Skills for life

Sailing & windsurfing training and certification for 8 – 17 year olds

Our sailing and windsurfing weeks run at nine UK locations to bring free training, residential stays and family days to more young people from serving Naval families.

What it means to join the crew

The RNSA Youth Crew launched in 2024, to provide free sailing opportunities to young people from Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary families.

This year, the programme is expanding to offer more spaces and options for families to enjoy the benefits that sailing and watersports bring. Each eligible young person can become part of the crew by joining one residential or non-residential sailing or windsurfing week per year, where they can gain globally recognised RYA qualifications in their chosen sport.

Our Youth Crew members not only learn a life skill, but also build friendships with other young people who understand what it means to be part of a Naval family.

Eligibility

To join the Youth Crew and take part in one of our sailing or windsurfing weeks, young people must be:

  • Aged between 10 and 17 years old.
  • A child or legal dependent of serving Royal Navy, Royal Marines or Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel and able to provide a suitable service number.

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please get in touch with our team who will be able to provide assistance.

Suitability

No previous sailing or windsurfing experience is needed, and participants do not need to be a strong swimmer to take part. We also welcome and young person with individual requirements including Special Education Needs and disabilities (SEND). Please speak to our team so that we can provide the best care and a positive experience for your young person.

There are no costs involved in any of the courses, and if any circumstances prohibit you from signing up, such as transport, please get in touch with us where we may be able to offer further assistance.

Sailing can develop life skills in young people, improve their mental health plus grow their confidence, team working skills, communication skills, resilience and willingness to try new things.

95%

of parents felt that following RNSA Youth Crew, their child was happy to try new things.

95%

of parents felt that following RNSA Youth Crew, their child has gotten on well with others and enjoyed working with others.

86%

of parents felt that participating in a RNSA Youth Crew week maintained or improved their child’s ability to cope with challenging situations.

I can already see the children have got on really well together, my two children but also the friends they have made. The independence they have got and sense of adventure, trying something new outside their comfort zone. I can see by the smiles on their faces when I pick them up”

Parent feedback, 2025

I think that it was the best it could be. I enjoyed learning how to sail and sailing with others the most.”

Participant feedback, 2025

The best part of the two-day experience for me was doing something very different that gave me a great sense of achievement and adventure!”

Participant feedback, 2025

My husband has just deployed. He dropped the kids off on the Monday for their Youth Crew course and has now deployed. So, it is helpful for them to be with other RN kids and have that companionship”

Parent feedback, 2025

An excellent week; the instructor and support staff were all great and made it so enjoyable for the kids. They are very proud to have achieved a qualification too.”

Parent feedback, 2025

Learning with others from a Naval Family is really interesting because you are able to ask them and talk to them about their experiences”

Participant feedback, 2025

RNSA Youth Crew has changed Jack’s* life. This Summer has seen Jack’s Dad on deployment and having RNSA Youth Crew and the ASC Portsmouth Staff on hand to support him has made this time of Family separation pass more quickly.”

Jack’s mum

*Participant names have been changed to preserve privacy.

Running at 13 locations
right across the UK

We’re currently running sailing and windsurfing weeks at multiple centres across the UK, selected for their close proximity to Naval bases and communities:

  • Blairvadach Outdoor Education Centre, Scotland
  • Andrew Simpson Centre Birmingham
  • Andrew Simpson Centre Reading
  • Andrew Simpson Centre Portland
  • Andrew Simpson Centre Portsmouth
  • Children’s Sailing Trust, Helford River, Falmouth
  • Children’s Sailing Trust, Trevassack Lake, Helston
  • Mount Batten Watersports & Activities Centre, Plymouth
  • Horizons Children’s Sailing Charity, Plymouth
  • Liverpool Watersports Centre
  • All-Aboard Watersports, Bristol
  • Flow Watersports, Poole
  • Welton Waters Adventure Centre, Hull

FAQs

Contact us on: youthsailing@rnsa.org.uk or call 0330 236 8090.

Please let us know that they will not be attending by emailing youthsailing@rnsa.org.uk or call 0330 236 8090.

Each child is only entitled to one free week per year. However, you can book directly through the delivery centre for further weeks, but you will have to pay for these.

Contact us and we will add you to a waiting list.

Founded in 1935, the RNSA is a Service Sports Association and charity that delivers the sport of sailing and associated activities for the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary.

RNSA Youth Crew was created to provide free sailing opportunities that help young people build confidence, teamwork, communication skills, resilience and a willingness to try new things—while making new friends, developing a strong sense of community and supporting their mental wellbeing.

Beginner courses work towards RYA Youth Sailing Stages 1 & 2, as well as Swim Safe, Swim England’s Water Safety certificate. Participants aged 16+ receive RYA National Sailing Scheme Levels 1 & 2.

Improver courses cover RYA Youth Sailing Scheme Stages 3 & 4, or RYA National Sailing Scheme Level 3 for those aged 16+.

Young people don’t need any previous sailing experience and do not need to be competent swimmers. They will be supervised at all times by our qualified instructors and will always wear a buoyancy aid while on the water.

Places are exclusively offered to the 8-17 year olds of serving members of the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Royal Fleet Auxiliary personnel. Applicants must input their parent or carer’s service number to reserve a space.

If you have any questions before booking, please speak to our Outreach Team on 0330 236 8090 or youthsailing@rnsa.org.uk.

We can support many young people with physical needs. Please call us on 0330 236 8090 or email youthsailing@rnsa.org.uk before booking so that we can discuss how to best support your sailor.

We have courses specifically designed for young people who are neurodiverse.

Please call us on 0330 236 8090 or email youthsailing@rnsa.org.uk before booking so that we can discuss how to best support your sailor.

Residential course options are available and may help to ease transport challenges. If you are experiencing travel barriers, please contact us as we may be able to help. We encourage the Royal Navy community to support one another and are happy to work with families to find solutions around deployments, separation, or work commitments.

We ask young people to bring their own packed lunch and refreshments each day, however, if you have booked your young person on a residential course all meals will provided from lunch on the first day to lunch on the last day. Please inform us of any allergies when booking your course.

After completing RYA course, you can return for an Improver course the following year. If you’ve completed both and are aged 16+, you may progress to the RYA Dinghy Instructor course. Just email youthsailing@rnsa.org.uk for details.

Once you have completed an RNSA Youth Crew week, you could:

  • Join us next year for an Improver course
  • Take part in our weekly Family Sailing Club
  • Become an RYA Dinghy Instructor (aged 16+ and completed Youth Sailing scheme stage 4 and National sailing scheme 2)

New for 2026, RNSA Sailing Clubs are launching in Portsmouth and Plymouth. These are weekly clubs are open to serving RN personnel and their families, offering a community-based way to build skills and sail together. Joining the club requires RNSA membership, which includes access to sailing opportunities, events, online shop and member benefits. To learn more at www.rnsa.org.uk.

If you are a serving member of the RN, RM and RFA you can also learn to sail with RNSA. Visit our website at www.rnsa.org.uk and click on our Sail Academy page where you will find information and links to RNSA yacht cruising and racing, dingy sailing and windsurfing and contact details for our RNSA Sailing Manager. If you aren’t serving please check out www.rnsagosailing.org.uk.

Go Sailing offers free sailing courses to the Partners of serving RN, RM and RFA. Visit www.rnsagosailing.org.uk for more information and to book a course.

If you would like to speak to us before booking, or to talk about an existing booking, please contact our Youth Crew team below on youthsailing@rnsa.org.uk or call 0330 236 8090.