Volunteer with the Rona Sailing Project

Our volunteer Skippers, Mates, Watch Officers and Watch Leaders (known as the Afterguard) are the backbone of the Rona Sailing Project. We are always keen to hear from anyone with a real interest in the welfare of young people, and with yacht sailing experience, who wishes to join us. Find out more in our FAQs or contact us here.

"Currently over 60% of our 60 volunteer Skippers started as Trainees on our yachts."

Routes to join the Afterguard

There are two routes to becoming a member of the Afterguard:

  • If you are 25 years of age or under – Trainee route to becoming a Volunteer

You should join one of our Sail Training Voyages!  You can sail on these voyages as a crew member up to the age of 25.  At the end of a Sail Training Voyage, the Skipper will put forward trainees who gain an Amory Award and have leadership potential for our Watch Leader training process. Once you have completed the Watch Leader training, undergone a DBS check and gained your Safeguarding certificate, you can become a Watch Leader in the Project. From here, if you want to continue sailing with us, you can gain RYA qualifications and progress through the ranks to become a Watch Officer then Mate and ultimately Skipper.

  • If you are over 25 years of age – Supernumerary route to becoming a Volunteer

The other route to becoming a Volunteer is for you to sail with us as a Supernumerary. Before sailing in the Supernumerary role, you need to fill in an application form complete with references. Once the application is approved and we have received suitable references you will need to be DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) cleared. You will be invited to join our Supernumerary weekend which is usually in April. This will give you the opportunity to sail and learn about the Project vessels, meet Project volunteers, find out more about the Project and we can find out more about you. 

After this weekend, you will receive a recommendation from the Skipper or Chief Instructor to sail on a Project sail training voyage in a supernumerary berth, be promoted immediately to Watch Officer (subject to qualifications - minimum Day Skipper Practical and a safeguarding certificate), or promoted immediately to Mate (subject to qualifiactions - RYA Yachtmaster Coastal with Commercial Endorsement and a safeguarding certificate).  You will then be subject to the usual Project promotion process to progress, should you wish, to Skipper (minimum qualifications required are RYA Yachtmaster Offshore with Commercial Endorsement).

If you would like to follow the Supernumerary route you will need to complete the application form. It is important that would-be sailing volunteers either have sailing or youth work experience.

*Please note that due to limited berths and extremely high demand we cannot accommodate all volunteer applications. You are more likely to be successful if you submit an application for consideration between November 1st and March 1st. If you are thinking of applying to become a volunteer outside of this timeframe, please call the office before filling in a form and we can advise on availability and options.