The National governing body for boating in Wales is setting up a new charity to ensure people of all ages and backgrounds get more opportunities to make waves.

RYA Cymru Wales is setting up the All Afloat charity to open up a new pathway into sailing or windsurfing for communities that would not normally engage with boating.

The private funding will allow Welsh boating to build on the RYA OnBoard programme and Sport Wales development support through the All Afloat charity.

There have been around three quarters of a million children from the ages of 8-18 who have benefitted from the RYA OnBoard scheme in the UK since it was launched 13 years ago.

All Afloat is an independent charity initiated by RYA Cymru Wales with the aim of providing boating opportunities to young or disabled people in Wales and equipping them with valuable life skills.

All Afloat delivered over 220 first experience sessions and certified over 70 young sailors through RYA recognised sailing centres and clubs in 2017, with initial seed funding from RYA Cymru Wales and by leveraging the RYA OnBoard programme. Crucially, many children have gone on to join local Sea Cadets and sailing clubs.

Companies who have already got involved with supporting the new charity include green energy firm Ecotricity, global communications provider PCCW Global and the John Andrews Charitable Trust.

“Launching the All Afloat charitable organisation is a huge step for RYA Cymru Wales to ensure we continue to reach the parts of the community which we struggled to engage in years gone by,” explained RYA Cymru Wales chief executive Phil Braden.

“In 2018 and beyond we aim to continue transforming lives through the power of boating, with a double figure number of projects planned round the coast of Wales and now seeking sponsors to support more events in more locations.”

“Sailing is often considered an out of reach sport and yet it has proven to deliver many life skill benefits and physical literacy in a controlled way. The independence gained while sailing a boat away from shore builds confidence and self-belief not seen in other sports”

Tom Overton, Head of Community Sport at Sport Wales, commented, “With 2018 being Year of the Sea we consider this an important initiative to drive increased participation in such an all-encompassing sport.

“It is a sport in which we have seen some good podium success, but the rewards can be seen much wider as it can also lead to so many career opportunities.”

Cardigan Bay Watersports manager Crawford McLeary said, “We do have a number of our ex-pupils and staff who have developed with us and are now fully employed in boating related jobs in teaching and marine manufacturing.

“Most recently one worked on the Volvo Ocean Race leg to Hong Kong. We applaud RYA Cymru Wales for finding new ways to help fund more such experiences.”

“Others have gone on to full-time employment within this industry. Our job is to give them the opportunity to aim higher and the confidence to succeed.”

Llandegfedd Watersports in Gwent are one of the clubs who will be involved, offering sessions to local schools and youth groups.

“All Afloat funding to help deliver our OnBoard programme is a great starting point. After this development sessions will be run to improve their learning and get young people sailing independently,” explained Llandegfedd chief watersports instructor Owen Davies.

“Linking with Llandegfedd Sailing Club we aim to offer access to boats and allow young people to attend race days or just go sailing.”

Taffy Osborne, Managing Director Colwyn Bay Watersports, said, “Last year we had more than a hundred young people join us and take part in the programme and it was brilliant to work with the sort of kids that we don’t normally get day-to-day.

“It feels good to have made a real difference by involving children who don’t normally have the chance to do this kind of thing.”

For further details about Welsh sailing and watersports, please go to http://www.rya.org.uk/rya-regions/rya-cymru-wales or https://www.facebook.com/RYACymruWales or follow on Twitter @RYACymruWales . You can also keep up to date by following RYA Cymru Wales on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/rya_cymru_wales/​