The Royal Yachting Association has stated that Pronautica in the Balearics is not recognised as on of its sea schools.

The company is said to be advertising RYA qualifications and issuing counterfeit RYA certificates. But it is not recognised by the RYA to undertake instruction in the association’s courses or to issue any of its certificates. The RYA’s James Stevens, head of training, highlighted the importance the association attaches to policing its recognition and standards when he commented, “The recognition of an RYA training qualification is international. We take any infringement or fraudulent activity very seriously. If anyone pays good money to ‘Pronautica’ for an RYA certificate, it will not be worth the paper it is written on.”

At this stage it remains unclear as to what action the RYA proposes to deal with what it claims is illegal activity.