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Together On Water

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Together on Water - Frequently asked questions

Why do we need this change in approach .

As an organisation, we’re proudly building on almost 150 years of heritage and trust – but we need to look forward and continue to evolve so we remain a representative voice, relevant to society and fit for the future.

The Covid pandemic saw millions of new people try out water-based activities, from broad demographic backgrounds. But beyond these initial taster experiences, more regular participants of boating activities display relatively low demographic diversity. Dinghy racing participation has declined and club numbers are static – we cannot ignore these trends and need to work hard to attract and retain new audiences.

How will this change things?

We hope that our members and affiliates will have a greater sense that the RYA itself is more open, and that we collectively need to shift perceptions around sailing and boating from the view that it is exclusive and non-representative, to being more open and inclusive.

‘Together on Water’ sets the tone and challenges our network to think differently – how can they too evolve and broaden their own horizons to become more open, welcoming and inclusive to newcomers across their operations and activities.

We must also collectively demonstrate how the sports and pastimes we love create positive impact in peoples’ lives so we can bring more people together on water, safely and responsibly, for generations to come.

What can I do to support?

We hope that ‘Together on Water’ will challenge everyone in our network to think differently. We can’t do it alone and need everyone to consider how they too can become more open, welcoming and inclusive across their operations and activities.

We can all spread the word about how spending time on the water can have a positive impact in peoples’ lives, inspiring and bringing more people together on water, safely and responsibly, for generations to come.

We’ll be working with our affiliates in the coming months to share ideas and bring this vision to life. 

How can my club/centre convert more people into regular participants?  

We need to learn from the needs and successes within our network and use these to drive our programmes and initiatives. We know we could do better at signposting activities so people can see what other opportunities exist.   

We need to promote the roles and people that support activity – instructors, race officers, club committee members, volunteers – and what they involve. Plus provide resources that build connection and confidence in taking on a role or trying an activity.   

Finally, we need to provide tools that help our network to understand their requirements as the expectations on our clubs and centres evolve, signpost training opportunities and share ideas that help the people leading activity to support safe and enjoyable experiences on the water. 

Are you still the Royal Yachting Association?

Yes, RYA stands for Royal Yachting Association, and you can find our full name across both our online and offline channels. In 2025 we will celebrate our 150th anniversary and we are immensely proud of our heritage. Read more about our royal connections through the ages .

Why is there a new brand?  

Our refreshed logo and brand identity is designed to complement ‘Together on Water’. 

The RYA brand hasn’t changed substantially in over 35 years. So, in parallel with the new strategy, the time was right for a review in keeping with the modern, forward-looking organisation we need to be.

The evolution of the new logo was borne out of extensive consultation with both our current network as well as a broader audience. As a result, we believe it will resonate with more people, helping us to achieve our goal of a more open and inclusive sailing and boating community. 

What does the new branding represent? 

The RYA logo refresh was inspired by our vision to create a connected and inclusive community on the water. A subtle curve has been applied to symbolise the horizon line and positive futures for the RYA community.   

A primary colour palette has been developed taking inspiration from the blue tones formed in water and the sky. These are accompanied by a red colour to bring energy and variety.  

A secondary palette has been added to inject further colour vibrancy. These take inspiration from the natural environment, the shores and surrounding landscape.  

The quarter circle, used in multiple graphical ways, communicates inclusivity and togetherness on the water. The branding represents an RYA community that seeks to be open for all and inspire positive futures for everyone on the water. 

Where can I find new logos to use?

New logos and brand guidelines for clubs and affiliated organisations can be found in the club and centre support pages . Guidelines of use and logos for recognised training centres and instructors are now available on the Training Support Site . 

We want our network to be proud of their RYA branded items, but please rest assured you don’t need to replace everything right away.

The new brand rollout will be a phased process that is sustainable and economical. We are not expecting, nor asking, for anything to be changed in the days, weeks or even months ahead where materials already exist. It’s envisaged it will likely take around 18 months to update most items, and some may be slightly longer.

We are encouraging the use of existing materials until stocks are wound down and can then be replaced over time with the new brand.

When can I get a new recognised training centre flag and window sticker?   

To replace all flags for all centres would be a significant cost and waste of existing resource, therefore the intention is to run down the stock of existing flags and then replace with the new logo as and when centres order a new one for themselves.   

We will look to replace window stickers when recognition certificates are sent out April – Sept 2024 as part of the pack.  

