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Discover sailing: safety guidance


Duty of care   

As an event organiser, you have a duty of care to your visitors and participants, especially those who are young, inexperienced or vulnerable. This means taking reasonable steps to manage risks and avoid incidents that could cause harm. 

Most participants at a Discover Sailing event are new to the sport, this means that organisers have a greater responsibility to communicate any possible risks. 

Managing risk

The most effective way to avoid liability is to make sure you meet your duty of care. This means planning and running your event efficiently, with proper consideration for foreseeable risks and potential issues. It’s about anticipating what could go wrong and putting appropriate measures in place to manage those situations safely. 

The essential steps for effective risk management are: 

  1. Identify hazards – determine what could cause harm. 

  1. Assess who might be harmed and how – including the severity of harm. 

  1. Evaluate the risks – consider how likely and how severe harm could be, then decide if your current precautions are enough or if more needs to be done to reduce the risks to a tolerable level. 

  1. Record your findings – keep a clear record of your assessment and decisions. 

  1. Review your assessment – revisit your assessments regularly to make sure they remain current and effective 

Good risk management and well documented risk assessments are key to showing that you’ve taken reasonable care.  

Significant or unusual risks identified during your risk assessments should be communicated to participants through statements in your booking forms. This helps participants understand any risks involved in your activities, promoting transparency and safety awareness.  

Download the RYA Guide to Risk Assessments and templates 

Safety

Safety boat cover operated by a competent, suitably qualified crew should be present throughout your event. The level of cover should be proportionate to the number of boats on the water. Organisers should make clear in any advertising or booking forms what safety support is available.  

For activities on the water, check participants swimming abilities and plan how to safely include any non-swimmers. 

Ensure a full safety briefing is given before each activity.  

Personnel 

Make sure everyone helping to run your event knows what their role is and has the skills and experience to do it safely. Assign duties to suitably competent or qualified people, and provide training where needed, especially around safety procedures. 

Participants new to sailing should understand that a Discover Sailing event is about experiencing sailing, not formal tuition or instruction. They are taking part under the guidance of experienced volunteers assessed as competent by the organiser, but not necessarily qualified RYA Instructors. An example term is included in the model booking form here 

Facilities, boats, kit and equipment

Make sure all boats are well maintained, in good condition, and suitable for the activity and participants. 

Everyone on the water must always wear an appropriate personal flotation device (PFD). Organisers have a duty to ensure that the PFDs are in satisfactory condition, fit properly, and that participants know how to use them. The organiser should also remind participants that PFDs are safety aids, not a guarantee against drowning. 

Many participants may not arrive dressed for sailing, so it’s helpful to advise participants in advance to bring spare clothes or waterproof layers. For some activities, especially with children, consider if it’s appropriate to provide specialist clothing, such as wetsuits or wind proofs. 

Accidents / incidents

Make sure all volunteers know and understand your emergency action plan. It doesn’t need to be complicated, but should clearly state who assesses the situation, contacts emergency services, and guides them to the location. 

Use our guidance on incident reporting to record any accidents or incidents. This helps track what happened, how it was handled and provides learnings for future safety. 

If an accident or incident happens and involves any of the following, please inform the RYA : 

  • If hospitalisation is required 

  • If there is a statutory obligation to report to the MAIB 

  • If there has been a fatality 

  • If useful lessons can be learned 

  • If in doubt 

 Safeguarding children & vulnerable adults  

Organisations that work with under 18’s and vulnerable adults have a responsibility to safeguard them and their wellbeing.  

You can download RYA safeguarding policy guidance and tailor it to your Discover Sailing event.  Shape 

Planning for the unexpected  

Plan for things that are out of your control such as illness, wet weather or other disruptions and consider alternatives.

Record of planning 

Keep a record of all your planning and safety considerations. This helps you demonstrate that you’ve met your duty of care and makes it easier to review and improve future events.  

Wash up review

After the event, take time to reflect on what went well, what could be improved and any areas the fell short of what you wanted to deliver. This helps you plan an even better Discover Sailing event next year!  

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