RNSA eBulletin
August 2025 Edition
RNSA 90
We do hope this update finds you well and enjoying the summer. RNSA's racing yacht, Sovereign Sail Navy, has now rounded the Rock and is on her way to Cherbourg in some pretty good conditions. There are plenty of RNSA members in the Fastnet Fleet and we look forward to hearing about how they got on. Looking at the various social media feeds and the general chit-chat, there are also plenty of cruises taking place and a real sense of participation this year across the whole sailing panoply. Excellent to see!
The Great British Cruise proved a huge success and 5 yachts have or will complete the circumnavigation. The Service yacht (Curlew) achieved the full programme with the 10 legs each providing 6 crew of serving personnel with a great range of opportunities. The RNSA 90 social events, at Portsmouth, Portland, the Channel Islands, Plymouth, West Coast of Scotland with the Royal Highland Yacht Club, Harwich, Chichester (East Head) and again at Portsmouth were all well attended and equally well received. The RNSA Scotland event at the Mar Hall Hotel and subsequent rally is still to come next month (21-24 Aug). There are many people that merit praise for making the GBC possible, but Richard Farrington and Neil Twigg deserve a special thanks.
Coming up....
On the subject of socials, the RNSA Cowes Week party at the Royal London Yacht Club next Monday is now fully booked and we look forward to seeing those attending for what should be a good evening. Remember that all RNSA members are affiliate members of this prestigious club. Whilst on the subject of the RLYC, they are running a fun regatta for their affiliate clubs over the weekend 13/14 Sep and I am keen to hear from anyone wishing to enter. It looks like great fun, both afloat and ashore.
RNSA was also at Sail GP earlier this month and shared a stand with the Royal Navy. It was great to say 'Hi' to a number of members as they enjoyed the spectacular racing over the weekend. Sail GP is contracted to come back next year and we will continue to maintain our relationship with them and help share the STEM opportunities that sailing can offer our young people as they look to future careers.
Cowes Week is the next main regatta for many and we look forward to hearing how members get on. Remember there are a few RNSA trophies up for grabs. Our CEO is this year's Principal Race Officer for the Regatta and will keep an eye out for the RNSA burgee!
Family Sailing
The RNSA Youth Crew programme continues to deliver for young people across the Naval community with 400 places on the dedicated week-long free RNSA start sailing courses already booked. We have capacity for a few more applications, so please do take a look at the website if you are interested https://rnsayouthcrew.org.uk/
The bookings for the new Go Sailing pilot project are going well and we are nearly at our target of 100. This is for partners of serving personnel to obtain their RYA Level 2 dinghy qualification and if there is sufficient interest we may be able to add a few more courses. Do have a look at the website here: https://rnsagosailing.org.uk/
Go Yachting
A new initiative that RNSA is working on is called 'Go Yachting'. We are keen that the significant impact we are achieving through the dinghy related programmes outlined above is broadened to include yachting. Part of this programme is our offer to support Establishment Yachts, part may be a commercial charter option, part is the cruising pathways work that Rear Commodore Cruising is leading, part is building a network of clubs and our HLOs that can help support yachting and part is introductory family days.
In the spirit of the latter point, RNSA is delighted to announce that with help of the Lockheed Martin UK and in partnership with the Tall Ships Youth Trust, it will be running a try yachting family day on Saturday 6 September. Running from Gunwharf Quay, we have chartered a Challenge 72 yacht for the day. There are 12 spaces and no experience is needed. We are looking for 6 'groups' of a parent and a child aged 12 or over to join us for the free activity. Details and the chance to express your interest are available from the following link: Try a 72' foot yacht
RNSA Volunteer of the Year
We are delighted to announce that Haven Knox-Johnston are for the third year running sponsoring our Volunteer of the year Award. Using the link below, please nominate the person you think has done most as a volunteer to support RNSA this year. The winner, decided by a joint RNSA and HKJ panel, will receive a GoPro camera. The current plan is to present it at the end of season party at Artys' Clarence yard on 26 September. Nominations will close on 12 September.