CHAIR’S STATEMENT


As Chair of your Association, I am pleased to report on another successful year for the RYA, albeit one that concluded just as significant Covid-19 restrictions were introduced in the UK. The many achievements of the RYA and our members during the past year are well-explained in the CEO’s Strategic Report, which makes for an uplifting and rewarding read. To set the scene, I would like to highlight some key developments that I consider both significant and encouraging for the future.


We achieved a record number of participants at the 2019 Push the Boat Out, bringing new regular boaters and, hopefully in time, new members; the British Sailing Team were well-prepared for the Olympics in Japan, now postponed to 2021, and we were the only nation to have qualified in all disciplines; The Green Blue programme won the 11th Hour Racing Sustainability Award at the World Sailing Conference; and the record number of very high quality nominations for the volunteer awards made the panel’s job extremely difficult.


This is my opportunity to recognise and thank the many people who have contributed to those achievements during the year.


The success of the RYA is enabled by our many volunteers at all levels across our sport. Firstly, I would like to recognise the efforts of those members working on our regional and policy forming committees, in the Home Countries and my fellow non-executive directors on the RYA Board.


I should also express our thanks and appreciation to both UK Sport and Sport England. Their funding is critically important in supporting a broad range of RYA initiatives, including Sailability and other grass-roots programmes, our youth and junior talent pathway, and the British Sailing Team.


I would also particularly like to thank all RYA staff across the UK for their hard work over the year. They have made great efforts in all areas, including developing training, lobbying and advising on key issues, organising very successful events ashore and afloat, supporting our members and athletes and reinforcing our objective to increase boating safety throughout the UK.


This report covers the financial year 2019-2020, which ended on 31st March and was therefore only slightly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, with lockdown and a ban on all boating activity imposed at the end of the financial year. However, it is important to note that the economic and social consequences of the crisis have had a major effect on the boating community and the operations of the RYA and will continue to do so in the future.


The crisis has posed major challenges for recreational and competitive boating and for the RYA as its national governing body. But together we have risen to the challenge; our e-sailing activity has been hugely popular and we have witnessed phenomenal innovation at boating clubs around the country. Most importantly, we successfully lobbied for boaters to get back on the water safely as part of the first phase of activity that was permitted as lockdown restrictions began to be lifted.


We recognise that there will be financial pressures on many of our individual and affiliate members in the “new normal”. We must work hard to ensure participation and membership is maintained and increased. We must all do our bit for our activity and sport to help our communities emerge from the crisis, and help all those who have been affected either physically, mentally, or economically to be able to participate and benefit from the well-being, friendship and enjoyment that boating can bring.


In looking ahead, I would like to highlight the continued efforts the Board and staff will be making to engage with our members. We will work to better understand how volunteers, on whom our sport depends, can be assisted and encouraged in their efforts to welcome participants of all backgrounds, ages, and abilities into boating.


Thank you for your continued, loyal support.


Christopher Preston RYA Chair


3 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2020


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28