The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for all forms of sailing, windsurfing, and powerboat racing. Sailing is the most successful Olympic sport in this country and Great Britain is the world's top Olympic sailing nation.

The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 90,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters.

It represents a further estimated 500,000 boat owners nationally through its 1600 affiliated clubs and boat owner associations.

The RYA also sets and maintains a recognised standard for recreational boat training through a network of 1500 independently operated training facilities. Over 120,000 people per year voluntarily complete RYA training courses.

The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone.

For further information on RYA Southern Region please contact: Flavia Bateson 01962 855544 flavia@bateson.fsnet.co.uk

For further information on all areas of the Royal Yachting Association please contact: Gaynor Sawyer, Media Relations Officer 023 8062 7416 communication@rya.org.uk

For more information please refer to our web site (http://www.rya.org.uk)