Associated Organisations
Merchant Navy Association Boat Club
(Affiliated to the Merchant Navy Association National Charity)
The Royal Yachting Association is the national governing body for dinghy, motor and
sail cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sportsboats, windsurfing and personal
watercraft, and is a leading representative body for inland waterways cruising in the
UK.
The MNA Boat Club is an affiliated member of the Royal Yachting Association. As such
we are part of the RYA family, a community of like-minded clubs and associations
working with the RYA to ensure the ongoing success and growth of club and class
activity and all forms of boating across the country.
As the National Governing Body for boating, the RYA works on behalf of the sport,
recreational boaters and other affiliates in promoting and protecting safe, successful
and rewarding British boating
Affiliates enjoy access to exclusive discounts and savings including club and classes
insurance, safety boat packages and race officials insurance.
Dinghy Trails
Want to explore the beautiful waters of the UK? Download one of the The Royal Yachting Association trails and take to the
water with a spirit of adventure
The trails are designed to show you how to get the most out of your dinghy and enjoy a day on the water exploring some of our
glorious countryside. All the trails have used local knowledge so that you can get the best out of your day on the water. For the
less experienced, along with some easier trails, there are a range of courses that will upskill your knowledge and help you gain
confidence. The more experienced dinghy cruiser can challenge themselves with some of the longer trips.
Two typical examples are shown below. To access the full choice of trails click this link.
Royal Yachting Association
News
The NILA is a charity that was formed in 2022 to promote and support independent
lifeboat organisations across the United Kingdom.
NILA’s mission is to give a voice, assistance and advice to the growing community of
independent lifeboats across the United Kingdom, creating a valued, professional and
recognised resource for water-based search and rescue.
The NILA community has a shared vision and values, providing an opportunity for
collaborative development and training while allowing members to retain their
independence.
For more information visit their website - click here.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA)
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat
services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways.
Founded in 1824 as the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from
Shipwreck, it soon afterwards became the Royal National Institution for the
Preservation of Life from Shipwreck because of the patronage of King George IV.
Royal patronage has continued up to the present day with King Charles III. The
organisation changed its name to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on 5
October 1854 and was granted a royal charter in 1860.
The RNLI is a charity based in Poole, Dorset. It is principally funded by legacies
(65%) and donations (30%). Most of its lifeboat crews are unpaid volunteers.
They operate more than 400 lifeboats from 238 stations. Paid lifeguards provide
services at nearly 250 beaches. The RNLI also provides free safety advice to many different groups of people, and has been
involved in international cooperation since 1924.
For more information visit their website - click here.
For the latest news - click here.
The Norfolk & Suffolk Boating Association (NSBA)
The NSBA’s objectives are to serve and protect the interests of private users of pleasure craft on the Broads, whether they are
motor-boaters, sailors or windsurfers. The Association provides a website and newsletters, produces annually the NSBA
Handbook for Sailing and Cruising the Broads, fondly known across the region as The Green Book, and coordinates and
publicises the Regattas and Open Meetings of its many affiliated clubs. It convenes discussions to resolve and balance
disparate points of view, lobbies to promote and serve the interests of Broads boaters and is consulted on many issues by the
government, the Broads Authority and the RYA, as illustrated by its website and newsletters. It promotes competitive sailing in
its own events for juniors and experienced sailors.
For more information visit their website - click here.
The Inland Waterways Association are the only independent, national charity campaigning
for Britain’s canals and rivers. They are dedicated to supporting and regenerating Britain’s
waterways – for leisure, living and business.
For over 75 years, they have campaigned locally and nationally for the waterways. Quite
simply, they wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.
Today, they lobby Parliament, champion the waterways and support waterways restoration.
Plus, they love to roll up their sleeves and give the waterways a bit of TLC.
For more information visit their website - click here.
The Inland Waterways Association (IWA)
For the latest news - click here.
Canal & River Trust
Founded in 2012, Canal & River Trust is the UK's largest canal charity, caring for a 2,000-
mile network of stunning canals and navigable rivers. Connecting many of the UK's urban
and rural areas, we provide essential spaces for wildlife and people, helping us all feel
happier and healthier.
The 250-year-old waterways in our care – the canals, embankments, culverts and reservoirs
as well as the bridges, locks and towpaths and their vital ecosystems - are threatened by
the growing impact of climate change and more extreme weather. They need constant
upkeep and investment. Without it, they face decline and closure, and we risk losing the
incredible benefits they bring.
A network of over 2,000 miles of stunning canals and rivers runs through our landscapes.
From our countryside to our bustling cities, canals are a place for everyone to connect with
nature and our past.
However you use them, we all deserve open spaces where we can feel happier and
healthier, and where wildlife can thrive. But the future of canals and the habitat they support is threatened by changing
temperatures, unpredictable rainfall and the tests of time. Together, we can make sure they continue to be here for tomorrow
and beyond.
For more information visit their website - click here.
News
For the latest news - click here.
National Water Safety Forum (NWSF)
The National Water Safety Forum is a UK-focused,
voluntary network, working together in order to reduce
water-related deaths and associated harm.
The NWSF was established in 2004 following a
Government review into water safety. It sought to bring
together a number of pre-existing national groups with
the ambition of creating a ‘one-stop shop’ for the
prevention of drowning and water safety harm in the UK,
recognising the broad range of existing stakeholder
groups, their respective contributions, and their own
brands and values, often towards charitable objectives..
For more information visit their website - click here.
For the latest news - click here.
Click on Logos to View
For the latest news - click here.
Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW)
Fund Britain’s Waterways (FBW) is a coalition of organisations representing hundreds of thousands of users and supporters of
inland waterways. We are campaigning for national and local government to act now and protect the public benefit and natural
capital of our waterways.
For more information visit their website - click here.
News
For the latest news - click here.
For the latest news click here
Press Release June 2025
