A group of watersports clubs that regularly use Thurso Bay have joined forces to create the Thurso Bay Community Watersports Hub—a new collaborative initiative designed to strengthen cooperation across the local watersports community. Supported by Highlife Highland, the hub aims to bring clubs together to enhance safety, promote participation and champion marine conservation across the area.
The group has committed to promoting water safety, highlighting the health and wellbeing benefits of watersports, supporting marine conservation, and increasing participation across Thurso Bay.
This shared approach also includes joint training opportunities and coordinated development activities. Gary Youngson, Chair of the Thurso Bay Community Watersports Hub and Pentland Canoe Club said:
“Our watersports clubs have shown what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared purpose. Working alongside the RNLI strengthens our commitment to safety, participation and pride in Thurso Bay. This collaboration marks an exciting step forward for our community.”
United by water
A key part of the initiative is close collaboration with the RNLI, helping build strong links between volunteer watersports organisations and frontline rescue services.
In summer 2026, club members took part in a series of joint training exercises with the RNLI, giving paddlers, sailors, surfers and divers the chance to practise safety procedures and deepen their understanding of emergency response.
Club participants described the sessions as extremely valuable and praised the RNLI crews for their expertise.
Andy Pearson, RNLI Area Technical Manager commented:
“RNLI exercises, these were of great benefit to all our crew that took part giving them valuable training, working with different watersport equipment and people learning the different ways in how to rescue people from these different bits of kit. This allowed us to also ask questions regarding if anyone got into trouble how they would raise the alarm and give them advice on what best to do also. We hope to do many more joint trainings with the watersport teams in the future.”
Connecting communities
Several clubs, supported by the RNLI and HM Coastguard, recently hosted a watersports day at Scrabster. The event offered people the chance to meet the clubs, learn about the activities available, and receive practical guidance on staying safe at sea. Visitors spoke with volunteers, explored equipment and discovered the wide range of watersports opportunities in the area.
Ian Carlisle, Vice Commodore of the Pentland Firth Yacht Club, said:
“It was a fantastic day for everyone involved. The watersports event at Scrabster gave people the chance to discover the wide range of water based clubs in Thurso and to try out activities they may never have considered before. Bringing clubs together like this helps build confidence, encourages new participation, and showcases just how much the area has to offer.”
The clubs intend to continue working together throughout the year, with further joint activities and public engagement events already being planned. Organisations currently involved in the Thurso Bay Community Watersports Hub include Caithness Diving Club, North Shore Surf Club, Pentland Canoe Club, Pentland Firth Yacht Club, representatives of open water swimmers, kite surfers and the RNLI.
Vicky Strange the High Life Highland Community Sports Hub Officer noted:
“It has been an absolute pleasure supporting the clubs of the Thurso Bay Watersports Hub to come together to promote and develop watersports opportunities in Thurso Bay, for the benefit of the Caithness and North Sutherland communities.
“The hub not only encourages more people to get active and participate in watersports but it also plays a key role in water safety and marine conservation in the area, and High Life Highland looks forward to continuing its support of the hub going forward”.
Thurso Bay Watersports Hub is part of the national sportscotland Community Sport Hub network. Funded by The National Lottery, the Community Sport Hub programme brings sports clubs and community organisations together to create stronger, safer, more sustainable and inclusive hubs, helping to increase the impact of sport and physical activity across communities in Scotland.
Voluntary watersports groups who are interested in joining the initiative are encouraged to contact participating clubs for more information.
Image credits: Watersports Day - Brian Arrowsmith, RNLI Exercise - Ken Nicol, Pentland Firth Yacht Club - Ken Nicol.
Find out more
#SportForGood
