Windsurfing has proved a hit at Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre, in the heart of London, where there is easy access to the water, a great view, and around 7 million potential new converts to the sport.
The reintroduction project demonstrated to other inner city locations and centres around the UK that windsurfing can be used as a positive and fun activity to attract young people and schools, as well as adult groups, to watersports, says the RYA.
Charlie Baxter, water operations manager at Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre (DSWC), who ran the project as part of a summer youth activities programme said: "It has been fantastic working with the RYA to run this pilot scheme. It has been the most popular activity in our youth programme, and we are now in the process of buying new windsurfing equipment."
The impact has been immediate, with two centres in the heart of the city, DSWC and Surrey Docks Watersports Centre buying equipment and offering windsurfing for 2008.
Femi Omotosho, chief instructor of Surrey Docks Watersports Centre, said: "We have been thinking about restarting windsurfing at our centre for the past three years and hearing about this project finally convinced us we needed to do it".
Guy Malpas, RYA regional development officer for London and Thames Valley said: "We have been absolutely delighted with the response to the pilot, not only from the people coming down and having a go and their great enthusiasm, but also the support from local centres and the trade.
"I strongly believe that we will be seeing a lot more windsurfing in London in the coming months and years."
Richard Marsh, Naish Sails (UK), said: "With London hosting the 2012 Olympic Games, who knows? A future windsurfing gold medallist might be about to take the first steps to becoming champion, right here in London."
