RYA develops fact sheets on increasing club activities

by Emma Slater on 12 May 2011 RYA is Britain's national body for all forms of recreational, competitive and professional boating and is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone.

In a move that could well be copied by other sailing nations, the RYA has developed a series of information sheets for boating organisations and clubs to help them develop and increase levels of adult participation in boating activities from sailing and motorboating to windsurfing.

Available to members and non-members alike the information sheets offer guidance on how to increase on water activity, income or membership figures using real life case studies of activities that have been developed and proved successful at other clubs, training centres and organisations across the country.

Graham Manchester, RYA Regional Development Officer Manager explains: 'We have been working with clubs and centres across the UK to put the fact sheets together in order to share ideas on ways to invigorate and improve activity for their members and customers.

'There are many varied ways in which clubs and organisations can go about increasing activity and we hope we have found a selection of ideas that will prove useful, from making members feel confident about engaging with club activities to helping people make the best use of their boat whatever the weather and develop their sailing abilities.'

Each of the fact sheets cover the basics for the different activities from the aim of the activity, who would run it, examples and requirements to the benefits, long term actions, resource requirements as well as a more detailed case study from a club or organisation that has already put that activity in place, what they did and how it worked.

Guy Malpas, RYA Yachting Development Officer, added 'The latest round of fact sheets look at developing adult participation with a cruising focus. From organising a cruise in company and social sailing groups, to marina manoeuvring days and yachting spinnaker essentials.'

Fact sheets and case studies currently available:

Sailing and Windsurfing
• Windsurfing within your sailing club
• Club environment within commercial or local education authority centre
• Regional nomadic windsurfing club
• Training centre to club links
• Clubs within clubs
• Getting back afloat
• Including family and adult participation in current youth activities
• Ex T15 Club

Sail and Motor Cruising
• Cruising in company
• Yachting virtual clubs
• Social sailing groups
• Novice race crew training example 1
• Novice race crew training example 2
• Introduction to yacht racing and skill development
• Marina manoeuvring days
• Spinnaker crew roles
• Spinnaker essentials
• Spinnaker training day timetable

View the latest fact sheets online or find out more by contacting your Regional Development RYA website