Three sailing and boating clubs in Northern Ireland have been benefitting from a whole range of new resources after their clubs were accepted on the Royal Yachting Association’s OnBoard programme.

Strangford Lough Yacht Club, East Antrim Boat Club and Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club all joined the programme at the beginning of 2022 sailing season.

OnBoard is a grassroots programme which seeks to make sailing and windsurfing easier to access for 8–18-year-olds. Launched in 2005, the programme has helped introduce nearly a million young people across the UK to sailing and windsurfing.

Talking about the benefits of the programme so far, Jack Kennedy, training captain at Strangford Lough YC says: “The OnBoard programme has meant that we are able to deliver more structured training as part of our Sunday Sailing school, which now acts as the perfect stepping stone to our RYA Youth Sailing courses.

“With over 80 children signed up to our Sunday Sailing school, it’s fantastic to be able to introduce so many new people to the sport of sailing.”

Kevin Baird from Royal North of Ireland YC says: “The OnBoard resources have really helped us structure our children’s sailing activities. It's got us off to a great start after two very disrupted years and given us a great foundation to build on for 2023 as numbers build up again.”

Debbie Hanna, who sits on the training committee at East Antrim Boat Club, says: “We have had a great summer welcoming new sailors to our Onboard Bright Night sessions which has been great for the club, our instructors and volunteers to be so active after the last few years.”

Over the summer RYA Northern Ireland grew its OnBoard fleet and welcomed Carrickfergus Sailing Club and Strangford Sailing Club to OnBoard. The organisation is looking forward to seeing the clubs progress with the programme. 

RYA OnBoard operations officer Hannah Cockle said: “It’s great to welcome the clubs to the OnBoard programme. Getting out on the water has a huge amount of benefits which go way beyond just learning a new skill. We look forward to working with them and the local community in the future.”

RYANI OnBoard venues are as follows:

• Ballyholme Yacht Club
• Carrickfergus Sailing Club
• Donaghadee Sailing Club
• East Antrim Boat Club
• Royal North of Ireland Yacht Club
• South Lake Sailing Club in Craigavon
• Strangford Lough Yacht Club
• Strangford Sailing Club
• WaveRides in Enniskillen

If you would like to know more about how to become an OnBoard venue or how to get involved as a participant on the OnBoard programme, get in touch with [email protected].