The Royal Naval Sailing Association (RNSA) is the governing body that oversees all aspects of sailing, both racing and recreational sailing cruises, throughout the British Royal Navy

Royal Navy

The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...

. The RNSA is also the advisor to the Navy Board

Navy Board

The Navy Board is today the body responsible for the day-to-day running of the British Royal Navy. Its composition is identical to that of the Admiralty Board of the Defence Council of the United Kingdom, except that it does not include any of Her Majesty's Ministers.From 1546 to 1831, the Navy...

 on sailing matters and administers the Bosun dinghy

Bosun (dinghy)

The Bosun is a 14 foot GRP sailing dinghy originally created for the Royal Navy by designer Ian Proctor and built by Bossoms Boatyard in 1963. The design specification was for a robust dinghy, able to handle open seas, capable of carrying a crew of 3 to 4 people and be fast enough for a competent...

 as a one-design sailing class.

The Royal Naval Sailing Association was founded in 1935, four years before the outbreak of the Second World War. Their headquarters are in Gosport

Gosport

Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...

, Hampshire

Hampshire

Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...

, England.

The aims of the Royal Naval Sailing Association are:

• To encourage and organise sailing and cruising throughout the Royal Navy, and amongst the many members who have left the Service.
• To stimulate the design and construction of craft suitable for members.
• To organise Branches and Units throughout the Service (Naval Air, British Columbia, Clyde, Dartmouth, East Coast, Forth, Fleet, Medway, Plymouth, Portland, Portsmouth, Royal Marines and Royal Australian Naval Sailing Association).
• To encourage and promote liaison with other sailing organisations.
• To organise and maintain berthing facilities for members wherever possible.
• To co-ordinate racing within and outside the Service.
• To administer the Bosun dinghy as a one-design class.