Barton Marine becomes official supplier for RYA OnBoard

The RYA is delighted to welcome Barton Marine as an official supplier to the RYA OnBoard (OB), the national grassroots programme making it more accessible for youngsters to try sailing and windsurfing.

Barton Marine have been making and dispatching world-class blocks for 80 years and are supporting OnBoard by providing eight ‘mega’ stand up paddle boards (SUPs) for young sailors to enjoy at OB festivals and events across the UK.

Hannah Cockle, OnBoard Operation Officer comments “It’s so exciting to have Barton Marine on board. Since we first spoke they’ve been so keen to support getting children out on the water and the SUP’s are a perfect way to do this. There is really no experience needed to use a SUP so they are perfect for everyone, and of course great fun!”

The SUPs will also be used at the British Youth Sailing Regional Junior Championships in 2022.

Suzanne Blaustone, Barton Marine said: “Barton Marine is proud to be working with the RYA and their inspirational Onboard programme to get kids out on the water sailing. These big paddleboards can be crewed by a group of kids – so should provide hours of wet and wild fun during the OnBoard events – while also creating team building skills and providing confidence to these young sailors.”

Run by the RYA, OnBoard is a grass roots programme which introduces sailing and windsurfing to young people aged 8 to 18, through schools, youth groups and training centres. The low cost sessions are designed to promote equal access to sailing for young people from all social and economic backgrounds, whilst encouraging their character development.

Since 2005, OnBoard has introduced more than 900,000 children to sailing and windsurfing in the UK, converting some 70,000 of them into regular participants.

For more information about how to get involved in sailing visit www.rya.org.uk/go/onboard.