About the RYA

The RYA is a UK membership organisation for recreational boat owners and crew with over 103,000 personal members. There are an estimated further 500,000 boat owners nationally who are members of RYA affiliated clubs and class associations. The RYA fights unnecessary bureaucracy and threats to boating on behalf of these members and affiliates in the UK and abroad. The RYA is the UK’s national association for all forms of recreational and competitive boating, representing sailing, motorcruising, sportsboats, windsurfing, inland boating, powerboat racing and personal watercraft.

This logo links to the RYA official site:

The RYA’s training schemes for powered and sailing craft provide the de-facto qualifications for skippers, instructors and water sports professionals worldwide. On average 185,000 people per year complete RYA training courses at our 2220 affiliated Training Centres in 20 countries.

RYA Team GBR, Great Britain’s Olympic sailing team, with Skandia Team GBR at its forefront, have positioned Britain as the most successful sailing nation in Olympic history and sailing as Britain’s current top-performing Olympic sport.

The youth and junior participation and performance pathways , organised and run by the RYA are the envy of sports governing bodies the world over and provide the raw materials for our nation's successes in international competition.

RYA courses for under 16s

The RYA has loads of courses and activities for under 16s, whether you want to go powerboating, windsurfing or sailing. You can take a course in the UK or abroad, with your family, with your friends, or on your own. Once you have experienced your chosen sport there is a whole host of ways that you can stay involved and get even more out of it. Many of the Beach Club Holiday providers featured by Justactive.co.uk (and carrying the "Active Learners" logo) are fully fledged RYA training centres and are ideal places to start learning to sail on an RYA course.

Dinghy sailing
The RYA’s Youth Sailing Scheme has four levels of courses to teach you the basics, and is a great way to learn whatever type of sailing you choose to do in the future.

Windsurfing
The RYA’s Youth Windsurfing Scheme has three courses for you to enjoy. With the right equipment and tuition you will be tearing along in no time.

Powerboating
You can take the first two courses in our National Powerboat Scheme, learning how to drive a small powerboat at high and low speed. The youngest you take the first course is 8 years old, and you can move on to the second course at 12.

Personal watercraft (PW)
You may have seen these speeding along on holiday and wanted to have a go. You can take our PW course at 12, preparing you to be safe on the water whilst having great fun too.

Sail or motor cruising
Learn how to be part of the crew and have a go at skippering too. Learning with your family and living on board during the course is a great new experience.

Cruising the inland waterways
Exploring canals and rivers is great fun and a really relaxing holiday. Learn how to drive the boat, operate locks and find your way around the inland waterways. The youngest you take this course is 12 years old.

For full details of these courses please follow this link to the RYA website

RYA courses for adults

RYA Level 1, Start Sailing
An introduction to the sport, covering the minimum knowledge required to get afloat under supervision. It will give you a basic understanding of boat handling techniques and background knowledge.

Level 2 Basic Skills
Becoming a competent sailor in light winds with an introduction to sailing techniques and manoeuvres, rigging, launching, safety, capsize recovery and basic rules of the road.

Seamanship Skills – sail independently
How to handle a boat in all circumstances and solve problems afloat. This will teach you to sail in a seamanlike manner and make seamanship decisions in moderate conditions.

Day Sailing – go cruising
Passage planning and decision making for small boat cruising, giving you a confident, safe approach to planning and executing a short cruise in a dinghy, keelboat or multihull.

Sailing with Spinnakers – kites course
Everything you need to know about sailing modern three-sail boats. Teaches you how to use an asymmetric or symmetric spinnaker.

Start Racing – go club racing
The start line for enjoying club racing. All you need to know to get round the course and have the confidence, skills and knowledge to take part in club racing in good conditions.

As with the "Youth" courses, many of the Beach Club Holiday providers featured by Justactive.co.uk (and carrying the "Active Learners" logo) are fully fledged RYA training centres and are ideal places to start learning to sail on an RYA course.

For full details of these courses please follow this link to the RYA website