All Isle Of Wight Primary School Children To Have Opportunity To Learn Sailing By 2027

Every primary school pupil aged 9-10 on the Isle of Wight will have the opportunity to learn to sail as part of their education by 2027, thanks to the expansion of a long-running programme offering free sailing lessons to Year 5 students.

The Seaview Sailing Trust schools programme, which has already grown steadily in recent years, will reach 31 of the Island’s 37 primary schools this year, with full island-wide coverage planned within the next two years.

The expansion has been made possible through a new partnership with the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA), which will provide tuition for several schools at its Cowes base.

This helps overcome previous geographical barriers, as regular trips to Seaview were not practical for schools in West Wight.

The programme will be delivered by UKSA instructors to the same standards as the Seaview Schools Sailing programme and is fully funded by the Trust.

Of the 31 schools taking part this season, 26 will complete lessons at the Sea View Yacht Club, with five attending UKSA.

By 2027, every pupil will receive a minimum of five free sailing sessions, each lasting three hours, delivered during PE lessons by qualified instructors.

Many children will enjoy up to ten sessions, depending on their school.

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.

"Everyone growing up on the Isle of Wight should have the chance to learn to sail – it builds so many life skills and can open doors to careers in one of the Island’s biggest industries.”

In 2025, 723 children took part in 4,446 free sailing lessons, a 41 per cent increase on the previous year. That number is set to rise to 949 pupils this season.

Catherine Dixon, CEO of UKSA, added:

“At UKSA, we believe every young person should have access to the water, no matter where they live or their background.

"This collaboration is about more than sailing – it helps children build confidence, develop resilience and explore future opportunities in the maritime sector, which is central to our Island community.”

Since the Trust was founded in 2022, it has funded more than 10,000 three-hour sailing lessons and taught 1,792 children how to sail, with participants working towards official RYA Stage 1 or Stage 2 certification.

The programme also includes ‘Swim Safe’, developed with the RNLI, Swim England and the RYA, teaching pupils about tides, wind and other water safety essentials.

The initiative has attracted high-profile attention, with HRH The Princess Royal visiting in May 2024 to watch primary school children learning to sail.

The Trust’s work has also been endorsed by the Isle of Wight’s Head of School Improvement for its positive impact on pupils’ confidence, aspiration and engagement.

With additional support from the Cowes Town Waterfront Trust, the programme ensures children from both Cowes and East Cowes can take part, helping make sailing accessible to pupils across the Island.

By 2027, the Isle of Wight will become the first county in the UK to offer sailing lessons to every child in a year group across all primary schools.