Royal visit introduces RYA Training to Australia

by Media services on 9 Jul 2006 The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) will make a royal splash on to the Australian maritime training scene when it unveils its Australian training operations at the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia on Thursday July 13th.

The launch of the training courses from the not-for-profit organization, which is the world’s largest and oldest marine training organization, will be attended by HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne), who is the president of the RYA.

The RYA has already commenced the delivery of some of its internationally recognised courses through 15 Australian training centres, in Queensland, New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. Training providers include industry leaders such as East Sail, Sunsail and the Australian Maritime College and the RYA courses have already resulted in a combined turnover of more than $2.2 million for these schools.

RYA Training’s Penny Haire said the RYA was invited into the Australian market by key sailing schools to provide quality training and assessment for recreational and commercial mariners.

'Because we are a not-for-profit organization, we are not influenced by any commercial pressures, so the delivery of our training and assessment is uncompromising in terms of quality and high standards,' said Ms Haire.

'We hope to work alongside, not only accredited sailing schools, but also Yachting Australia and other boating organizations to deliver internationally recognised and harmonized training particularly for those working on small commercial sailing and power vessels in the marine leisure industry,' said Ms Haire.

'The introduction of RYA training will benefit Australia on a number of levels including increased turnover for the Australian schools chosen to deliver the RYA programmes as well as a new niche inbound tourism market.'

More than 185,000 people a year attend an RYA training course, delivered through a network of 2,600 shore-based and practical schools or training centres in the UK, USA, the Mediterranean, South Africa, the Persian Gulf and Hong Kong (among others).

Recently RYA programmes have been accepted in New Zealand as the national training scheme for practical tuition afloat.