Recognising that our waters, both inland and coastal, have become busier ‘with more activities impacting on our [boating] activities,’ the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) has decided to published a manifesto intended to clearly state to politicians and decision makers who the RYA is and what they do, in order to help to protect the interests of recreational boaters.

The manifesto exists in the form of an eight page pamphlet that can be read online. A highlights of the principals and a video of Louise Nicholls describing why the manifesto has been written now can be found here.

Here is the RYA’s press release in full:

The RYA’s purpose is to promote enjoyable, safe and successful UK sailing and motorboating. A central aspect of this is to represent recreational boating to government and other agencies in order to ensure that they understand, and take account of, recreational boating activity.

We have a clear set of principles which have guided our work in this area for many years which we have embodied in our newly published RYA Manifesto.

Defending boaters ‘public right of navigation’ is paramount and fundamental to our principles.

“What we have written in the manifesto is not new.  They have been our guiding principles for a long time” says Gus Lewis, Head of Government Affairs.

“We have published the manifesto now because feedback from affiliated clubs and members showed a need for us to articulate these principles more publicly.

“In addition, the RYA is dealing with a broader range of politicians, officials from departments that we have not traditionally had to have a strong relationship with. We want to be able to make sure that they understand what it is that we stand for and what it is that we are doing on your behalf”.

Recreational boating continues to enjoy relative freedom to pursue its boating activities, but we cannot take this freedom for granted.  Our coastal waters and inland waterways face increasing pressure from competing commercial, environmental and leisure interests.

The RYA therefore will continue to provide a robust, articulate and intelligent voice to represent recreational boating and to ensure that its interests are taken into account by government and other agencies.

To read the RYA Manifesto in full go to www.rya.org.uk/go/manifesto