Sarah P
11 February 2021
How many of the UK’s top water sports have you tried? We put this question to the Great British public in a recent survey to find out what the most popular water sports across the country are, and which of them most people would like to try in 2021. With more people than ever set to embark on a staycation this year, outdoor activities and water sports are likely to grow in popularity, but what tops the list?
The results proved for an interesting read, revealing the most tried water sport across all age groups is sea swimming, while the water sport that more than 40% of all age groups would like to try is stand-up paddleboarding.
The most popular water sports revealed
We’ve picked out the top-level results across all demographics - including where in the UK you can find the biggest water babies (the people who have tried the most water sports), as well as the most and least tried water sports, and those that made the must-try list for 2021:
The top water sports the Great British public have tried:
Water sport | Percentage of people who have tried it2 |
Sea swimming | 83% |
Kayaking | 42% |
Canoeing | 40% |
Bodyboarding | 34% |
Sailing | 31% |
Rowing | 30% |
Surfing | 21% |
Stand-up paddleboarding | 17% |
Diving | 13% |
Windsurfing | 12% |
Jet skiing | 9% |
Wakeboarding | 4% |
Kitesurfing | 1% |
Sea swimming was the most popular water sport across the board with over 83% of people having tried it. Interestingly, it was the most popular among the over 55s with more than 91% of them saying they had given it a go. While only 9% of people have tried jet skiing, it ranked highly as one to try with 29% of people choosing it.
Surprisingly, the survey revealed that 79% of the Great British public have not tried surfing and only 20% want to give it a go! Kayaking appears as a firm favourite throughout, appearing in second place for both the water sports that have been tried and those that the public would like to try!
The top water sports the Great British public would like to try:
Water sports | Percentage of people who would like to try |
Stand-up paddleboarding | 49% |
Kayaking | 32% |
Sailing | 31% |
Jet skiing | 29% |
Canoeing | 27% |
Sea swimming | 26% |
Diving | 21% |
Surfing | 20% |
Rowing | 19% |
Kitesurfing | 18% |
Windsurfing | 16% |
Bodyboarding | 16% |
Wakeboarding | 14% |
Water sports popularity by destination
So where can you find the UK's biggest water babies? The answer is the home of Stay in Cornwall itself - the South West - where, on average, people have tried 3.58 water sports. On the other hand, people in the North East have tried the least, tallying up an average of just 1.43 water sports.
Throughout the country, however, Brits have tried on average just 2 water sports, but younger people have tried the most with an average of 4 and the over 55s just 2.
Take a look at our guide to watersports in Cornwall, paddleboarding and kayaking in Cornwall to find out more.
Water sports and mental health
Did you know that cold water immersion, and therefore water sports, can have a huge mental health benefit? To offer a bit more of an insight into this, we spoke to Chill, a provider of swimming courses for people suffering from anxiety and depression.
The benefits of immersion in cold water gradually reduce stress levels and help to generate a greater sense of wellbeing. Chill, founded by Mike Morris, currently runs free sea swimming sessions on the North Devon coast to show participants how it works, including essential safety. As the organisation continues to grow, they are looking to roll out these courses across the rest of the UK. Founder, Mike Morris commented on our findings:
"It is wonderful that so many people have a yearning to take to the water in the UK. It's in our blood! I am, of course, an advocate of the pastime. The healing qualities associated with ‘blue therapy' are so evident in the research that we have carried out that it is a no-brainer you feel good afterwards. I was surprised that 83% of people have swum in the sea; we just need to make sure people partake more often!"
Do you think you would benefit from Chill's courses? Watch the video above, and check out their website to learn more: https://chilluk.org/
If you've been inspired to try a new water sport, or get back in the sea in 2021, why not combine it with a stay in one of our Cornwall cottages?
Cottages in Cornwall
It's important to ensure that if you would like to try a new water sport, that you do under the guidance of experts and professionals who can teach you important skills, safety and also, how to take care of our oceans while you do this. We've put together a guide to Cornwall water sports, where you'll find all the best places to hire equipment and book lessons in Cornwall.
View the full data breakdown here
This data was collected by holidaycottages.co.uk, the flagship brand of The Travel Chapter group, which includes Stay in Cornwall.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.