Difference between RYA and AYF certificates?

[yellowwducky]

Hi all,

As I have been looking into an Australia charter, two of the companies in question mention sailing certificates. As I am not Australian, I don't really know the differences between the two. Any ideas about these certifications? Here are the links to the two companies and the two programs. For me, the biggest minus of the first company is that to do that course you have to do it on a monohull and my wife and I really want to find out what its like on a cat.

Learn to Sail on an Approved RYA Sailing Course : Sunsail Whitsundays

Whitsunday sailing holiday yacht charters bareboat skipper yourself charters

Regards

[yellowwducky]

I asked an aussie sailor friend and here was the essential bits of his reply...

The difference between YA (Yachting Australia) and RYA (Royal Yachting
Association) is that RYA is internationally recognised and the standard
of RYA was a lot higher. Last year YA made the change to come in line
with the RYA standard.

[yellowwducky]

Just in case this stuff isn't confusing enough for you, I had a company come back to me and recommend neither of those and said the following...

"I would be following the IYT scheme which is recognised by all charter companies around the world. Yachting Australia and RYA are planning to merge in 2010 but are mainly a recreational sail license and not recognised by the charter companies"

[alexgd123]

RYA is a internationally recognised qualification that will allow you to do whatever your qualification allows you to do anywhere in the world.

It is highly respected and not just from the UK (although we are proud it is British!).

I have been to sailing centres in the USA that do it as well as the in Southern Europe.

It is basically the standard for sailing that is known.

You should choose RYA above all other qualifications especially if you plan to use them abroad.

Hope that answers your question!

Alex