Time to push the boat out in the Black Country from this weekend

Free and low cost sailing and windsurfing is coming to the Black Country for nine days from Saturday (13 May) as the national RYA Push the Boat Out ‘have-a-go’ festival gets underway.

Last year more than 4,000 people across the Midlands discovered sailing for the first time through Push The Boat Out. So whether you want to go as a family, take on a new personal challenge or experience something different with your partner, five clubs and centres will be opening their gates and hosting Push The Boat Out open days and ’taster’ events to get you on the water until Sunday 21 May.

The clubs and centres hosting events around the Black Country are Aldridge, Sandwell Valley, Dudley, Himley Hall and Greensforge sailing clubs. People across the spectrum of disabilities will be able get afloat at some of the events too.

Whatever you think about sailing, Push The Boat Out will change your mind. 

Not only will you find out you can go sailing so far from the sea, but that you don’t need a boat to learn to sail locally as clubs have ones you can use, while if your whole family found you enjoyed being on the water so much you wanted to join a local club, it can cost just £20 a month, or even less, for all of you. Because sailing is such a diverse sport, with so many different types of boats to enjoy and places to sail, it is perfect for all ages and abilities.

Don’t worry about kit, packing a lunch or anything else for Push The Boat Out, every event will provide all the equipment you need with refreshments available. So grab a towel and some old trainers you don’t mind getting wet and sail into summer.

To find your nearest event and for full details of exactly what is going on and when at each participating sailing club and centre, visit www.rya.org.uk/PTBO - to search for an event where disabled people can get on the water tick the ‘Sailability’ activities box.

About the RYA

• The RYA is the national body for all forms of recreational, competitive and professional boating.  It represents dinghy and yacht racing, motor and sail cruising, RIBs and sportsboats, powerboat racing, windsurfing, inland cruising and personal watercraft. 

• The RYA is recognised by all government offices as being the negotiating body for the activities it represents. It continually fights for the rights and freedoms of its 106,000 personal members, the majority of whom choose to go afloat for purely recreational non-competitive pleasure on coastal and inland waters. There are an estimated further 500,000 boat owners nationally who are members of RYA affiliated clubs and class associations.

• The RYA also sets and maintains recognised standards for training for both leisure and commercial boating through a network of more than 2,400 RYA Recognised Training Centres in 50 countries. More than 220,000 people per year complete RYA training courses.

• The RYA is committed to promoting all forms of boating and making them accessible to everyone.  For more information please refer to our website www.rya.org.uk

• You can find the RYA at RYA House, Ensign Way, Hamble, Southampton, SO31 4YA 

• Love Boating? Why not join the association that promotes and protects, safe, successful and rewarding boating.  Join today and support the RYA in protecting your boating rights and freedoms.  Take advantage of free advice and support on all aspects of your boating, as well as enjoying a range of fantastic personal member offers. Find out more by calling 0844 556 9556, email member.services@rya.org.uk or visit www.rya.org.uk 
  
  
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