The Welsh Yachting Association (WYA) is the National Governing Body for the sports of sailing, windsurfing and powerboating in Wales. The WYA is also the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Council for Wales. The RYA is the British Governing Body and is a Member National Authority of the International Sailing Federation (ISAF). The WYA is funded by Sports Council for Wales (SCW) and the Royal Yachting Association as well as creating revenue from events, training and sponsorship opportunities.
The Royal Yachting Association has 85 affiliated member clubs in Wales. Affiliation is a requirement to run racing under the International Sailing Federation (ISAF) International Racing Rules of Sailing. Welsh Clubs are also encouraged to affiliate to the WYA. There are no personal members of the WYA as individuals join the UK National Governing Body, the RYA. There are also 64 RYA registered Training Centres (TCs) in Wales.
The WYA is a company limited by guarantee and has a Board of Directors, national Strategy Committee and three Regional Committees in north, south and west Wales. Its members are clubs and affiliated organisations.
The WYA Staff are based at the head office at Plas Menai, the National Watersports Centre with which the Association has a close working relationship. Regional offices are within Cardiff Bay Yacht Club and Pembrokeshire Activity Centre.
The WYA is committed to working towards SCW and RYA objectives and to feed the RYA GBR performance pathway, and ultimately Team GBR 2012 and beyond. Great Britain has consistently been the most successful sailing nation for the past three Olympic cycles and won 4 gold, 1 silver and 1 bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. Currently Wales contributes 10 -15% to the Olympic Sailing Squads with elite Welsh sailors collecting 8 National titles, 6 European titles and 4 World titles over the past 4 years in Olympic, Youth & Junior classes, an achievement underpinned by the Welsh youth and junior performance programme.
The WYA is committed to equality and ensuring the sport is a sport for all, our programmes seek to enable people regardless of age, gender, disability or race to enjoy safely the sport of sailing in all its varied facets throughout Wales.
Our Vision – “More and Better Sailing”
- Promote sailing and ensure it is accessible to anyone who is interested in ‘having a go’ ·
- Enable the best to reach for the top and encourage the rest to achieve more than they thought possible ·
- Work to ensure retention of both newcomers and those already involved in the sport
Our Values
- Achieving through partnership
- Encouraging a socially inclusive attitude
- Promoting fair play and competition
- Securing personal development
- Respecting the marine environment
- Striving to achieve better sport outcomes
Our Desired Outcomes
- Establishing a club development framework
- Sustaining volunteer capacity within the sport
- Setting up a network of Dragon Sail, Volvo Champion Clubs and RYA Training Centres
- Linking young people with Training Centres and clubs
- Establishing clear competitive pathways
- Refining training and coach education programmes
- Securing continuous improvement in competitive achievements
- Enhancing the elite performance support programme
- Encouraging and supporting alternative pathways for those not following the performance route
Our Vision, Values and Desired outcomes gave shape to the 2007 Springboard strategic review which has led to the development of the 2009 - 2013 strategic focus which is centred on 3 key areas of activity ensured by effective governance;
Our Key Objectives 2009 - 2013
- Growing Participation
- Club Development
- Developing Excellence
- Organisational Effectiveness
Association Information: