Please select your home edition
Edition
Boatseekr_LeaderBoard_121 - TOP

Change of helm at the National Sailing Academy

by Antigua and Barbuda Marine Association 31 Aug 2020 01:33 NZST
Change of helm at the National Sailing Academy © Antigua and Barbuda Marine Association

The National Sailing Academy was founded 10 years ago by Elizabeth Jordan who has been President and General Manager of the non-profit organization since its inception.

The NSA started its life at Antigua Yacht Club and, after its first three years of operation, its growth was such that it needed new premises and moved to Dockyard Drive, where it remains today.

Having managed the set-up, growth and development of the Academy along with her watersports team and fellow directors, Elizabeth is 'stepping back' from her position as General Manager but will remain President of the Organisation. A new General Manager has been appointed by the board, Alison Sly-Adams, owner of Mainstay Caribbean Ltd. who is also President of Antigua Sailing Week (ASW) and will take over the role from October 1st, 2020.

Of the change Elizabeth says, "It is time to consider the next 10 years of the Academy. I have worked with Alison over a number of years in her role at ASW among others, and the 'Youth to Keel' programme at ASW further developed the synergies between ASW and the Academy. I am delighted that Alison will take over management of the Academy. Her business skills and enthusiasm will be vital to the Academy's future and further development of its potential.

As part of the changes the NSA will become the new office base of Antigua Sailing Week. A separate office will have responsibility for the management of the NSA, the secretariat of the Antigua and Barbuda Marine Association and the Caribbean Sailing Association, bringing key sailing and marine organisations together under one roof.

The Academy's objective is to provide sailing for school children in Antigua free of charge as part of the National Curriculum and as part of that progression has a full complement of instructors who are all Antiguan, born and trained, led by Sylvester Thomas who runs the watersports operation.

A major addition to the Academy in 2014 was the introduction of the 'Sailability' programme for the differently abled children and adults of Antigua. This programme is led by Bob Bailey and his team who have previous experience of such programmes in the UK and is also free of charge to the participants. Together the programmes teach more than 150 youth and adults of all abilities to sail weekly.

Private lessons for groups and individuals and rental of dinghies, kayaks and stand up paddle boards are also available for anyone from 8 years to 80 years old. The funds generated with this programme are also used to support the free Schools and Sailability programmes.

Learn to sail at the Antigua Yacht Club

Calling all Adults! Learn to Sail at the Antigua Yacht Club. Join for one month or join now until December 31st 2020 and your first private sailing lesson will be Complimentary.

Choose Monthly Membership or Pro-Rated Annual Membership. Boats available are Lasers, Laser Pico and Sport 16.

Annual Members are offered discounts at our restaurants.

Contact 460-1799 for more information! Offer runs until 31st August.

Related Articles

Growing Female Participation in Sailing
Success Stories in the Flying Fifteen fleet It's been an incredible summer of sailing in the UK, and one of the highlights for me has been talking with competitors at major events, learning how they started sailing, what they love most about the sport, and their visions for the future. Posted today at 5:00 pm
Zhik launches new season range
Advancing its Made For Water ethos with athlete-driven products and strengthened partnerships Zhik unveils its new season line-up, advancing the brand's expansion into paddle and rowing while reinforcing its long-standing leadership in dinghy and yachting. Posted today at 4:24 pm
The Famous Project CIC
A crew of seven female sailors to circumnavigate the globe Today, Mediterranean sailor Alexia Barrier presented the six female sailors selected to accompany her this fall in an attempt to break the crewed, round the world, unassisted, and non-stop sailing record, the infamous Jules Verne Trophy. Posted today at 3:40 pm
Dr. Peter Puskic on TOC's Pacific Data Expedition
Dr. Peter Puskic discusses The Ocean Cleanup's Pacific Data Expedition This year, The Ocean Cleanup teamed up with some of the returning Transpac fleet to gather data on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch using innovative camera technology and AI that the organization developed. Posted today at 3:00 pm
Clipper Race heads for Punta del Este
Teams face marathon 5,300 nautical mile race with first ocean crossing The ten teams racing in the Clipper 2025-26 Round the World Yacht Race have departed Puerto Sherry, Spain, bound for the second stop of the circumnavigation; Punta del Este, Uruguay. Posted today at 1:54 pm
OK Dinghy Worlds at Lake Garda Day 1
Nick Craig starts title defence with two solid race wins The 2025 OK Dinghy World Championship began on Lake Garda on Monday with two races in sublime conditions that left everyone with smiles from ear to ear, albeit with sore legs and tired bodies. Posted today at 5:23 am
56th La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec Leg 2 start
After a 30-hour delay, the 34 sailors were finally able to head out to sea After a 30-hour delay, the 34 sailors competing in La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec 2025 were finally able to head out to sea and face the elements. At 7 p.m. this Monday, September 15, the starting gun was fired. Posted on 15 Sep
IRC Rating Rule unites Admirals Cup & Sardinia Cup
Yacht Club Costa Smeralda (YCCS) has announced the return of the Sardinia Cup The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) has confirmed that the Admiral's Cup will return in 2027, building on the spectacular success of its 2025 comeback after a 22-year hiatus. Posted on 15 Sep
Three new ORC Pacific Coast Champions crowned
22 teams from the US and Australia raced diverse designs at the Rolex Big Boat Series With a three-hour-long Bay Tour race as the final test for competitors, the 61st edition of the Rolex Big Boat Series hosted by St. Francis Yacht Club came to a stunning close yesterday afternoon. Posted on 15 Sep
Biotherm wins the Ocean Race Europe
For Paul, this was most satisfying of wins in a race that he planned for and targeted for many years Paul Meilhat and his crew on Biotherm are the runaway winners of the second edition of The Ocean Race Europe after adding their fourth leg win in five starts early this morning. Posted on 15 Sep
X-Yachts X4.3North Sails Loft 57 PodcastVetus-Maxwell 2021 v2 FOOTER