A refreshed plan for access to water
The RYA and British Sailing unveiled a refreshed Together on Water strategy on 17 September 2026. It builds on a plan first introduced in 2023, with a ten-year programme addressing participation and community access.
The RYA’s stated ambition is to double active participation in water-based activities and help ten million people make a meaningful connection to blue spaces. These figures are programme goals, not current measured achievements.
The role of clubs and instructors
The plan places community networks and access among its priorities, recognising the role of clubs and volunteers. Training and inclusive opportunities matter for people starting on the water before considering more advanced cruising.
For the luxury-yacht sector, the wider participation pipeline intersects with future owners, skippers and qualified marine workers. It should not be interpreted as a scheme solely for privately owned yachts.
Protecting the places people use
Safeguarding blue spaces appears alongside participation and community-building in the strategy. That connects recreational access with the conditions of the waters and coastlines used by boating groups.
A strategy announcement does not itself change a local harbour regulation or a vessel’s navigation obligations. Operators still need to follow applicable rules for each destination.
What happens over the next decade
The refreshed goals set a direction for the organisation and its partners, with delivery extending beyond the current season. Future reporting will be necessary to distinguish progress from aspiration.
The RYA’s official statement and accompanying image record the launch. Luxury Yacht Guide is covering it as a wider marine-sector development relevant to the pathways into leisure yachting.
