Time to push the boat out in Leicestershire and Rutland from this weekend!

Free and low cost sailing and windsurfing is coming to Leicestershire and Rutland for nine days from Saturday (13 May) as the national RYA Push the Boat Out 'have-a-go' festival gets underway.

Last year more than 4,000 people across the Midlands discovered sailing for the first time through Push The Boat Out. So whether you want to go as a family, take on a new personal challenge or experience something different with your partner, five clubs and centres will be opening their gates and hosting Push The Boat Out open days and 'taster' events to get you on the water until Sunday 21 May.

The clubs and centres hosting events around Leicestershire and Rutland are Leicester Windsurfing and SUP Club, Rutland Sailing Club, Rutland Watersports, Roundhill Sailing Association and Leicestershire and Rutland Youth Sailing Association. People across the spectrum of disabilities will be able get afloat at some of the events too.

Whatever you think about sailing, Push The Boat Out will change your mind.

Not only will you find out you can go sailing so far from the sea, but that you don't need a boat to learn to sail locally as clubs have ones you can use, while if your whole family found you enjoyed being on the water so much you wanted to join a local club, it can cost just £20 a month, or even less, for all of you. Because sailing is such a diverse sport, with so many different types of boats to enjoy and places to sail, it is perfect for all ages and abilities.

Don't worry about kit, packing a lunch or anything else for Push The Boat Out, every event will provide all the equipment you need with refreshments available. So grab a towel and some old trainers you don't mind getting wet and sail into summer.

To find your nearest event and for full details of exactly what is going on and when at each participating sailing club and centre, visit www.rya.org.uk/PTBO - to search for an event where disabled people can get on the water tick the 'Sailability' activities box.