350 young people take part in Sail Together programme - 3 more years of funding assured

Sail Together programme - RNSA Youth Crew © Andrew Simpson Foundation

Greenwich Hospital and the Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) are pleased to announce the success of the first year of the Sail Together programme, with over 350 young people taking part. As a result, the programme will expand to include 8-17-year-olds and will be funded for a further 3 years.

Drawing on the expertise of the Andrew Simpson Foundation as delivery partner, the programme will continue to offer RYA recognised sailing opportunities, including residential courses, for young people from serving families across the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

Deirdre Mills, Director of Greenwich Hospital, commented: "Sailing is exciting, builds new skills and enhances personal fitness, teamwork and well-being. By making sailing both rewarding and inclusive for young people taking part, our project aims to engage and support Naval families across the UK."

Philip Warwick, Chief Executive Officer, RNSA, commented: "We are absolutely delighted to be able to continue to deliver this level of support for Service families and introduce them to the fun and many benefits of sailing. We will be doing everything we can to make these weeks fully accessible and inclusive to serving families across the UK with no previous experience needed to participate."

RNSA - the charity providing sailing opportunities for the Royal Navy - enables young people from Service families to join the 'RNSA Youth Crew' and enjoy free Royal Yachting Association Start Sailing weeks throughout the UK. Consolidation sessions are also available free of charge with the aim of maximising the many benefits and encouraging the participants to go on and enjoy sailing for life. Greenwich Hospital funds the Sail Together programme as part of its life opportunities grants.

Throughout 2024, over 350 young people participated in learning to sail. In the next 3 years, our ambition is to deliver this opportunity for 2000+ more young people.

The programme will also continue to provide a series of family days to allow families to take part in Sail Together and share the experience and benefits.

The Sail Together courses aim to promote physical and mental fitness, foster teamwork and a sense of community, encouraging sea sense and safety awareness for those attending. They include a core water safety element to support young people's confidence in the water. Each certified course provides an opportunity to record and recognise achievements, including RYA certification.

See the website www.rnsayouthcrew.org.uk for more details and bookings. If you are involved in a Royal Navy community group and would like RNSA's outreach team to expand on the opportunities available, then please email them on: