The RYA has unveiled its Australian training operations at the Cruising Yacht Club attended by Princess Anne who is the president of the RYA.

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

RYA Training’s Penny Haire said they would work alongside other relevant boating organisations, including Yachting Australia.”We will work with Yachting Australia to offer qualifications for ‘Coastal Skipper’ and ‘Yachtmaster’ in Australia which are endorsed by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency.”

Chief Executive Officer of Yachting Australia, Phil Jones, said: “Yachting Australia recognises the very successful training schemes and resources that the RYA has developed over many years and the increasing recognition of their expertise around the world.”

More than 160,000 people a year attend an RYA training course, delivered through a network of 2,200 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.

Any future training centres in Australia will be established under a combined RYA and Yachting Australia banner and a selection of the most relevant of the RYA’s publications are being made more freely available in the Australian market.