Join RYA Scotland at Scotland's Boat Show this weekend

RYA Scotland at Scotland's Boat Show taking place at Kip Marina © RYA Scotland

RYA Scotland at Scotland's Boat Show taking place at Kip Marina © RYA Scotland

RYA Scotland is looking forward to Scotland's Boat Show at Kip Marina this weekend and has a programme of activities taking place over the full three days of the show for everyone to take part in. The weather is looking quite promising for the weekend so the team are looking forward to seeing lots of people coming along to the show to get involved in activities free of charge.

What's on?

RYA Scotland has teamed up with SeaTrek Training, Arnold Clark Drum (supported by Cumbrae Voyages) and also Clyde Muirshiel Regional Park Castle Semple Centre to run on-water activities throughout the show. Seatrek Training is supporting the programme by offering own-boat tuition taster sessions as well as close quarter handling demonstrations. This offers boat owners an excellent opportunity to experience some formal training and also the chance to pick up some very useful tips and advice which can help you avoid stressful situations on your boat. Own-boat tuition sessions are available to book in advance by contacting Seatrek Training on or during the boat show at the RYA Scotland stand.

Arnold Clark Drum has joined forces with RYA Scotland and is supported by Cumbrae Voyages to offer sailing experiences on the Saturday and Sunday of the show. Drum is a well-known 78 foot maxi racing yacht which was originally commissioned by Simon Le Bon, lead singer of Duran Duran, for the purpose of taking part in the 1985/86 Whitbread Round the World Yacht Race. The sessions offer the experience to go sailing for a little over an hour completely free on an iconic boat. You can book your place on one of the sessions in advance by going to www.arnoldclarkdrum.com or during the boat show at the RYA Scotland stand.

For those wanting to get on the water during the show in a slighter smaller boat, Castle Semple Centre will be bringing along some access dinghies. These are small dinghies which are not likely to capsize and are ideal for young people and children who want to have a go at sailing. These taster sessions again are completely free of charge and are running every half hour or so over the Saturday and Sunday. Instructors are on board the dinghies to give you an introduction to sailing but will be encouraging you to take the controls too! For those who catch the sailing bug, there will be lots of information available from Castle Semple and also RYA Scotland about where to go and what to do next.

The RYA Scotland team have also invited a number of people and organisations along to run talks and workshops in the workshop marquee sponsored by Argyll and the Isles Tourism Co-operative. Workshops in the marquee are free of charge and don't need to be booked so please just check the timetable and drop into whatever takes your interest! Bishop Skinner Marine are kicking the programme off on Friday morning at 11am with their talk about boat insurance and how to make sure you get the right cover for your boat. With over 40 years in the marine industry they will be able to answer any questions and queries you may have. They are also running the same talk on the Saturday morning at 10am for those who can't make Friday.

Sarah Brown will be running a WISE Scheme talk on Friday at 12.30 and also on Sunday at 11am. You are more than welcome to bring your sandwiches in with you and listen to Sarah talk about how to recognise and avoid disturbance of wildlife whilst out on your boat. The talk is supported by Scottish National Heritage and will hopefully be a useful guide to what is out there to see and what to do when you see it.

Alan Rankin will be at the show on Sunday and will be giving an illustrated talk about his Solo Round Britain experience at 13.30. He is looking forward to telling you all about his successful 2400 mile single handed circumnavigation around the outside of the UK and Ireland. With lots of photos and videos to show it promises to be a very interesting account of an incredible challenge so make sure you don't miss it.

SeaTrek Training is also supporting the on-shore programme in the marquee by offering an SRC Marine Radio Workshop on Friday at 2pm. Alec Howie from Scottish Canals will also be giving a talk about the Crinan Canals at 2.30pm on the Sunday. Steve Harrison will be giving a talk about his experience of the Round Ireland RIB Challenge on the Saturday at 2pm.

There will be plenty for the kids to do during the show and particularly on Saturday so make sure you bring the whole family along with you. There will be a maritime themed art session running from 11am to 2pm on the Saturday to keep the kids entertained with different art activities that they can take home with them at the end of the day. There will also be a colouring competition on the RYA Scotland stand for the youngsters to get involved with and not to mention the opportunity to meet the RYA Junior Membership Mascot, Bob the Buoy! For more information about the show and to get further details about the programme then please have a look at the events section on www.ryascotland.org.uk.