3rd Poole Sea Scouts have recently become a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Training Centre, expanding their mission to teach young people about the sea and the importance of safety on the water.
The group, who have been operating since 1932 in the heart of Poole, have a long history of training young people in nautical skills, seamanship, and water safety. Over the years, the group has produced many sailors, some of whom have gone on to become professional seafarers.
The Sea Scouts’ decision to become an RYA Training Centre was prompted by a desire to offer more structured and recognised training courses to their members, as well as the wider community. The RYA is the national governing body for all forms of boating, including sailing, windsurfing, motor cruising, and powerboating, and is highly regarded for its training and certification programs.
To become an RYA Training Centre, the group had to meet a rigorous set of standards, including having qualified instructors, appropriate training facilities and equipment, and a robust safety management system. The Sea Scouts have invested in new training equipment and have trained their existing instructors to RYA standards to ensure the highest level of instruction for their students.
The new RYA Training Centre will offer a range of courses, including the popular RYA Youth Sailing Scheme, which is designed for young people aged 8 to 18 and provides a structured pathway for learning to sail. The centre will also offer courses for adults, including RYA Powerboat and VHF Radio qualifications, which are highly valued in the boating industry.
Speaking about the Sea Scouts’ new status as an RYA Training Centre, Group Scout Leader Anthony Dakin said, “We are thrilled to have achieved this recognition from the RYA. It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our volunteers and the support of our local community. Our aim is to provide top-quality training to our members and the wider community, and we look forward to delivering training at our centre.”
The Sea Scouts are starting to take bookings for their RYA courses, and they hope that their new status as an RYA Training Centre will attract more young people and adults to the joys of sailing and the sea.
Earlier this year we were lucky to benefit from a £1200 donation from the proceeds of a charity auction
Future generations of Sea Scouts are set to benefit from the retiring collection of a popular local Sailor’s Funeral, Allan Barwell, who sadly passed away in July 2017.