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Friday, 13 February 2026

Isle of Wight school pupils to receive free sailing lessons


 

By 2027, all Year 5 pupils (aged nine to ten) will take part in free sailing sessions as part of a programme led by the Seaview Sailing Trust.


Currently delivered at the Sea View Yacht Club, the programme will expand Islandwide through a new partnership with UKSA, which will support delivery at its Cowes base.


Andrea Minton Beddoes, chair of the Seaview Sailing Trust, said: "We are delighted that UKSA will become our second partner on the Island, working alongside the Sea View Yacht Club – and that our programme can be Island wide from next year.


"Fundamentally, we believe everyone growing up on the Isle of Wight should have the opportunity to learn to sail. It helps children develop so many life skills and, later on, can unlock nautical and maritime career opportunities in one of our Island’s biggest industries."


This year, the programme will reach 31 of the Isle of Wight's 37 primary schools, with UKSA enabling full coverage by 2027.


Of the schools taking part this season, 26 will complete lessons at the Sea View Yacht Club and five at UKSA.


By 2027, every pupil will receive a minimum of five three-hour sailing sessions during the school year, delivered by qualified instructors.


Some schools will offer up to ten sessions. In 2025, a total of 723 pupils received 4,446 free lessons, a 41 per cent increase on the previous year.


This figure will rise to 949 pupils in the coming season.


Each child receives sustained, weekly tuition over a term, working towards official RYA Dinghy Stage 1 or Stage certification.


Catherine Dixon, chief executive of UKSA, said: "At UKSA, we believe every young person should have access to the water, no matter where they live or their background, and we are incredibly proud to partner with the Seaview Sailing Trust to help make that vision a reality for children across the whole Island."


The Seaview Sailing Trust was established in 2022, and has since funded more than 10,000 three-hour sailing sessions for 1,792 children.



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