Royal Yachting Association

Royal Yachting Association, the controlling body in Britain for all matters concerning yachting, both power and sail. It was founded in 1875 as the Yacht Racing Association by a representative body of yachtsmen to control yacht racing and the design of racing yachts, with the authority to hold courts of appeal. One of the first rating rules under which yachts could race was initiated by the yacht designer Dixon Kemp, who was the association's first secretary. The Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) became its president in 1881 and as the popularity of competitive sailing increased so did its influence in Europe and elsewhere. Its name was changed to the Royal Yachting Association in 1952 and it is affiliated to the International Sailing Federation and to the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM).

The RYA's main objectives are:• to increase participation in boating by promoting it as an accessible, safe, enjoyable, and healthy sport for people of all ages and abilities;• to represent all who enjoy recreational boating, and protect their rights to enjoy their activity in a responsible way, in harmony with other water users;• to provide information and advice on all aspects of boating;• to promote proficiency and safety on the water, mainly through a range of voluntary training schemes. These take place at RYA-recognized training centres and are run by RYA-qualified instructors;• to train coaches and officials and raise standards of event management;• to identify and nurture talent and achieve success for Great Britain in international competition. Fairley, G. , Minute by Minute: The Story of the Royal Yachting Association (1875–1982) (1983).