YA-CEO-Phil-Jones-with-RFD-Managing-Director-Mark-Barker
Yachting Australia has signed a new sponsorship agreement with safety and survival equipment specialist RFD which will see the company play a role in Yachting Australia’s Sports Services and Training programs.
RFD’s involvement is a significant boost to Yachting Australia’s Sports Services and Training departments and will assist in the delivery of a number of key programs. In the Sports Services area RFD will work with Yachting Australia on the IRC Rating System certification program, providing IRC certificate holders with a range of offers and opportunities surrounding RFD products.
The IRC Rating System has now been operating very successfully in Australia for over 9 years with approximately 530 boats rated each year. Australia is one of the most competitive IRC countries in the world with our fleets pushing hard to win with all major yacht racing events in Australia determined on IRC.
The new agreement will run for two years and will see RFD’s involvement in Yachting Australia’s Training programs include the National Yacht Training Scheme, Sea Safety and Survival Courses (SSSC) and Student Course Packs. RFD will be heavily involved with Yachting Australia Instructors, including a presence at the RYA Yachting Australia Yachtmaster Annual Conference, hands-on product presentations and special offers to Yachting Australia Training Centres. Around 30 instructors from the highly successful joint RYA Yachting Australia Yacht Training Scheme will be in attendance at the conference.
Currently around 6000 people hold SSSC certificates in Australia with the course playing an important role in making all forms of racing safer, with many sailors now taking the course to feel better prepared in the case of an emergency.
Yachting Australia CEO Phil Jones welcomed RFD’s new association with Yachting Australia and looks forward to working closely with the company in the future.
“Our Sports Services and Training and Participation programs are an important part of the service which Yachting Australia provides and with RFD coming on board to support these programs we can increase the level of service offered throughout Australia,” said Mr Jones.
“RFD has a long history of supplying quality safety and survival equipment to the yachting industry and we’re very happy to have the company backing a number of important Yachting Australia programs into the future,” he said.
Mark Barker, Managing Director of RFD Australia said, “RFD Australia is proud and pleased to have entered into an agreement with Yachting Australia to support the ongoing training of instructors for the Yacht Master and Sea Safety Survival Courses and ongoing support of the IRC certification program.”
“RFD and Yachting Australia are leaders in their respective fields and the long term association between the two organizations , through this agreement, will foster improved services and training resources for the safety of all those who participate in sailing activities. RFD are world leaders in the manufacture and supply of maritime safety survival systems and are most commonly known for Liferafts, Lifejackets, EPIRBs and associated marine safety equipment,” he said.
“RFD looks forward to bringing our expertise to these areas of YA and growing our relationship with YA and its trainers and members,” said Mr Barker.
For more information visit www.yachting.org.au or www.rfd.com.au
Craig Heydon
Communications Coordinator
Yachting Australia