About us

Young People Afloat (YPA) is a youth sailing club based at Lackford Lake, Bury St Edmunds. We are a registered charity run by a volunteer committee and teaches young people between the ages of 9 and 18 years old how to sail. The volunteer instructors are all appropriately qualified, and train members to Royal Yachting Association (RYA) standards encouraging them to take the tests in the RYA scheme as a means of attaining essential practical sailing techniques and skills. YPA also holds regattas and other events for its members during the summer season. As a youth group we are affiliated to the Royal Yachting Association, St. Edmundsbury Sailing and Canoeing Assn and Suffolk Clubs for Young People.

Sailing

Sailing takes place at Lackford Lake Bury St Edmunds on Wednesday evenings from 1800 until dusk, from April until September.

Safety

Safety is paramount at Y.P.A. We have two of our own safety boats at the lake which will be manned with an Royal Yachting Association qualified safety boat driver during sailing sessions. The instructors at Y.P.A. are recognised RYA dinghy instructors Y.P.A. have a wide selection of buoyancy aids, which are distributed at the start of the sailing session, no one is allowed to go onto the water without wearing a buoyancy aid.