Celebrating 20 years of OnBoard

OnBoard, the RYA’s flagship grassroots sailing and windsurfing programme for young people aged 8 to 18, is celebrating 20 years of transforming lives on the water.

Since its launch in 2005, OnBoard has introduced more than 1.3 million children to the thrill of sailing and windsurfing, helping them to grow in confidence, learn new skills, and build friendships that last a lifetime.

What started with just two pilot venues - Rockley Watersports in Poole and Hollingworth Lake Water Activity Centre in Rochdale - has now grown into a nationwide network of over 330 clubs and centres.

Today, OnBoard stands as a shining example of the benefits of outdoor education and how getting afloat can inspire young people from all backgrounds, building not just sailing skills but also vital life skills.

Building confidence and character

OnBoard’s mission has always been about more than just learning to sail or windsurf. 

From its early days connecting schools with local sailing clubs to get children afloat, it has since evolved into a structured programme that uses sailing and windsurfing not only to teach water skills, but to build confidence, resilience, and essential life skills.

A key transformation came in 2017, when OnBoard relaunched with character education firmly at its core, backed by research led by Professor Bill Lucas from the University of Winchester. 

The programme now focuses on developing six key attributes: Confidence, Teamwork, Communication, Determination, Creativity, and Independence.

These skills are seamlessly woven into every OnBoard session, empowering young people to discover what they can achieve both on and off the water.

The impact speaks for itself:

• 88% of young people said sailing/windsurfing helped them realise they could do new things if they tried
• 81% felt more confident in themselves
• 82% became better at teamwork
• 75% felt better able to do things independently
• 80% said they were better able to think creatively
• 34% said they enjoyed being around water more after participating

Around 10% of participants go on to become regular sailors, club volunteers, or even qualified instructors.

Looking ahead: ambitions for the next decade

OnBoard has always been dedicated to making sailing and windsurfing accessible for all. 

Many participating schools report that, without OnBoard, their pupils would never have had the chance to get on the water. For underfunded schools and community groups, OnBoard provides an inclusive and highly effective way to bring outdoor learning to life.

As OnBoard celebrates this milestone anniversary, the RYA is focused on an ambitious vision for the next decade.

This includes:

• Reaching a further 1 million young people – expanding access to sailing and windsurfing for an additional 1 million participants to take part over the next 10 years, doubling down on efforts to engage new communities and schools.
• Tackling inequality in access to sport and nature - delivering OnBoard sessions in more underserved and underrepresented communities, focusing on breaking down barriers related to cost, location, ethnicity, gender, and perceptions of exclusivity.
• Connecting youth with blue spaces and building water confidence - ensuring more young people across the UK develop water safety awareness, and confidence around the water.
• Fostering skills for life - expanding training to support character education and growth mindsets in young people, in turn expanding the UK instructors base so even more children can take part.

We're also working alongside partners such as Swim England and the RNLI to deliver initiatives like Swim Safe through OnBoard, teaching children to enjoy the water safely and confidently.

A people purpose

“As we celebrate 20 years of OnBoard, we’re incredibly proud of how far the programme has come - but we’re even more excited about where we’re going,” said RYA OnBoard Manager Hannah Cockle.

“Our goal is to introduce another one million young people to sailing over the next decade, with a focus on making the water more accessible and inclusive than ever before. 

“OnBoard has always been about more than just sailing; it’s about giving young people the confidence, character and life skills they need to thrive—in sport and in life.”

Sport England also recognises the programme’s success, acknowledging: “As both a partner and funder of the RYA, Sport England is hugely proud of the progress and success achieved by the RYA since the launch of OnBoard back in 2005. 

“With a core ambition to open up more opportunities to get out on the water, we are hugely supportive of the programme’s continued work to engage a further one million children and young people over the next decade.”

Find your nearest OnBoard club

OnBoard’s success demonstrates how sport can transform lives. It proves that sailing and windsurfing are not only for the few, but can inspire, educate and empower young people from all backgrounds. 

To find your nearest OnBoard club or centre, visit our Find My Nearest tool and filter by OnBoard clubs.

Visit the OnBoard pages for more information, including how RYA Recognised Training Centres can get involved.