Dmitry Vladov & Angelique Garrido pursue a new adventure this summer to find their sea legs aboard 34ft vdStadt Serendipity with Southern Yachting Academy in Knysna.  A gruelling week with lots of hard work. Well done and happy sailing folks...

Since inception, the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) is an organization based on public-private partnership and currently has a membership of 193 countries and almost 800 private-sector entities and academic institutions.  ITU is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and has twelve regional and area offices around the world.  Founded on the principle of international cooperation between governments (Member States) and the private sector (Sector Members, Associates and Academia), ITU is the premier global forum through which parties work towards consensus on a wide range of issues affecting the future direction of the ICT industry. 

1. Independent telecommunications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) (a statutory body) is a State Member of the ITU within the African Region and regulates and administers licensing in South Africa.  In December 2011, ICASA entered into a new MoU with South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) for the licensing of marine radio operators. Southern Yachting Academy is one of SAMSA's accredited learning institutions for training the Short Range Certificate (SRC) for marine VHF Radio Operator licences in South Africa.
2. Office of Communications – Ofcom (a statutory body) is a State Member of the ITU within the Western Europe Region and regulates and administers licensing in United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.  Ofcom has accredited the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) for training the Short Range Certificate (SRC) and the Association of Marine Electronic and Radio Colleges (AMERC) for training the Long Range Certificates (LRC). 
   

The learning outcomes, assessment criteria, certificate courses and radio operators’ licensing are typically the same across the world; with some countries using centralised and others decentralised approaches to assessments and certification. In South Africa, the SAMSA Short Range Certificate is compulsory for all skippers of sail and/or power vessels operating more than 1nm from the coast, applicable 1 January 2016.  

Congratulations to Mark Orpen, John Young, Capt. Ben Torrance & Capt. Paul Messenger as SAMSA registered facilitators for the Short Range Certificate (SRC) at Southern Yachting Academy effective 01 Oct 2015 to 30 Sep 2018.  Southern Yachting Academy now offers marine radio courses in Midrand, Gauteng and in Knysna, Western Cape.  www.southernyachting.co.za

Please share this with interested mariners and submit enquiries at: http://www.southernyachting.co.za/contact-us.html

`Congratulations to Jamie (smokin') Bacon, Stefan (fixit) de Bruyn , Colin (sandbank) Campbell & Anthony (`map') Campbell for successfully completing the 9-day SA Sailing Day Skipper Course with Southern Yachting Academy this week.  Living life and a fun time was had by all sailing in this idyllic setting of Knysna, South Africa.

Southern Yachting Academy facilitators and assessors complete five day GMDSS/LRC marine radio telephony course in preparation for SAMSA accreditation of Southern Yachting Academy.  Replacing VHF Radio training, the Short Range Certificate (SRC) Courses start in Knysna October 2015.

Ocean Sailing Academy's 'Hot Ice' arrived in Knysna yesterday with four enthusiastic yachtmaster students and instructor Mark Wannenburg.  The 48ft `Hot Ice' stays in Knysna till month end before sailing back to the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town

Another amazing sunset in Knysna, South Africa as Max and Charlene Marselis, Rini vd Pol, Riaan Carstens, Duane Wheeler, Kenneth & Jen Crasta return from crew training with Instructor John Young and Garden Route Sailing Adventures today!

Reef fishing trips off Knysna makes for an excellent extra when the wind dies down.  Popular activity all year round!

Couples enjoying double wilderness canoe trips on the lagoon in Knysna (picnic baskets also available on request)

Just wonder if South African Sailing Legend - Dave Cox who skippered SV Mercury (aka Mainstay) to Rio in 1973, whether he imagined she would be talking teenagers out learning to sail her then mooring for a surfing safari at Walker Point?  A great dads and sons expedition - come and join us!  Call: 082 800 3609

A dedicated team of vessel owners, instructors, skippers and marine maintenance contractors pulled out the 42ft SV Mercury onto the Dry Dock slipway this week; the first vessel in our sailing training fleet for its annual hull survey.  Regular hull and skin fittings maintenance, repainting and antifouling are all part of ensuring safety and performance of these beautiful yachts.  Yachting training resumes in Knysna this Easter weekend with both Start Sailing and Competent Crew courses (044 3823600)

Staff & students of Garden Route Sailing Adventures demonstrate skill today by cleaning up with line honours in the annual Buffalo Bay Challenge.  Marked by a unique experience; a crew member is hoisted to the top of the mast whilst navigating the Knysna Heads to re-rig a spinnaker halyard. What a sight to behold, not to mention amazing kite flying through the finish line...