NEWS
C
anoeing and stand-up
paddleboarding are
growing in popularity in the UK,
according to a wide-ranging
survey published last month.
The findings of the
Watersports Participation
Survey 2017, which interviewed
around 12,000 people, show
that compared to 2016,
participation in most types of
boating rose.
Around 345,000 more people
went canoeing in 2017, an
increase of 0.6% on the
previous year, while an extra
274,000 people took part in
stand-up paddleboarding, a
growth of 0.5%. Motor boating
also saw increased participation
of 0.4% or 186,000 people.
Small sailboat racing, yacht
racing, yacht cruising and canal
boating all grew by 0.1%.
Power boating grew by 0.2%.
Long term, however, the
results point to a slightly
different picture, with
participation rates between
2007 and 2017 in yacht racing,yacht cruising and power
boating remaining stagnant.
Small sailboat racing, small
sailboat activities, motor
boating and canal boating all
fell. Meanwhile, 806,000 more
people went canoeing, a
growth of 1.3%, while stand-up
paddle boarding participation
increased significantly by 1.6%
or 894,000 people.
The survey is produced
annually for a consortium of
marine bodies including the
RNLI, RYA, and British Marine.
RYA Director of Sport
Development, Alistair Dickson
said: “It is really encouraging
that we are continuing to see a
growth in the number of people
who are getting out on the
water and enjoying boating and
watersport activities.
“The research also tells us
that the proportion of
‘enthusiasts’ has continued to
increase over the last year,
which supports the work we
are doing alongside our clubs
and centres to encourageregular participation.”
He noted the decrease in
participation across sailing and
boating activities compared to
10 years ago, and said it was
vital to “learn as much as we
can about how and what
people want from their
activities”. Part of this includes
ensuring boating remains
accessible to people as their
lifestyles change.
Many clubs are already
addressing this. Itchenor
Sailing Club at Chichester
Harbour has a fleet of
club-owned boats for members
to hire, allowing first timers asCanoes and SUPs
are on the up
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STOCKwell as those who haven’t
sailed for a while to get out
onto the water. Other clubs
offer cruising programmes for
boat-owning members, helping
to build confidence for those
who want to sail further afield.
So-called ‘pay and play’
opportunities in the industry
mean people hire gear and dip
in and out of boating as free
time permits.
Building on its Push the Boat
Out initiative, the RYA launches
its Workplace Challenge in the
eastern UK in May, where
employees and employers are
encouraged to try sailing.Canoeing is
becoming a
more popular
way to take to
the waterJim Wileman/AlamyD
orset Police and the
Health and Safety
Executive are investigating
the circumstances that led to
a man being crushed to
death when his yacht fell on
top of him at Weymouth
Sailing Club.
Kevin Keeler, 56, was
working on the 29ft Westerly
GK29, Ginny Kwik, which was
in a metal cradle, when theincident happened on 16 April.
Paramedics tried to save
Keeler, but he was
pronounced dead at the
scene.
In a statement, the
commodore of Weymouth
Sailing Club, Euan McNair,
praised the emergency
services, and said club
members had been shocked
by the tragedy.Yacht falls on
sailor in yard
‘The whole sailing club is
obviously devastated at this
tragic incident and our
thoughts go out to the families
concerned,’ he said.
He stated that Ginny KwikKevin Keeler’s yacht was
in a metal cradle when the
incident happenedhad been out of the water for
around a week, and ‘no boat
moves were scheduled’.
The findings of the
investigation will be handed
to the coroner in due course.