Contents
- Sailing participation statistics: Australian participation totals and trends
- Sailing participation statistics by age and population group
- Sailing participation statistics: frequency of participation
- Sailing participation statistics: how members first get involved
- Sailing participation statistics: motivations for sailing
- Sailing participation statistics: barriers to continuing
- Sailing participation statistics: training and member engagement
- Sources
Sailing participation statistics: Australian participation totals and trends
Australian sailing participation figures come from different measures, so the period and population behind each number matter. The 2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review reports historical Australian participation estimates for FY16 through FY23, then presents FY24 as a separate snapshot using a changed AusPlay methodology. It explicitly cautions that FY24 is not directly comparable with FY16–FY23. These are participation estimates, not a count of club members or an uninterrupted like-for-like time series. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, pp. 10–11)
| Financial year | Australian sailing participants |
|---|---|
| FY16 | 159k |
| FY17 | 152k |
| FY18 | 126k |
| FY19 | 162k |
| FY20 | 152k |
| FY21 | 204k |
| FY22 | 189k |
| FY23 | 211k |
The historical series moves up and down: the reported total is 159k in FY16, reaches 126k in FY18, and is 211k in FY23. That sequence describes the values shown, but the data supplied here do not establish why participation changed between years. The review also labels the adult share for each year: FY16, 141k (89%); FY17, 147k (97%); FY18, 117k (93%); FY19, 149k (92%); FY20, 141k (93%); FY21, 187k (92%); FY22, 184k (97%); and FY23, 199k (94%). Those adult counts and percentages are part of the same FY16–FY23 chart. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 11)
For FY24, the review gives sailing 77k participants in Australia and a rank of 44th among sports. Because the report flags a new AusPlay methodology for FY24, this should be read as its own reported year, not as proof of a direct decline from FY23’s 211k. The two figures sit in adjacent reporting contexts but are not methodologically comparable according to the review. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 10)
Sailing participation statistics by age and population group
The Australian Sports Commission Clearinghouse reports estimates for people who participated at least once in 2025. Its adult estimate covers Australians aged 15 and over; its child estimate covers ages 0–14. This “at least once” measure is distinct from a survey of Australian Sailing members and from the financial-year totals above. (Australian Sports Commission, Sailing participation)
| Population group in Australia | Estimated participants at least once in 2025 |
|---|---|
| People aged 15 and over | 74,000 |
| Children aged 0–14 | 5,000 |
| Women aged 15 and over | 23,000 |
| Men aged 15 and over | 51,000 |
The sex-specific estimates apply to adults aged 15 and over, while the child figure is a separate age group. The figures are reported estimates, not a complete headcount, and should retain those age qualifiers when quoted. Together, they show how the source divides its 2025 participation reporting, without supplying a finer age breakdown or further population categories in the checked figures. (Australian Sports Commission, Sailing participation)
Sailing participation statistics: frequency of participation
The member review reports more than one view of frequency. In its key findings, 82% of Australian Sailing members said they had participated in Sailing/Yachting in the last 12 months. This is a retrospective participation measure for members; it does not mean that 82% sailed monthly or that the same share of all Australians participated. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 6)
A separate frequency question asked active members how often they usually participated in each activity. For the “at least once a month” response, the reported shares were 63% for keelboats/yachts, 47% for dinghy sailing, 13% for windsurfing, 12% for kiteboarding, and 27% for winging. The chart’s weighted base is n=506. These are activity-specific results among active participants, so each percentage describes the relevant activity group rather than all members. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 13)
The figures distinguish regularity across activities: the monthly category is reported by a larger share of active keelboat/yacht participants than of active windsurfing or kiteboarding participants. They do not, on their own, tell us how many sessions each person completed, how long a session lasted, or the total number of sailing days. “At least once a month” is the response category measured, and the survey’s denominator is active participants in that activity. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 13)
Sailing participation statistics: how members first get involved
Asked which factors played a role in first becoming involved in sailing, members most often selected family members’ involvement: 47%. Access to a local club was cited by 35%, living near the sea by 33%, personal interest in sailing by 33%, and having friends involved by 30%. The question allowed members to identify factors in their initial involvement, and its weighted base was n=552. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 14)
