On the 12th of April, the Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) held an Official Naming Ceremony for their new yacht at the Royal Yacht Squadron in Cowes on the Isle of Wight. This new vessel, which is replacing a J109 design called ‘Jolly Jack Tar’ (JJT), will allow the RNSA to make sailing more accessible to all levels of expertise within the Royal Navy. The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC), the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Sports Lottery, and Nuffield Trust for the Forces of the Crown have provided funding for the yacht to support the physical and mental well-being of personnel and ensure they have access to the resources they need to succeed.
This yacht, which is now officially named ‘Sovereign Sail Navy’ will be available to suitably qualified RNSA members and volunteers who will work to ensure that grass-roots participation in sailing increases. They will hold taster sessions, training courses and other development opportunities for all Royal Navy, Royal Fleet Auxiliary, Royal Marine, and Maritime Reserve personnel. It will also be available for those who will represent RNSA or the Royal Navy in sailing.
Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) is hugely grateful for the support from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity by way of a generous grant to enable us to deliver this exciting project. Without them, it simply wouldn’t have been possible. The yacht has generated momentum for the RNSA's delivery of sailing by providing a focus and energy for our volunteers as well as a beacon of opportunity for those looking to engage in the challenging and exciting world of offshore sailing.
Cdre (Rtd) Philip Warwick, CEO of the RNSA
‘Sovereign Sail Navy’ has already successfully participated in a range of regattas and allowed Royal Navy sailing teams to develop new skills on personal and team levels.
From discussions with the lead volunteers and the participants themselves, there is huge excitement and sense of opportunity and purpose. Working alongside top civilian crews, sharing knowledge with the Army and RAF Sailing teams, and learning how to optimise the performance of a new boat, have all provided excellent chances for serving personnel to develop.
To find out more about the opportunities available at the RNSA, visit their website at www.rnsa.org.uk/home/index/126
To find out more about how the RNRMC support serving personnel, visit www.rnrmc.org.uk/how-we-help/serving-and-deployment