Find out more about the new RYA Instructor and RYA Training Centre logos on the Training Support Site .   

Find out more about Together on Water in our special RYA Live broadcast, recorded on launch day. Host Dee Caffari MBE delves into the detail with CEO Sara Sutcliffe MBE and Director of Sport Development Rob Clark.

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Royal Yachting Association sets new diversity strategy amid perception of being too white

Royal Yachting Association is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, rigid inflatable boats, and also includes sports boats and windsurfing; almost 97 per cent of the RYA's staff are white; governing body has set out a plan to improve inclusivity

Friday 19 March 2021 17:50, UK

The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) says their new Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Strategy is "ambitious" but admit they still are battling against a perception of boating as being elitist, too white and for middle-class people or millionaires

The new plan outlines "10 steps to progress" - in terms of ethnicity, gender, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity - which will help to "make all forms of recreational boating inclusive, accessible and attractive to all".

Some steps include increasing diversity of staff, including in the boardroom - where there is currently no black or minority ethnic representation - creating new jobs and voluntary opportunities, developing mentoring programmes, providing support and development for clubs and centres and increasing diverse imagery and content.

RYA chief executive Sarah Treseder thinks the new strategy is "very ambitious" and told Sky Sports News the "biggest barrier" is changing the perception of the sport to the general public.

"I think often the perception is that we're all multi-millionaires," she said. "The reality is I've very rarely met a rich sailor.

"We tend to spend all our money on our boats and you can actually pick up a boat for a few hundred quid and really get some enjoyment out of it."

"But also the perception potentially is one where it is more male-dominated. It is older people and potentially that's connected with those individuals who have currently got the time and the energy to dedicate to volunteering at a club level, maybe disproportionately into a retired age bracket or a certain demographic.

"Whereas actually what we're starting to see is at the junior end and at the younger instructor end, there is far more diversity there."

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The RYA is the national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, rigid inflatable boats , and also includes sports boats and windsurfing. Improving ethnicity across participants, coaches and staff is a key priority.

Treseder said: "There's a lot of intersectionality, there's a lot of areas where people's ethnicity, people's gender, people's sexual orientation, people's level of disability or otherwise kind of come together. So this is very much a holistic strategy.

"But we were really clear that the area of ethnicity was one where we were least satisfied with the progress that we had been making, where we felt there was most opportunity to change ."

Asher Robinson is one of the organisation's few black senior sailing instructors. He says he was fortunate that his mother persuaded him at the age of 11 to get his first experience of boats. Now he wants others to enjoy time on the water.

" I think it's important for sailing to be diverse because it's an amazing sport which I have enjoyed doing," Robinson said, who is also a Sailing Development Officer at the RYA.

"And I feel like there's so many people that are missing out just because of the lack of diversity. So just by having a bit more diversity, it'll be more welcoming and more people will realise what a great sport this is."

Finding the next Sir Ben Ainslie

The RYA say they have over 110,000 personal members - and 1,500 affiliated clubs and class associations - which represent approximately some 350,000 active sailors throughout the UK.

Could the next Sir Ben Ainslie have a diverse background?

Montel Fagan-Jordan won the 2018 Young Sailor of the Year award, which has also been won by four-time Olympic champion Ainslie and double world champion Hannah Mills.

Robinson says seeing a young black sailor being recognised made him very proud.

"A lot of good sailors and amazing sailors that have won that award have gone on to do amazing things in the sailing industry," he said.

"It was just amazing seeing another young black person actually winning such an award. It made me so proud."

Treseder says they already have several diverse stars. She highlights double Paralympic bronze medallist Alexandra Rickham, Montel Fagan-Jordan and Britain's first Paralympic sailing gold medallist Helena Lucas.

She added: "So actually I think there are already a number of very very successful - in multiple ways diverse people - right at the top of the sport.

"What we've maybe not done well enough is profile how well they're doing. And I think that's something we want to change."

Talking diversity and inclusion in boating with @RYA spring magazine. A lot to be done in sailing but I’m happy the journey has started. pic.twitter.com/v6HCFSAnP0 — Alexandra Rickham (@ARickham) March 7, 2021

One of Robinson's current projects is working with a RYA mentor to promote sailing in primary schools in the London Borough of Newham in east London.

He said: "We're actually going into schools and we are saying, 'look we've got the funding... have some fun and just come and experience sailing'. And what's great about it is they don't pay a single thing."

