Prepare to launch yourself into the new sailing season at this weekend’s RYA Dinghy & Watersports Show (22-23 February), where the RYA team will be on hand with all the know-how you need to progress.
From clubs and training courses to racing, coaching, membership and much more besides, the RYA team will be there to give you a warm welcome as you enter the show at Farnborough International, and are on hand to provide all the advice and support you need.
Start your next adventure
If you’re looking to take your sailing, windsurfing or winging to the next level, Regional Managers and training experts will be ready and willing to share their expertise, whether it’s finding the right boat or board for you, or locating your nearest clubs and training centres.
The Para Sailing Hub, right opposite the stand, will also showcase ways to be involved with RYA Sailability and the para sailing community, including opportunities for volunteering and for sailors to race and train locally, nationally and internationally.
Representatives from the para sailing classes will be running drop-in sessions each day, from top tips on how to tune your boat, to finding an activity that’s right for you:
- 11:00-12:00 – Challenger Class
- 12:00-13:00 – Hansa Class
- 13:00-14:00 – RS Venture
- 13:00-14:00 – Blind Sailing UK
- 14:00-15:00 – Deaf Sailing
Check in at the Para Sailing Hub as well to find out which talks and sessions our British Sign Language interpreters will be covering across the show weekend.
Race ready
Wherever you are on your racing journey, the RYA team can help give you a steer.
Ask about junior and youth pathway opportunities, including the RYA’s new Pathway Club programme being launched at the show (11am both days on the Sunsail Main Stage). You can also find out about the British Keelboat Academy, routes into race officiating and event volunteering, plus information and advice on club racing, handicap systems and racing and class rules.
With the new Racing Rules of Sailing coming into force last month, ensure you’re fully up to speed and take home new editions of the RYA’s Racing Rules of Sailing 2025-28, The Racing Rules Explained and The Handy Guide to the Racing Rules. The popular Tactics book by Mark Rushall – guest speaker at the show – has also been updated to reflect the recent changes.
All titles are available as books or eBooks, with The Racing Rules of Sailing and The Handy Guide also available in audiobook format, which you can check out on the stand. The Racing Rules Explained will come out in audiobook format in due course.
The Racing Rules and Cases 2025-2028 Integrated eBook is also available, and you can also access two new Racing ebook subscriptions – Basic and Advanced – which provide 12-month access to a selection of Racing eBooks.
RYA members can enjoy a 20% discount on all publications purchased at the show stand and from the online RYA Shop over the show weekend.
Join our worldwide community
RYA membership helps us to support you with the issues you care about – join at the show to become part of our worldwide community of over 100,000 people and enjoy exclusive benefits while helping protect the activities we love.
If you sign up to become a member at the show you’ll receive a free dry bag, or if you are already a member, refer a friend at the show and you’ll both take home a dry bag with our thanks.
The Membership team will be on hand throughout the weekend to help with your questions and advise on how to make the most of your membership.
Get hands on in the Interactive Zone
With SailGP racing set to return to UK shores this summer, you can take the wheel of an F50 and race around a SailGP course to try and beat Emirates GBR SailGP team driver Dylan Fletcher’s time! An entry chosen at random will win a pair of Waterfront Grandstand tickets to the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix Portsmouth event, plus a goody bag with signed merchandise too.
You can also perfect your trapezing technique on the trapeze rig, pop on the VR goggles to experience the thrill of foiling, dinghy sailing and windsurfing, and check out our sailing, winging and windsurfing simulators.
RYA Foundation
The RYA Foundation is the RYA’s national charity supporting, clubs, centres and organisations as well as young people through funding grants.
Speak to the Foundation’s Trustees over the show weekend to find out how your club or organisation can apply for funding support, or how under 25-year-olds can access RYA Foundation Youth Fund grants to help achieve their goals.
Protecting our playground
Whether you’re an individual, club, class association or marine business, The Green Blue team will be on hand on the RYA stand with tips and advice to help keep your boating as green as possible.
You can play your part by recycling old equipment at the show. Bring your old, any brand wetsuits to the recycling bin on the GOAT Marine stand (stand 4) where £20 off of a brand new Zhik wetsuit awaits anyone who ‘REZHIKLES’. With the support of Sustainable Extricko, you can also deposit unwanted sail cloth for recycling at the drop off point on the RYA stand.
The Green Blue’s Kate Fortnam, along with World Sailing and industry experts, will be sharing advice on equipment and kit recycling in a panel discussion in the Knowledge Zone (10.30am Saturday, 3.30pm Sunday).
Remember you can also show your commitment to protecting and respecting the environment by signing up to The Green Blue Boating Pledge and adopt simple, practical measures which have a positive impact on the wellbeing of inland and coastal habitats and wildlife. In the Interactive Zone, our youngest visitors can design a poster with their own pledge showing how they’ll ‘Respect, Protect and Enjoy’ our waters and have a chance to be entered into a prize draw.
Visit RYA partners
You’ll find a number of RYA and show partners around the stands, including Sunsail (stand 298), Rockley Watersports (164), Sailia (208), Insured Health (288), ePropulsion (178) and Bishop Skinner Marine (202). Chat with their teams to find out how they can support your boating ambitions this season.
Buy tickets now!
Don’t forget, RYA Members can access a complimentary weekend ticket worth £21, while kids aged 15 years and under, go free! Get your show ticket now and follow us on socials @RYADinghyShow.
