The New Pathway

In sharing our new pathway, we want to be clear about what we are trying to achieve and how we are going to go about doing it

Our key aims in evolving the pathway are to:

• Increase affordability and accessibility of sail racing
• Increase engagement of young people in sailing
• Improve Youth international performances

These aims will be achieved through:

• Creating great club environments for racing
• Providing targeted programmes that make a difference to sailors' development
• Creating exciting racing opportunities that engage the next generation of sailor

There are three key strands to the new Pathway

Racing4Life 

To make racing fun, develop great fundamentals and create a lifelong love of sailing 

Progression and increased engagement is about creating fun, locally-based environments for young sailors and ensuring they want to get involved for the long-term, wider benefits of the sport. This is essential towards driving long-term prosperity and ‘stickability’ in sailing as well as addressing affordability and accessibility to all. 

Programmes underpinning Racing4Life:

• Pathway Clubs / Hubs 
• Class Association Partnerships 
• RYA Event Evolution 

Please complete this form to express your interest in becoming an RYA Pathway Club.

Talent Inclusion

To identify and develop high potential sailors from under-represented communities

We want to see our British team be more representative of and relevant to British society. We want to expand the pool of people who benefit from everything a life in sailing can offer. There are many barriers to inclusion in our sport and we want to be proactive in breaking these down and supporting those sailors with the most potential to realise their dreams and ambitions regardless of personal circumstance. 

We know things need to change and we are committed to developing new projects to support a whole new generation of role models who can show that sail racing is for anyone. 

Programme underpinning Talent Inclusion:

• WaveMakers

Talent Development

To identify, support and develop sailors with medal winning potential 

For those sailors looking to transition into the Youth classes, who want to be the best in the world, this is the avenue to support that dream. Results performances at Youth level have been shown to correlate to future potential, so the aim is to develop sailors as people and performers, providing them with the tools to go on to achieve their sailing goals at Olympic level or elsewhere in the sport. As well as ensuring the pathway remains accessible and doing what we can to reduce costs, we need to better support key transition points for young sailors and look to improve youth international performances. 

Programmes underpinning Talent Development: 

• Talent Academies 

• British Youth Sailing Team 

Find out more about the new strands and programmes in our FAQs.