The number of dinghy, windsurfing and power boating instructors in clubs and training centres across England has risen by almost 1,500 in the last year following the launch of the RYA’s Adult Participation Programme, funded through Sport England, which aims to increase and develop the number of adults regularly sailing and windsurfing.

Graham Manchester, head of the RYA Adult Participation Programme says: “We are delighted with these new figures. They show that clubs are investing in their volunteers through instructor training courses. These volunteers are then helping to raise the opportunities and quality of on water sessions run at clubs across England.  We believe we are building strong foundations through supporting the volunteers within clubs which will result adults having more opportunities to sail and sail more often.

Since beginning the project in 2009, the RYA has contracted 49 RYA Regional Club Coaches (RCC’s) who are working alongside RYA Regional Development Officers (RDO’s) helping clubs with planning and organisation, volunteers, new training courses and even organising windsurfing and instructor days, all of which will entice new members and encourage existing ones to sail more regularly. There are now 200 clubs across England working with RCCs.

North East and Yorkshire RYA Regional Development Officer Suzie Blair explains: “The RYA Regional Club Coaches are a real asset to clubs and it has been great to work with them to provide individual support to clubs.

“We almost doubled the number of instructor training courses in the region and one particular success has been working with Rotherham Sailing Club, where volunteers have become dinghy Instructors and safety boat drivers.”

To find out more information about club development and how the RYA can help you visit www.rya.org.uk/go/club or contact your RYA Regional Development Officer. Contact details are available by calling 02380 604195