Bringing Young Sailors Through: What Works in Club Youth Programmes
4 June 2026
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has published updated guidance for clubs operating shared motorboat fleets, placing greater emphasis on documented pre-use checks and structured incident reporting.
The guidance, effective from June 2026, recommends that all clubs maintain a digital or paper record of vessel inspections before each use, with particular attention to:
- Engine and fuel system checks
- Safety equipment serviceability (flares, life rings, extinguishers)
- Hull and structural integrity
- Navigation lights and electrical systems
Clubs are also encouraged to implement a formal near-miss reporting system, separate from damage reporting, to identify and address safety trends before they become incidents.
The RYA noted that the majority of serious incidents in club settings were preceded by multiple unreported near-misses that, had they been recorded and acted upon, could have prevented harm.
Source: RYA Club Safety Update, May 2026
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