New RYA Competitions Manager

Replacement found for outgoing David Campbell-James

Tim Hall is to replace David Campbell James as the RYA’s Competitions Manager in January following Campbell James’ retirement from the role.

DCJ, as he is affectionately known, has spearheaded the RYA’s World Class Events strategy since 2008 working tirelessly to ensure Britain attracts and runs top class international regattas as well as the whole range of domestic events.

Hall’s first event at the RYA Competitions helm will be the RYA Volvo Youth National Championships at Hayling Island Sailing Club from Monday 11 to Friday 15 April, which will see the UK’s top youth sailors go head-to-head for national titles and a place on RYA Volvo Team GBR – GBR’s ISAF Youth Worlds team.

Following that Hall will be responsible for delivering Britain’s edition of the ISAF World Cup Series, the Skandia Sail For Gold Regatta in Weymouth and Portland 5-11 June as well as the IFDS World Championships 1-8 July also in Weymouth and Portland.

Hall admits he is relishing the challenge of picking up the baton and keeping Britain at the forefront of World Class event delivery in the build-up to 2012 and beyond. “It’s a really exciting time to be taking up this role with 2012 just round the corner and the public’s heightened interest in the sport.

“With my background as a competitor, coach and event manager I’m looking forward to using everything I have learned so far to continue delivering great events for the RYA attracting the best sailors in the World ensuring their experience is one to remember.”

Hall, a previous Flying Fifteen World Champion and keen RS400 club racer, has held two positions at the Welsh Yachting Association (WYA), High Performance Manager and Director of Sailing. And he hangs up his shoes having run his own marine consultancy business for the past year to take up the RYA Competitions Manager reins.

“David Campbell-James and the Events Team at the RYA, including a huge number of volunteers, have done a massive amount of work to demonstrate that Britain is capable of running World Class National and International events at a number of venues across the UK. I hope to be able to build on and continue this work and particularly ensure that we are able to continue to secure and deliver World Class events post 2012,” Hall concluded.

John Derbyshire, RYA Racing Manager/Performance Director said: “We’ve made great strides in putting Britain at the forefront of event delivery and race management over the past years. The whole Events set-up has become increasingly professional and the huge team of race officers, judges, umpires, safety officers, admin staff and other volunteers we use have become an even more efficient unit.

"David has played a key role in this progression and I’m in no doubt that Tim is perfectly placed to continue his work and build on his success as we enter an exciting time in our sport”