TEES and Hartlepool Yacht Club has been awarded Volvo Royal Yachting Association Champion Club status in recognition of its first class youth sailing coaching and race training programmes.
The scheme is a key part of the RYA Youth Initiative, which has received £1m per annum support from Sport England for four years.
The club's youth co-ordinator Joan Boagey said: "This is great news for Tees and Hartlepool Yacht Club and particularly for our youth members.
"We have been working hard with the RYA to establish a strong programme of coaching and race training for our young sailors and it's great that our efforts have been recognised."
The Volvo RYA Champion Club scheme is a gold standard for sailing clubs, recognising those with a commitment to youth sailing and race coaching.
It aims to encourage young sailors and windsurfers at the grass roots level to stay in the sport and learn to compete.
Ultimately, the goal is to increase Britain's medal wins in international regattas, building on the British sailing team's success at the Sydney Olympics.
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