RYA 'Reflections on Water' celebrates a year of people, progress and inclusive initiatives
by RYA 1 Feb 17:00 GMT
RYA 'Reflections on Water' © RYA
The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is marking the one-year anniversary of Reflections on Water, a national campaign created to celebrate the people, progress and opportunities shaping the UK's blue spaces, while reinforcing the RYA's commitment to making watersports welcoming and accessible for all.
Launched in January 2025 as a continuation of the RYA's Together on Water strategy, Reflections on Water was designed to shine a light on lived experiences on the water, amplify voices driving positive change, and inspire collective action across the boating and watersports community.
Over the past year, the Reflections on Water hub on the RYA website has grown into a powerful and diverse library of personal stories from sailors aged 12 to 91, showcasing experiences from across the UK. Freely available to the public, the stories span athletes, coaches, volunteers and individuals, each offering personal insight into the depth, diversity and positive impact of the watersports community.
Featured voices include British Sailing Team athletes Matilda Nicholls and Daisy Collingridge reflecting on their journeys as young female athletes; coaches such as Ali Young; British Empire Medal awardee Mike Chapple; SailGP athlete Kai Hockley; contributors from the Sailability network including young sailor Miles; and the inspirational Jazz Turner, who became the first known disabled person to single-handedly sail the 2,070-mile journey around Britain and Ireland.
Beyond storytelling, Reflections on Water has also supported the launch and promotion of several RYA programmes over the past year, each designed to make the water a more welcoming place for all. Examples include the RYA Female Futures Group, launched in April as part of the Pathway evolution to increase female participation and unlock new opportunities for women and girls; the ongoing Urban Winds Project in London, training the capital's future instructors; the Merched Y Mor initiative which was created to increase female participation in Wales; and RYA Futures Lab, launched in December 2025 as the RYA's first youth ambassador programme for 16-25-year-olds.
The campaign also celebrated the 20th anniversary of OnBoard, the RYA's flagship grassroots sailing and windsurfing programme for young people aged 8 to 18, which continues to play a vital role in introducing young people to life on the water.
Alongside activity, Reflections on Water has also sought to better understand the barriers to participation that remain. In November 2025, the RYA launched the Reflections on Water Survey — the largest open study the organisation has ever undertaken — designed to capture the most comprehensive picture yet of life on the water in the UK.
With over 5,500+ responses, detailed insights from the survey are still being analysed however early themes have emerged around barriers such as cost and a lack of diverse representation. Encouragingly, a strong and consistent message has also emerged around the power of community and the significant social benefits sailing and watersports can provide. Further findings will be published later in the year.
"Reflections on Water has become both a celebration and a beacon for positive change. Over the past year, the stories people have shared have shown not only the incredible breadth of our watersports community, but how it continues to grow, adapt and support one another. This isn't a moment to pause — it's a foundation to build on as we keep working towards a future where everyone can feel they truly belong on the water." - Sara Sutcliffe, RYA CEO.
Marking the end of the first year of the campaign, The Reflections on Water hub has been brought to life through a Reflections on Water Map, visually capturing all stories, activities and initiatives featured in the 2025 first year of the campaign.
Looking to the future of the campaign as it enters its second year, the RYA will continue to share new stories, spotlight grassroots initiatives and national programmes, and encourage people across the UK to reflect on what water means to them and how they can help shape a more inclusive future on the water.