Welsh Sailing blog - May 2026

Clean Sport Week 

The theme for this year’s Clean Sport Week (11-17 May) is Built not bought. 100% me. This is  about fair play, integrity and drug-free sport, and celebrating athletes who achieve true, lasting success through hard work, talent and commitment.

Championed by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), this awareness week comes at a critical time, amid growing concern about the marketing and availability of Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) online, including Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs). 

There is an increasing amount of content online promoting the use of SARMs to young people, with claims that these are ‘safer alternatives to anabolic steroids’. This is not the case. They are dangerous, not for human consumption and are banned in sport. 

Join us with UKAD to help us remind people across our communities not to risk their health, career and reputation. Find out more at Clean Sport Week 2026. 

Sun safe awareness

Sun Awareness Week (11-17 May) is ideal timing for all of us who enjoy the outdoors and getting on the water to revisit the must-dos of staying sun safe.

Now is the time to remember to cover up with suncream and clothing - and to protect your eyes with sunglasses: reflected UV from water is particularly dangerous.

At the Dragon Series at Port Dinorwic SC in May, the club provided bottles of suncream on the slipway to ensure the young sailors taking part slapped on skin protection before going afloat.  It’s always great to see clubs and centres being pro-active like this.

Look out for offers from our brand partner Intego Pro Sports Sunscreen for water-resistant UV protection at our Welsh Sailing events as part of our collaboration to promote sun safety. 

For those of you who work or volunteer in providing outdoor activities, The Melanoma Fund has a free 1-hour online course about managing sun and heat risk. This is accredited by CIMSPA and the Institute of Outdoor Learning – please do take a look at the Sun and Heat Protection course.

There is also detailed sport-specific sun safe advice for both Sailing & Cruising and Watersports available by visiting the Melanoma Fund online resources centre.

Action for mental health

Research shows that being on or near water has a whole host of positive benefits for our mental health and wellbeing. Moving in itself is a mood booster. And sailing and boating provide not only activity but also a chance to be sociable and get outdoors in nature.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week (11-17 May), here’s an opportunity to find out more  about the Blue Mind Theory and Why Sailing is Good for your Mental Health.

The Mental Health Foundation meanwhile is calling for all of us to ‘take action’ – whether for our own wellbeing or to support someone else, or to collectively make a difference.

Visit the charity’s Mental Health Awareness Week hub for lots of practical ideas and resources to explore and share with your family and friends, or with your club, centre or community group.

Being mindful of mental health is all part of ensuring that we provide environments in which all ages within our sailing and boating communities are able to thrive.

Alongside our commitment to ensuring young sailors who come through our performance programmes have the best possible experience, we conducted a review in association with Sport Wales to examine our support systems with Welsh Sailing coaches, parents and sailors – find out more in this video about our Thriving Environment Project.

Stay connected

Please do take a look at the resources available via the various awareness weeks – it’s a great opportunity to take another look at familiar topics and pick up new ideas for the season ahead.

And finally, remember to keep with all the latest news and announcements by following RYA Cymru Wales on Facebook and Instagram. We look forward to seeing you on the water!

Your RYA Cymru Wales team

Chief Operating Officer Sarah McGovern, Club Development Manager Hester Walker, Pathway & Events Officer Hatty Morsley, Communicator Paula Irish.