Commodore Jonathan Brewin and the Flag Officers of the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club (RBYC) announced that the Club has been officially recognized as a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre, obtaining the highest standards of international tuition in dinghy, keelboat for juniors, youths and adults and powerboat courses.
This is the result of a year-long goal of Sailing Director, Tom Herbert-Evans and his team. Mr. Herbert-Evans joined the RBYC in April 2011 and has worked passionately with the Club’s Sailing Committee to develop a high standard of teaching, safety and fun. “This certification, along with the Club’s optimist charter programme, not only allows us to continue to offer a high standard of sailing locally but opens the Club up as an international training venue for visiting optimist squads. The RYA standard is respected the world-over and we look forward to promoting Bermuda as a training destination” stated Herbert-Evans.
Commodore Brewin is thrilled to see this next step in the development of boating education in Bermuda finally come to fruition. The Club works very closely with the Ministry of Education through the year to offer sailing education through the Waterwise programme. The Minister of Education, the Honourable Dame Jennifer Smith noted, “I am pleased to offer my congratulations to RBYC Sailing Academy, the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club on achieving certification from the Royal Yachting Association as an official dinghy training center, the only one in the North American region. This is a positive development for Bermuda generally but more specifically for the children of our Middle Schools who participate in the Waterwise programme. As an Island, we must be comfortable on and around the ocean. This certification is just one more step to ensure that we give our children a foundation which ensures that they utilize this resource to its fullest.” Going forward the RBYC will continue to work closely with the Ministry and organizations such as Bermuda Educational Network to ensure sailing opportunities are available to Bermuda’s youth.
Double Gold Cup winner and Triple Olympic Gold Medalist Ben Ainslie learnt to sail in the RYA Youth and National Scheme, “I am thrilled to hear the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club has attained RYA Training Centre status, I have been lucky enough to have benefited from the RYA syllabus and structure since my early days in an Optimist, even now I continue to work with the RYA as I train for the 2012 Olympics. This is an extremely exciting development for Bermuda.”
Along with adopting RYA Youth and National sailing schemes the RBYC Sailing Academy now offers RYA Powerboat II training and certification. Persons with this certification are recognized internationally for having a high level of competency and safety with powerboat handling.
The RBYC is working closely with the Water Safety Council and several of the island’s marine insurance companies to help recognize PBII certificate holders. 10% discount off boat owners’ marine insurance is one of the potential benefits.
RYA Courses currently available at the RBYC include:4
• Spring, Summer & Autumn o Junior Dinghy Sailing (Up to 15) o Youth Dinghy and Keelboat Sailing (15-21) o Adults Keelboat classes and Powerboat II classes.
