Why affiliate with us? 

• Dinghy Sailing (cruising and racing)
• Yacht Sailing (cruising and racing)
• Motor cruising
• Sportsboats and RIBs
• Personal watercraft
• Powerboat racing
• Windsurfing
• Inland Waterways (canal and river boating)

Clubs and Associations must demonstrate democratic process and a constitution showing that no outside body has control over its affairs.  Fully affiliated Clubs and Associations have one vote for each £1 of affiliation fees paid in voting rights on RYA matters.

'Restricted affiliation' is available to commercial bodies which is a separate category with no voting rights.

Communications with Clubs and Associations

RYA Magazine is sent quarterly to every affiliated club. The primary purpose of the publication is to communicate the work of the RYA in promoting and protecting the boating public and affiliated organisations.

RYA Briefing is a publication produced specifically and uniquely for clubs and club officers. It is packed with information of importance to those who give their time organising boating at club level.

The RYA Website - www.rya.org.uk contains up to the minute information from the RYA. There s plenty of information for clubs on the site, including the clubs section of Working with Us, designed to help club officers, the legal section within our Knowledge Base area, and details on all RYA initiatives that concern clubs.

E-mail - with your permission, we will send out certain information via e-mail. We do try and keep these messages brief and small in size, and as such will often refer you to the RYA website for downloads, or further information.

The RYA Club Conference - held at The Dinghy Sailing Show held at Alexandra Palace over the first weekend in March each year. Invitations go to all dinghy and windsurfing clubs. There is no charge and a free buffet lunch and two free tickets to the show per club are offered. The Conference is an important opportunity for an exchange of views on key sailing and racing topics of the day.

Privileges of RYA Club Affiliation

Legal Advice - over many, many years the RYA Legal Office has been available to assist clubs with a variety of legal problems. In some cases, our legal team has saved the very existence of a club, and in others prevented the onset of serious operational difficulties.

Advice is offered on a wide range of issues facing clubs, both on the RYA website, and also in leaflets available on request from the Legal Department.

Government Liaison - in addition to direct legal advice, much work is done by quiet negotiation with a variety of Local, National, European and and International bodies (The UN, International Maritime Organisation, European Union, Central Government. Members of Parliament, District and County Councils, Harbour Boards and Inland Navigation Authorities, HM Customs and Excise, the Marine and Coastguard Agency, the Crown Estate Commissioners, the VAT Office, Trinity House, English Nature, the Sports Councils, Central Council of Physical Recreation, the British Marine Federation)

Consultation the RYA is the consultative body for matters affecting boating, for planning and other matters by national and local government, Trinity House, and local authorities. We then consult with any and all affiliated clubs likely to be affected.

Financial clubs have benefited substantially from direct RYA action in the past, and we continue to lobby for the reduction in the cost burdens for clubs. Some of the issues that we have fought in the past and are currently campaigning on are:-

• VAT exemption for mooring and boat storage fees
• Duty rebates on rescue boat fuel tidal waters.
• Benefits for Community Amateur Sports Clubs
• Corporation tax exemptions for interest income and gains
• Limited corporation tax exemption for property rental and fund raising income
• Gift-aid relief and inheritance tax relief for individual donors
• Income tax repayments for the club on gift aid income
• Fees payable under the Licensing Act 2003

Voting Rights - each club has a right to cast votes at the Annual General Meeting of the RYA with one vote for each 1 of subscription paid.  In addition, clubs also collectively elect representatives to Council on a regional basis.

RYA Club Insurance specifically put together by Heath Lambert for the RYA, this flexible, competitive insurance protection is available to RYA affiliated clubs. The brokers are fully experienced in covering the needs of the average club and are in close touch with the RYA Legal Office should any difficulties arise. The scheme is very successful with a large proportion of clubs insuring through the scheme. For details and more information, please contact Heath Lambert on  01384 822222.

The Racing Rules it is a condition of use of the ISAF Racing Rules of sailing, that clubs organising racing are affiliated to their Member National Authority (in the UK, the RYA). With this comes the right of all members of that club to enter races (a person entering a boat in a race must be a member of the RYA or an RYA Affiliated Club). An RYA Affiliated Club and its members may also use the RYA Appeals Procedure.

