2010 National Watersports Survey published
The National Watersport Survey, commissioned by the RYA, BMF, RNLI, MCA and new partner, the BCU, seeks to benchmark watersports participation rates and monitor trends.
Now in its ninth year, the latest National Watersports Survey, results indicate that despite a marked decline in casual participation (less than five times per year) in sailing, there has been a marked increase in enthusiast participation (those who participate more than 13 times a year).
The survey reported that some 2.9 million UK adults participate in the boating activities surveyed, from sailing and powerboating to personal watercraft and windsurfing. Generally speaking across all these activities occasional and enthusiast participation has remained relatively stable, with sailing enthusiast figures increasing by 6.8 per cent compared to 2009.
However, overall, all activities have shown a decline in participation, with small sail boat activities and yachting cruising having been the hardest hit.
The survey looks at a variety of factors including participation by gender, age and ethnicity, frequency, demographics and life stage.
Other results for the 2010 survey include:
* 1.1 million boats/craft are owned by UK households with the most common being a motor/power boat
* Households in the South West have the highest proportion of boat owners followed by the South East and Northern Ireland
* Canal boating is the only activity with similar levels of male and female participation
* There is an increase in the proportion of activity taking place in the UK. This is because of a decline in the number of overseas holidays by UK residents in 2010 compared to 2009.
The full report can be downloaded from the Marine South East website at
http://www.marinesoutheast.co.uk/docs/research/
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