RYA Northern Ireland Supports Schools With Sailing Opportunities

21st July 2025

Afloat.ie Team

School children experience sailing for the very first time with the help of RYA Northern Ireland Credit: RYANI

School children across Northern Ireland have experienced sailing for the very first time as part of as part of a new initiative linked to the RYA OnBoard programme.

RYA Northern Ireland has so far hosted successful taster days run with pupils from Killinchy Primary School, Larne and Inver Primary School, St Mary’s Primary School and Glenann Primary School in Cushendall, St Patrick’s Primary School in Glenariff (Waterfoot) and St Ciaran’s Primary School, Cushendun.

Clubs have been supported in running these taster days thanks to RYANI’s ‘Active Clubs’ funding which is opening up the sport of sailing to new people.

RYANI development officer Jessica Penney said: “We hope the children gain a real sense of achievement and pride. For many, it’s their first time on a boat, so building the courage to try something new is a big win.”

For more, see the RYA website HERE.

Published in RYA Northern Ireland, Northern Ireland Waters

Published in RYA Northern Ireland

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About the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Northern Ireland

The RYA is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising.

The RYA is recognised by Government, the media and opinion formers as the representative body and voice for the activities that it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 112,000 personal members.

The RYA has more than 1,500 affiliated clubs and classes, which represent some 350,000 boaters throughout the UK. It is estimated that 4 million people in the UK take part in boating activity annually.

The RYA also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating through a network of more than 2,400 RYA Recognised Training Centres across 58 countries. More than 250,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.

The RYA is responsible for one of the UK’s most successful Olympic medal-winning sports. Our coaching and development schemes actively support 800 of our country’s top sailors, from talented juniors to Olympic and World champions.

The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone. For more information please visit www.rya.org.uk.

The Royal Yachting Association Northern Ireland (RYA NI) acts for the RYA in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Chairman of RYA NI is invited to join the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) Policy Review Committee.

You can find the RYA Northern Ireland at Sketrick House, GE8, Jubilee Road, Newtownards, BT23 4YH.

RYA NI is a company limited by guarantee – Registration number NI 51945

Contact RYA NI: Tel: 02891 827154 email: [email protected]