The current UK Government policy is to produce 10% of its total energy production from renewable resources by 2010, which has lead to the development and proposals for wind and tidal energy installations around the UK coast.

Whilst the RYA is supportive of the Government s efforts to promote renewable energy we are keen to ensure the navigational safety of recreational boating around the coast. 

The RYA has been actively engaged in the consultation process both at the strategic level as well as on a site by site basis. Through a proactive approach we have secured general acceptance of a minimum rotor clearance height for wind farm developments and seen adaptations to specific developments to ensure safe passage for small craft.  

We have developed a position statement based on data for recreational craft and have carried out an extensive mapping project to identify cruising routes, sailing and racing areas to better inform the management process. Initially this culminated in a detailed description of cruising routes, racing and sailing areas for the three strategic wind farm development areas and is reported in the document 'Sharing the Wind'. This project has resulted in the publication of the 'RYA Atlas of Recreational Boating'.

There are a number of different types of offshore energy developments being proposed. The Briefing Note outlines the types of developments and the navigational implications of these. RYa is represented on the Government's Navigation Offshore Renewable Energy Liaison Group NOREL which has been instrumental in examining the impacts of radar on navigational interests. The report can be found on the BWEA website, see the link above.

Our primary objective remains to secure navigational safety for recreational users.