The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is the national governing body for watersports in the United Kingdom. Its involvement includes;

Sailing , Windsurfing, Motorcruising, PWC, sportsboats, powerboat racing

History

The RYA was founded in November, 1875. Its original name was the Yacht Racing Association (YRA). Its initial purpose was to standardise the rules of measurement to different racing yachts, so that boats of different classes could compete fairly against each other. The rules governing the measurement, are called the Portsmouth yardstick

Membership at the time cost two guineas and was available to “former and present owners of racing yachts of and above 10 tonnes. Thames measurement and such other gentlemen as the committee may elect”.

Though efforts for membership availability to dinghies and other small craft were made in 1888, it wasn’t until 1921 that the YRA incorporated the independent Sailing Boat Association and the Boat Racing Association into its body.

In 1953 the YRA formally changed its name to the Royal Yachting Association (RYA).

The RYA set up a committee to govern its training activities in 1967. Seventy-two schools applied for RYA recognition in 1968. The British Military took on board the RYA training scheme one year later, while the Yachtmaster Qualifications Panel was set up in 1971.

The RYA had its first involvement in the organisation of Olympic Sailing in 1908 during the London games. The race took place off the Isle of Wight in yachts. During the 1980s the RYA became the national body for windsurfing.