Цитата из Википедии:
«The Yacht Racing Association was founded in November, 1875. Its initial purpose was to standardize the rules of measurement to different racing yachts, so that boats of different classes could compete fairly against each other.
In 1953 the YRA became the
Royal Yachting Association (RYA).
The RYA Training Scheme is currently delivered in 47 countries through a network of over 2,500 recognized training centers. The scheme offers practical training in dinghy sailing, windsurfing, yachting, motor cruising, power-boating, personal watercraft and inland waterways, as well as a range of shore-based training courses. The RYA also publishes over 200 supporting titles for its activities.
There are:
Over 2,500 RYA recognized training centers in more than 47 countries.
22,000 RYA instructors across the world.
15,000 professionals working on commercial vessels using RYA Certificates of Competence.
155,000 people completing RYA courses every year.
Over 300,000 expert RYA publications added each year to the personal libraries of recreational and professional boaters.
Over 100 professional and recreational courses on the water, in the classroom and online.
The RYA is given responsibility for issuing certificates of competence on behalf of the British Government through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), an agency of the Department of Transport.»
В наших широтах желающий получить международную лицензию шкипера выбирает между британским стандартом от Royal Yacht Association (RYA) и американской коммерческой International Yacht Training (IYT). Как видно из
сравнительной таблицы, над созданием которой работали наши коллеги из Force Sail, программы обучения у RYA и IYT очень похожи, скорее всего, первая послужила прообразом для создания второй.