Welcome aboard!

Thevaried waterways of the East Coast – from North Sea to rivers, lakes to Broads – mean there’s plenty of opportunity for everyone to step off dry land and try something different. Getting outside and among others is still one of the best routes to both physical and mental wellbeing… and when you learn a new skill too, the rewards rise exponentially.

If you fancy sailing, windsurfing or another watersport there are some 2,000 RYA-affiliated clubs and centres across the UK where you can find a way to get afloat. Each summer many host Discover Sailing events where newcomers can ‘have a go’ with a no-commitment, low- or no-cost session. To find a taster session near you, log on to www.rya.org.uk/start-boating/discover-sailing – you’ll also find useful suggestions here on what to expect, what to wear, and how to follow-up after a successful introduction to your watersport of choice.

A knowledge of the sailing basics will stand you in good stead for pretty much all watersports – understanding how wind and tide affects a boat or board will always improve safety on the water and help you stay calm if a problem occurs. If you’re not sure what type of boating you’re most keen on, perhaps start with one of the RYA courses in dinghy sailing; generally easy to handle and light to launch, if you can master dinghy sailing you’ll have a sound foundation for further adventures on the water – again, see the RYA website for information on accredited courses in dinghy, multihull and keelboat sailing, plus other shore-based classes that will help you develop important navigation, safety and seamanship skills.

With the basics under your belt, you’ll be of value to those boat owners who want crew for their sailing dinghies and racing yachts; if you have a competitive streak this is a great way to hone your skills and get on the water regularly. Contact a few local sailing or yacht clubs (our listing starts on p93) to ask whether they have a crew register, then go along to some events to see what might be involved. Signing up to a crew register is also a good introduction to yacht cruising – visit any marina and you’ll find boats that rarely leave their berths because their owners don’t have enough hands on deck, so make contact and enquire about crew clubs or berth holder groups that might be able to put you in touch with the right people – our marina directory starts on p83.

If you’re minded to do something to help others while pursuing your own sailing ambitions, there are many charitable organisations that need people to support their work; the website for the Association of Sail Training Organisations (www. uksailtraining.org) is a good source of volunteer opportunities. Locally, the Excelsior Trust (above, see www.theexcelsiortrust.co.uk), Pioneer Sailing Trust (www.pioneerck18.org) and Sea Change Sailing Trust (www.seachangesailingtrust.org. uk) all operate with volunteer crew and on-shore support – in a new development for the latter, its sailing barge Blue Mermaid has been issued with an official permit to carry cargo under sail, which means goods can be collected and delivered anywhere between Lowestoft in Suffolk and Sandwich in Kent as part of its Sail Training voyages.

Volunteers are also at the heart of the RYA’s Sailability scheme – more than 200 locations across the UK and beyond provide activities for disabled people and others with long-term conditions. As well as helming and crewing opportunities on Sailability boats, there are also roles for race officers, safety boat crew and onshore maintenance, communications and event management – see www.rya.org.uk/start-boating/ sailability/volunteers for ideas on how you could get involved.

OnBoard is the RYA’s children’s sailing and windsurfing scheme, offering youngsters the opportunity to try watersports in a safe, fun and structured environment. A beginner programme that gets people on the water for their first time, no experience or equipment is needed – OnBoard is suitable for anyone aged 8-18 and all activities are run at RYA-accredited training centres, so they’re safe even for non-swimmers.

•www.rya.org.uk/start-boating/get-onboard-childrens-sailing