The idea helped pupils in one school to improve children's academic results and confidence.

" We interviewed them at the end of last year in terms of how they felt after doing it," Robinson added. "And their grades improved not massively, but noticeably.

"And when we asked how they felt, a lot of kids say they felt independent, they felt stronger, they felt more confident. And when you hear things like that, you just can't help but smile."

Getting ethnic diversity in the boardroom

Almost 97 per cent of the RYA's staff are white. In the boardroom 40 per cent are female and 10 per cent identify as LGBTQ+ but there are no black or minority ethnic members.

The new strategy has no quotas or guarantees for incoming board members but Treseder defends that approach.

"I think a lot of people potentially feel that the application of quotas somehow has a negative impact on the people that are then appointed," she said.

"And certainly speaking as a woman in business, I've probably been on the wrong side of that a couple of times. There's some feeling of 'has she really earned the right to have this role or is this somehow just fulfilling a quota?'

"And the other thing is, if we find people with the right experience, why stop at the quota?

"That seems to kind of set a cap on things so I don't think it is about establishing quotas. I think it's about establishing the richest gene pool of people applying that we can."

"However, with ten available seats on the board, the thought that not one of them would be filled by someone from a black, Asian or minority background doesn't make sense."

Treseder also explains why some committees at clubs and training centres are not as diverse as they should be.

"The membership of the committee is often the people who are the most regular participants in any club," she said. "It doesn't tend to be brand new people.

"Often if the diversity strategy is only just starting to communicate to the right audience in the right way, people have just started giving it a go, they would maybe feel nervous or reluctant to sit on a committee when it's a sport that they've only just started. So my sense is that that kind of governance level will filter through from actions to increase participation.

" The interesting bit is what day of the week do we hold the open days on, what food is served? What gender are the instructors who are giving people the opportunity? What are the changing facilities like?

"Where have we advertised the opportunity? What is the public transport access to the club like that will mean more people can turn up?

"And crucially, what's the follow up after people have maybe attended an open day? How do we encourage people to come back and give it another try?"

Ethnicity in Boating Forum

In developing their latest plans, the RYA worked with Emeritus Professor of Equality and Diversity in Sport Kevin Hylton, who works at Leeds Beckett University and is also chair of the Sheffield Race Equality Commission.

He suggested hosting a forum with ethnically diverse members without senior management to encourage open honest conversations about their experiences.

Thank you to everyone that joined us last night for the latest Ethnicity in Boating Focus Group. It was great to hear your thoughts and discussions on some of the RYA Diversity Strategy actions. If you'd like to get involved with the next meeting email [email protected] pic.twitter.com/xlQV6vDzR1 — RYA (@RYA) December 18, 2020

Robinson was one of those who was part of the Ethnicity in Boating Forum with people he had never met like double Paralympic sailing bronze medallist Alexandra Rickham, 2018 Young Sailor of the Year Montel Fagan-Jordan and Poole watersports instructor Lee Timothy.

The RYA leadership and staff left the group alone so they could speak about their experiences with each other in a safe environment. Robinson described it as "absolutely amazing".

"We had a meeting," he said. "There was nobody from the RYA. We spoke about our experiences and then with those experiences, that's where they came up with the action plan [part of the latest strategy].

"I think it's one of the best things I've been a part of in my life. I'm not exaggerating there because all I want is someone who's 11 [years old] just like I was, to be comfortable and know that they're going to be looked after."

Since the initial meeting with Professor Hylton, the Ethnicity in Boating Forum has met RYA management to propose ideas and changes for the newly-released strategy.

'Future success means tearing up diversity plans'

Professor Hylton, who helped guide the new diversity plans, says they are "proactive."

"The RYA has established a high bar in their strategy by aiming to change perceptions, behaviours, experiences, and realities. They are challenging themselves to make their sport more inclusive and are going the right way about it by moving with insight purposely forward," he added.

So how will the RYA chief executive define success?

"I think it's going to be a very long journey," Treseder says.

"I think real success for us is when we're going to be able to tear up that strategy because it's no longer needed. No one feels that it's a requirement that we have it written down on how to increase diversity because it's a reality.

"The benefits are going to be to all of us around the relevance and the vitality of the RYA looking towards the future in particular, and making sure that successive generations are moulding the sport, moulding boating to what works for them, which is going to look quite different to how it was fifty years ago... and how it is today.

"And therefore for clubs to survive and thrive, we need a much more diverse base of participants coming through."

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