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Program

A successful program revolves around a proven curriculum, successful promotion and the best instructors/coaches available.  Interspersed with these three main components are good planning, durable equipment, convenient facilities, good leadership, parental support, etc. 

Tunnicliffe Consulting’s expertise is derived from years of experience of instructing, coaching, running and setting up sustainable programs.  Tunnicliffe Consulting will work with you to define the goals you have for your program (short, medium and long term), adapt the curriculum to achieve these goals and help you employ the best qualified staff to put the curriculum into action.  All the while, Tunnicliffe Consulting will be assisting your organization in promoting your newly defined program.

Curriculum

Experience has helped Tunnicliffe Consulting develop a curriculum that works.  It can be adapted for all ages (from 8 yrs to 80yrs young) and to meet all levels of experience.  Through discussion, Tunnicliffe Consulting will find your desired program focus and adjust the curriculum to meet these ends, whether it is learn-to-sail, racing or a mix of both.  The advantages of this initial careful planning are the promotion of sailing as a life-long skill, and that providing you with a program that will continue to grow in the future.

Successful promotion of your sailing program is very important to its continuity.  Tunnicliffe Consulting will work with your organization to develop a promotional campaign that will attract the demographics for whom your program is designed.

Hiring your Staff

For a sustainable and growing program, it is essential to have the best instructors/coaches available.  These instructors/coaches need to be qualified, knowledgeable, and empathetic to each and every sailors’ learning styles.  Tunnicliffe Consulting will help with this part of the process, by advertising and vetting applicants, arranging for certification where necessary, and even finding suitable candidates for you.

What types of specific results have my clients had?

When I first came to Norfolk Yacht and Country Club in 2008, I recognized an opportunity to develop a year-round program.  I initially developed a summer program that grew 20% over the previous summer.  I organized, promoted, and successfully sustained a racing program throughout the fall, winter and spring.  I currently have over 15 sailors subscribed in the year round program, with over 120 participating during the summer months.

Adult participation at the club was low. To attract and develop more sailing opportunities for the adults at the club, I organized and promoted a racing series for the adults and their children.  It has been a success for two years now, with participation consistently around 8 sailors and reaching up to 16 sailors.  This series includes the racing and also additional coaching from me.

When I started at NYCC, the sailing program was a money-loser for the club.  By careful planning, I was able to downsize the number of instructors, use the remaining the instructors more effectively,  do boat maintenance in-house using the club’s resources, thus saving the club from having to outsource these jobs, and as a consequence, turn our loss of over $20,000 to an acceptable cost of operating cost for such a program.

The junior program was established but had no national exposure.  I developed the South of Potomac (SPOT) Team of Optimist sailors, put together an aggressive travel series, and have had members of the team finish in the top 10% at national events, and qualify for international events in Europe.

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