Expanding access to sailing for young people across the Isle of Wight
Every primary school child aged 9-10 on the Isle of Wight is set to experience sailing as part of their education by 2027, thanks to the continued expansion of the Seaview Sailing Trust schools programme and a new collaboration with UKSA.
The initiative, which provides free sailing sessions for Year 5 pupils, will reach 31 of the Island’s 37 primary schools in 2026, with full Island-wide delivery planned for the following year. As part of this growth, UKSA will deliver tuition for a number of schools from its Cowes base, helping extend the programme to communities in West Wight where travel to Seaview previously limited participation.
All sessions delivered at UKSA will follow the same structure, standards and outcomes as the established Seaview Schools Sailing programme, with funding provided by the Seaview Sailing Trust.
Of the 31 schools taking part this season, 26 will complete their sessions with Sea View Yacht Club, while five schools will attend UKSA. By 2027, pupils will receive a minimum of five free sailing sessions, each lasting three hours and delivered during PE lessons by professional UKSA instructors. Many schools will benefit from up to ten sessions across the programme.
In 2025 alone, 723 children participated in 4,446 free sailing lessons, representing a 41 percent increase in sessions delivered compared with the previous year. That figure is expected to rise to 949 pupils this season.
“At UKSA, we believe every young person should have access to the water, regardless of where they live or their background. We are incredibly proud to partner with the Seaview Sailing Trust to help make this vision a reality for children across the whole Island. This collaboration goes beyond sailing skills. It gives young people the opportunity to build confidence, develop resilience and discover future pathways within the maritime sector, which is such an important part of our Island community.”
