Sailing participants (including dinghy sailors) are fairly evenly spread between male and female. 40% of participants are 15-24 years old, 30% are 25-44 and 30% are over 45.

Sailing participants tend to be aware of marine environmental issues.

Participants are likely to be receptive to environmental information and keen to encourage responsibility in other boat users.

Participants are likely to be associated with local clubs and/or the national representative organisation of the activity, the Royal Yachting Association. All participants will at some point deal directly with the marine industry (e.g. chandlers, equipment suppliers etc.).

Voluntary management measures and education programmes developed in conjunction with clubs and the industry will reach a high proportion of participants and have been shown to be successful.

If byelaws are necessary, the involvement of local clubs and industry is essential to ensure the transfer of information to the end user and to aid with enforcement of the regulation. Byelaws are location specific and strategies for providing information should reflect this.

This activity tends to be family orientated with 72% of participants taking part with family members.

Information targeted at children, as well as encouraging responsibility from an early age, may also reach their boating parents

Tuition is often undertaken to gain the general skills required for the activity.

Environmental information provided by trainers is likely to be effective in reaching target audience

Generally, all but the smallest boats will require slipways or moorings for water access.

Known access points to the water can be good locations for promoting environmental information.

Programmes developed in conjunction with marina operators are an effective method of targeting berth holders.

Main targeted publications for this activity are Yachting Monthly, Yachting World, Yachts and Yachting and RYA Magazine with circulations of 41,400, 31,500, 45,000 and 86,000 respectively. Sailing Today and Practical Boat Owner are also popular publications within the sailing fraternity.

Education programmes run in conjunction with user magazines can raise awareness of marine environmental issues and management schemes.

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