RYA Spearheads Landmark Survey to Boost UK's Sailing and Boating Landscape

British sailing and boating are at a pivotal juncture. Participation rates are dwindling and it’s high time for action. The Royal Yachting Association (RYA), the national governing body of sailing and boating, has launched a major survey - ‘The Reflections on Water’. The RYA represents a strong community of over 100,000 members, 24,000 instructors, 250,000 volunteers, and more than 2,000 recognized training centres across the UK. Encapsulating a wide spectrum of watery experiences from grassroot zealots to professional mariners, the survey promises to offer the broadest insights yet into the UK’s maritime fraternity. The RYA seeks to leverage this comprehensive feedback into molding its future strategies and initiatives while identifying sections that need attention and revitalization. The Reflections on Water Survey invites everyone to share their experiences, regardless of their connections with the water. Be it a lifelong mariner, a club member, a volunteer, or a professional in the marine industry, every voice counts. A unique opportunity to steer the national governing body and influence the future of the sport and the sector, the survey extends an inclusive platform to share your story. This landmark survey, divided into two easy sections of approximately 15 minutes each, stays open until December 1, 2025. The association aims to collect over seven thousand responses, each helping shape sailing and boating’s future - painting the maritime nation’s soul. The Reflections on Water campaign, embodying the diversity of the maritime community, pushes forward the RYA’s ‘Together on Water’ strategy. This campaign has successfully laid the groundwork for pioneering initiatives like The Urban Winds Project, which seeks to train and employ the next generation of sailing instructors in the UK’s capital.