NATIONAL SAILING ACADEMY

Jody Thomas, Lily Barkoye, Ta Janica Thomas, Alliana Spencer, Craig Greenaway

The National Sailing Academy (NSA) is delighted to announce that 10 of its newest trainees have completed their Power Boat Level 2 training and along with their First Aid Certification are well on their way to becoming RYA Certified Dinghy Sailing Instructors. The courses were delivered by Ondeck Antigua and Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue.

Kayon Guiste, Ta Janica Thomas, Jody Thomas

The training programme is run by Sailing Manager Sylvester Thomas. Of the programme he says, "Yachting is a key pillar of the economy and at the National Sailing Academy we are building a foundation for future sailors in Antigua and Barbuda. This latest group of trainees have learnt to sail at the Academy and by putting them through our instructor training we are preparing them for a their yachting careers." He goes on to say, "The jobs available in the industry are varied and in many cases very lucrative, and so we look forward to seeing where this training takes them."

The students involved are Jody Thomas, Lily Barkoye, Ta Janica Thomas, Alliana Spencer, Craig Greenaway, Kayon Guiste, Tssadiq Tappin, Hassani Joseph, Justin Meyer and Jahmarly Edwards.

Many past students have gone on to work in the industry including on racing yachts, yacht deliveries, hotel water sports operations and onboard crew.

Hassani Joseph, Jahmarly Edwards, Tssadiq Tappin

Students on this course have one more week of intensive in-house training before Christmas which will include particular emphasis on inclusivity. The NSA operates a Sailability programme each morning for differently abled youths and adults from the Adele School, the Victory Centre, The Rehabilitation Centre and Friends of the Care Project. As part of their training they will be taught how to adapt their equipment and their approach to ensure they can safely deliver training to people of all abilities and learn how to assess and develop the differently abled sailors within their limitations.

About the National Sailing Academy:

The National Sailing Academy is an inclusive sailing school which delivers sailing lessons to youths and adults of all abilities. For youths the lessons are free as part of the National Curriculum and the lessons are funded through private donations.

The school is located on Dockyard Drive, English Harbour where it runs a Covid certified small hotel. The property is home to tenants Dive Carib, Island Fushion Bar Restaurant, Antigua Sailing Week, New U Spa, The Antigua and Barbuda Marine Association, The Caribbean Sailing Association and Mainstay Caribbean Ltd. Contributions from all of the tenants along with private sailing lessons, and kayak, SUP and boat rentals assist with the funding of the school along with private donations.

National Sailing Academy - Changing lives one tack at a time.