Isle of Wight · 11 February 2026
Every primary school child aged 9–10 on the Isle of Wight will learn to sail as part of their education by 2027 — as an established programme providing free sailing lessons to Year 5 pupils goes island-wide.
The commitment follows the continued expansion of the Seaview Sailing Trust schools programme, which will reach 31 of the island’s 37 primary schools this year, with full island-wide coverage achieved by 2027.
The expansion has been made possible through a new collaboration with the United Kingdom Sailing Academy (UKSA), which will provide tuition to several schools at its base in Cowes. The partnership solves a long-standing geographical challenge, as the journey to Seaview was too far to make regular sailing lessons viable for schools in West Wight.
The programme will be delivered by UKSA instructors to the same standard and structure as the Seaview Schools Sailing programme and will be fully funded by the Seaview Sailing Trust. Of the 31 schools involved this season, 26 will complete the programme with the Sea View Yacht Club and five will attend UKSA.
By 2027, students will receive a minimum of five free sailing sessions — each lasting three hours — delivered as part of PE during the school year by qualified instructors. Many children will receive up to ten sessions, depending on their school.
“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. Fundamentally, we believe everyone growing up on the Isle of Wight should have the opportunity to learn to sail — it helps children develop so many life skills and, later on, can unlock nautical and maritime career opportunities in one of our island’s biggest industries.”
Andrea Minton Beddoes — Chair, Seaview Sailing TrustIn 2025, 723 children took part in a total of 4,446 free sailing lessons — a 41 per cent increase in sessions delivered compared with the previous year. That number will rise this coming season to a total of 949 children.
Andrea Minton Beddoes, Chair, Seaview Sailing Trust, with Catherine Dixon, CEO, UKSA (Credit: UKSA)
“At UKSA, we believe every young person should have access to the water, no matter where they live or their background, and we are incredibly proud to partner with the Seaview Sailing Trust to help make that vision a reality for children across the whole island. This collaboration is about far more than learning to sail — it’s about giving young people the chance to build confidence, develop resilience and unlock potential future opportunities in the maritime sector, which sits at the very heart of our island community.”
Catherine Dixon — CEO, United Kingdom Sailing AcademySince the charity was established in 2022, the Trust has funded more than 10,000 three-hour sailing lessons and taught 1,792 children how to sail. Each child receives sustained, weekly tuition over a term, working towards official RYA Dinghy Stage 1 or Stage 2 certification.
In 2025, the programme also introduced Swim Safe — developed with the RNLI, Swim England and the RYA — to teach young people about tides, wind and other elements of water safety.
The expansion this year has been further supported by additional funding from the Cowes Town Waterfront Trust, helping ensure children from both Cowes and East Cowes schools can take part — a key step in making the programme accessible to pupils from across the island.