Other answers show a range of entry points. The social aspect was cited by 17%, while competition and boat racing were cited by 13%. Trying sailing while on holidays and a holiday sailing program each registered 6%. Developing an interest through following the sport was cited by 5%. These are separate listed factors; the figures are not mutually exclusive shares and should not be added to create a total. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 14)
| Factor in first becoming involved | Members citing factor |
|---|---|
| Family members were involved in sailing | 47% |
| Access to a local club | 35% |
| Lived near the sea | 33% |
| Personal interest in sailing | 33% |
| Had friends involved in sailing | 30% |
| Liked the social aspect of sailing | 17% |
| Liked competition and boat racing | 13% |
| Tried sailing while on holidays | 6% |
| Holiday sailing program | 6% |
| Developed interest through following the sport | 5% |
The answers capture reported influences on members’ first involvement, not a ranking of what keeps them sailing now. Family, club access, location, personal interest, and friends form the more frequently reported group in this list, while holiday exposure and following the sport appear less often. The survey records members’ retrospective accounts; it does not test whether any one factor caused participation. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 14)
Sailing participation statistics: motivations for sailing
The review asked members to rate motivating factors on a 1-to-5 importance scale. The figures below are the share selecting “extremely important,” not the share who considered each factor important at any level. The weighted base was n=552. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 15)
| Motivation | Rated extremely important |
|---|---|
| For the fun | 59% |
| Sense of freedom associated with sailing | 50% |
| Being outdoors | 49% |
| Activity you can do for life | 49% |
| Technical aspect of sailing | 34% |
| Racing and competition | 33% |
| Living close to the ocean | 27% |
| Flexibility to do alone or with others | 26% |
| Opportunity to travel | 21% |
Fun leads this set of “extremely important” responses at 59%, followed by the sense of freedom at 50%. Being outdoors and the idea of sailing as an activity for life each received 49%. Technical challenge and racing also registered as strong motivations for some members, at 34% and 33% respectively. These results suggest that members value both the experience around sailing and its activity-specific elements, while the rating format does not establish a single motivation for any individual. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 15)
Living close to the ocean, flexibility to sail alone or with others, and the opportunity to travel were rated extremely important by 27%, 26%, and 21%, respectively. These are ratings, not measured access levels or travel frequencies. The survey shows how respondents judged the factors’ importance; it does not explain the circumstances behind those judgments. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 15)
Sailing participation statistics: barriers to continuing
Members were asked which factors could influence them to stop sailing, and multiple selections were allowed. Physical ability was cited by 60%, while costs were cited by 31%. Not being made to feel welcome was selected by 16%. The weighted base was n=552. These responses describe potential influences named by surveyed Australian Sailing members; they are not counts of members who have already stopped. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 16)
| Potential influence on a decision to stop | Members selecting factor |
|---|---|
| Physical ability | 60% |
| Costs | 31% |
| Not being made to feel welcome | 16% |
The gap between physical ability and the other listed factors is apparent in the responses, but the survey does not explain what respondents meant by physical ability or identify a specific condition. Cost and feeling welcome are distinct considerations, and the results do not quantify what costs members face or where welcome concerns occur. Because respondents could select multiple factors, the percentages are independent selections rather than pieces of a whole. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 16)
Sailing participation statistics: training and member engagement
Members also reported whether they had participated in named training or engagement offerings. Powerboat Safety & Sea Survival was reported by 42%, Dinghy training by 37%, Discover Sailing Day by 35%, and Instructor/Coach Training by 33%. Keelboat training was reported by 31%. The question asked about members’ level of involvement, and the weighted base was n=552. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 17)
Further reported participation included Officials Training at 24%, Tackers at 24%, Windsurfing training at 24%, Equipment Auditor Training at 16%, Foil-LAB at 11%, OutThere Sailing at 7%, and Learn to Wing at 3%. These percentages refer to having participated in the named offering, as reported by members. They do not measure course completion, proficiency, or current engagement unless the survey’s wording specifically says so; here the checked category is “I have participated in.” (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, p. 17)
The training results cover a mix of safety, activity-specific, instructor, officials, and engagement programs. Taken together with the reported entry factors and motivations, they offer several distinct snapshots of the member experience: how members say they began, what they rate highly, what might influence them to stop, and which offerings they have tried. Each snapshot has its own question and scope, so the percentages should be read within those definitions. (2025 Australian Sailing Participation Review, pp. 14–17)