Publications Discount - 15% saving on the huge range of books, videos,  CDs, DVDs from the RYA Shop.

Consent to lay racing marks - The RYA pays a consolidated annual licence fee to the Crown Estate Commissioners on behalf of all affiliated clubs, entitling them to lay temporary racing marks on seabed areas controlled by the Commissioners.

Courses - Many courses are run each year from which clubs can benefit. Good examples of these are training for club race officers or for rescue boat drivers, both essential to maintain the high standards of club racing.

Talks - talks to club audiences on topics covering all boating interests. The RYA will make every effort to satisfy requests, or to arrange an alternative.

Training - RYA Training Courses are respected and acclaimed around the world. The standards for RYA Training Centre recognition are high but have been achieved by many Affiliated Clubs who are now able to provide valuable instruction to their members. A good training facility has also proved to be the best possible recruitment draw for those clubs seeking to increase their memberships, and the annual recognition fee for Training Centres is waived for RYA Affiliated Club, with the exception of the initial inspection upon recognition. For details of the courses available, and for information on the recognition process, please see the RYA Website, or call the RYA Training Department.

The RYA Volvo Dinghy Show - RYA affiliated clubs may be allocated a stand at the show at a highly subsided fee. This often represents a saving of over £200 on normal prices. This popular show is unique in the world and is by far the best place to meet all the class associations, arrange fixtures as well as catching up with old friends.

Representation of Affiliated Clubs within the RYA
All segments of leisure boating are represented within the RYA and have a voice on the RYA Council and this applies wholly and equally to Affiliated Clubs.

The RYA has 13 regional committees whose members and Chairmen are elected by the clubs at regional level. Regional Chairmen also sit on the RYA Council, further ensuring that member clubs have a voice at the highest table.

What Does Affiliation Cost?
From 2010, clubs will be allocated to a charging band based on their subscription income from all full (single and family) members.  Unless there is a material change in a clubs circumstances, then it is not envisaged that the charging band will alter.  Clubs will then receive an invoice each year based on their allocated band.

 

An Important Note Regarding Affiliation and Personal Membership There is often confusion between membership of a RYA Affiliated Club and RYA Personal Membership.  These are two very separate memberships attracting different benefits. The club pays a fee to the RYA in return for which it receives the services and back up, all for the club itself, outlined in this leaflet.  This fee does not cover any work done on behalf of, or infer any benefits to, the individual members of that club. The club pays a fee to the RYA in return for which it receives the services and back up, all for the club itself, outlined in this leaflet.  This fee does not cover any work done on behalf of, or infer any benefits to, the individual members of that club.

 

RYA Initiatives

The Volvo RYA Champion Club Programme is a national initiative that aims to establish a high standard of youth race training at grass roots level.  It looks to provide young people, whatever their age or ability with quality coaching and competition to ensure that we encourage more young people to participate in the sport and start racing.

A club is awarded Volvo RYA Champion Club status if it is continually introducing young people into racing with a view to developing their enthusiasm and talent so that as many as possible gain places in the Volvo RYA Junior Zone Squads and also encourages and supports their development within the Volvo RYA Youth Sailing Programme.

Volvo RYA Champion Clubs enjoy the support and help of the RYA in achieving their aims and be entitled to a set of tangible benefits. 

team15 - is a nationwide initiative for windsurfing clubs and centres to open their doors to young windsurfers.  By following a structured development programme, team15 encourages youth participation in windsurfing, and development of racing leading to a national team15 competition.

Honda RYA Youth RIB Championship - A national competition in which 8 - 16 year old Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) drivers, can demonstrate their skills with the ultimate goal of winning an RIB with a Honda outboard engine for their club.

Clubs and organisations that wish to participate hold local heats at their premises to determine who they put forward for their regional finals. There are fifteen regional finals and winner in each age group (8-12 and 13-16) takes part in the national final, which is held each year at the Southampton International Boat Show in September. 

OnBoard - is a national scheme to develop a network of RYA centres which proactively encourage participation of school age children into trying sailing and windsurfing, with a view to developing long term interest in the sports.  Backed by government departments and major players from the Marine Industry, OnBoard is a ground breaking participation initiative.

For full details of any of the programmes above, and to register your clubs interest, please see the RYA website, or contact the relevant RYA department.