RYA OnBoard celebrates ten years of getting youngsters on the water

RYA OnBoard celebrates ten years © Paul Wyeth / RYA

In front of a packed crowd, young sailors took to the main stage at the RYA Suzuki Dinghy Show (Sunday 01 March) to officially mark the ten year anniversary of the RYA OnBoard programme (OB).

Whether it's taking to the water for the first time during a PE lesson or learning how to race, for the past ten years OB has been introducing sailing and windsurfing to young people of all backgrounds and abilities at an affordable cost, through schools, youth groups and training centres.

"It was an honour to be able to officially mark the ten year anniversary of OB at the show" said RYA OnBoard Officer Cat Ferguson. "We were joined by some very enthusiastic OnBoard sailors from Graham Watersports Centre, one of our many OB clubs and they did a fantastic job of saying happy birthday and blowing out the candles!"

Since OB was created, more than half a million children have experienced sailing and windsurfing with more than 50,000 enjoying the sport so much they have continued to sail on a regular basis.

One of these youngsters is Leila Moore, 14, who sails at Docklands Watersports said: "Sailing has definitely changed my life. I'm always busy and always have something to do. Without the OnBoard programme I wouldn't be in the RYA Zone squad, I wouldn't be competing and I'd have no idea what I'd be doing so happy birthday and thank you OnBoard!"

Sam Sale-Parks is an OB Instructor at Torbay Yacht Club. "It's just lovely seeing how much the youngsters change and getting the feedback from the parents and the teachers. Also to see their faces on the water and how chuffed they are when they've accomplished something. There are children who don't show as much academic promise but the teachers are nearly in tears sometimes because these youngsters just come alive when they are on the water."

From the very beginning OnBoard has received fantastic support from the industry. The valued supporters and suppliers include Gill, Harken, ICOM, RS Sailing, Topper, LaserPerformace, the John Merricks Sailing Trust and Bishop Skinner Marine.

Cat concluded: "We'd like to say a huge thank you to all our supporters and suppliers. Without their support the programme would not have achieved what it has today. With ten years of experience, OnBoard will continue to create more opportunities and inspire many more youngsters".

For more information about RYA OnBoard and find out how to get involved in sailing visit www.rya.org.uk/go/onboard