RYA strengthens support for Chinese sailing
by Becky Gilbert-Wood 18 Nov 02:00 PST
16 November 2019
CYA General Secretary Ke Su and RYA Chief Instructor Amanda Van Santen © RYA
The RYA is delighted to announce a new collaboration with the Chinese Yachting Association (CYA), in continued support of the development of sailing in China.
Committed to making sailing in China more mainstream and accessible to the wider population, the two national governing bodies have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to increase the availability of RYA training.
RYA Chief Instructor of Dinghy and Windsurfing, Amanda Van Santen, attended the ceremonial signing of the MOU on Saturday 16 November, at the CYA Annual General Meeting in Haikou.
Recognised worldwide, RYA training is the ultimate benchmark and the very highest standard of tuition for both recreational and commercial boaters. Through the establishment of RYA training centres in China, it is hoped the RYA can support centres, clubs and instructors to develop the sport and increase participation.
RYA Director of Training and Qualifications, Richard Falk commented: "We are delighted to be working with the CYA to further develop the provision of sailing in China. Through this exciting collaboration, we hope to make RYA recognition more accessible to Chinese training centres and to drive opportunities for instructor training, ultimately promoting and supporting the growth of sailing more generally within China."
CYA Vice General-Secretary, Danqing Fu commented: "The CYA is dedicated to increasing the accessibility of training in order to promote the sport of sailing, in a safe and more standardised way. RYA training is known as the very highest standard, and we are pleased to be working together to boost the development of the Chinese sailing industry and to popularise sailing among the youth and masses in China."
In recent years, the RYA have worked closely with a number of partners in China to develop the provision of RYA training courses. Following a successful pilot, there are now six recognised training centres, all delivering RYA dinghy training in Mandarin - a major milestone for the RYA, which to date has only ever delivered its training courses in English.
Over 80 Chinese RYA Instructors are now qualified in Mandarin course delivery and this number continues to grow. As well as opportunities for Chinese sailors, the new training centres will also provide job opportunities for RYA qualified instructors to work abroad.
RYA training is delivered at more than 2,400 recognised training centres in 58 countries worldwide. For more information about the RYA's training schemes and instructor pathways, visit rya.org.uk/training.
Or visit rya.org.uk/go/wheresmynearest to find an RYA recognised training centre near you.