| Have you ever dreamed of sailing a yacht? It could be | | | | about and expected to join in all activities, including |
| easier than you think to get into the sport. Once a | | | | steering, handling ropes and sails, and making food and |
| pastime only for the rich, you too can now go yachting. | | | | drinks. |
| Flotilla companies and cheap flights have popularised | | | | The majority of people join a group course. The RYA |
| sailing just as budget ski resorts brought skiing within | | | | specifies a maximum of five students per instructor so |
| reach of thousands. | | | | you will get plenty of individual attention. Many students |
| The UK is home to one of the best training | | | | attend alone; others choose to learn with a friend or |
| organisations for recreational sailors - the RYA (Royal | | | | partner. Alternatively you can arrange private tuition for |
| Yachting Association). | | | | yourself, your family, or friends. |
| RYA training is respected throughout the world. Its | | | | RYA instructors are skilled at turning even a group of |
| popularity comes from: | | | | strangers into a crew all working together. This sense |
| - The quality of its teaching materials, which are clear, | | | | of unity of purpose is one of the pleasures of sailing. |
| concise, and well illustrated; | | | | As well as practical courses the RYA syllabus includes |
| - The high standards required in order to qualify to | | | | theory courses. These can be taken in a classroom, |
| teach RYA sailing courses; | | | | by distance learning, or on-line. Theory courses |
| - The fact that all training is done in English, the | | | | available are navigation at four different levels from |
| international language of communication; | | | | Basic to Celestial, Marine Radio, First Aid, Sea Survival, |
| - The strict inspection which sailing schools / training | | | | and Diesel Engine maintenance. |
| centres undergo to become recognised; | | | | Each theory course is accompanied by materials of |
| - The ongoing monitoring of standards that training | | | | the same high standard that have helped to make |
| centres and instructors undergo annually. | | | | RYA practical training the best you can get. |
| The RYA syllabus includes courses for everyone | | | | You will find details of all RYA training centres |
| from total novices up to those who want to obtain the | | | | world-wide on the RYA web site and you can search |
| coveted RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and Yachtmaster | | | | for one near to you. |
| Offshore certificates. The RYA Yachtmaster | | | | Alternatively, if you live in a cool country, but would |
| qualification is the de facto standard for working as a | | | | prefer to learn in the sunshine, there is no shortage of |
| professional skipper or instructor. Certificates are | | | | sailing schools based in warm climates to choose |
| available for both Sail and Power. | | | | from.It is often easier to persuade a reluctant partner |
| If you want to learn to sail or to improve your existing | | | | to join you on a course in Greece or Spain than off |
| skills there is no better place to start than at an RYA | | | | the coast of England, for instance. |
| recognised training centre. The RYA has 2,200 | | | | But be warned. Whether you start sailing in the UK or |
| recognised training centres in more than 23 countries. | | | | abroad, as any RYA sailing school will tell you - sailing |
| Most RYA practical sailing courses are five days long | | | | can be both addictive and life-changing! |
| and you live on board during that time. You'll be taught | | | | |