: “Falmouth WAC is in a fantastic location with instant access to safe sailing waters in and around Falmouth Bay. With Falmouth Docks now being increasingly used by SURFLOT and the RFA, we saw an opportunity to develop the facility and provide a more diverse offering to a wider range of users by handing over Command to Royal Navy Adventurous Training to offer improved and widely accessible facilities for the RN/RM.”

The new RN WACs offer instant access to the waters around Falmouth and Plymouth Sound. Both offer a wide variety of water-based activities, including stand-up paddle boarding, dingy sailing and power boating. The RN WAC Camber also offers offshore sailing via two ocean-going yachts named Per Mare and Sarie Marais.

Lt Col Will Norcott hands over command of the sail training centre at Stonehouse to Cdr Ken Winkle

RN WAC Falmouth can also facilitate multi-activity AT week’s providing additional land-based activities such as mountain biking and road cycle touring.

Cdr Winkle said: “As part of NCHQ Transformation, as the SO1 head of RN Adventurous Training, I have been tasked with increasing AT participation rates across the RN.

"Adventurous Training and challenging activities such as stand-up paddle boarding are now immensely popular and there is no doubt that demand has far outstripped supply. The addition of the Water Activity Centres in Falmouth and The Camber will go some way to address that and provide an outlet for some of the most popular activities we offer.”

For further details on AT/CA training opportunities and courses please contact the following:

RN WAC Falmouth: Tel: 01326315501. Email: [email protected]

RN WAC Camber: RMB Stonehouse:Tel: 017522836926. Email: [email protected]

Adventurous Training and challenging activities such as stand-up paddle boarding are now immensely popular and there is no doubt that demand has far outstripped supply.