News

November 2011 - Rockley International ready for the 2011 ISAF Conference

The Rockley International team are in the final stages of packing and getting ready for the ISAF Conference to be held in Puerto Rico. Richard Percy, Managing Director of Rockley International, will be speaking at the Training and Development Seminar, held on Sunday 6th November, giving an update on the progress of the ISAF Training Scholarship and also offering a question and answer session for any delegates who are interested in finding out more. Rockley International is attending fours days of the conference, represented by Peter and Lis Gordon, Pip Woods, Rob Clark and Richard Percy. The conference is a great networking opportunity for everyone involved and Rockley International would welcome the chance to speak to other delegates to discuss the assistance they can offer in developing sail training programmes and increasing participation.

October 2011 - ISAF Training Scholarship nears completion

After an intensive 8-week programme the 5 candidates on the ISAF Training Scholarship, run in conjunction with Rockley International, are nearing the end of their time at Rockley Academy in Poole. The last 2 months have seen the candidates from Iceland, Indonesia, Japan and Trinidad and Tobago cover a wide variety of topics aimed at planning, focusing and setting development strategy for the progression of sailing within their native countries. The group have looked at the delivery and background to training in sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing and powerboating, coaching principles and development as well as visiting a number of facilities throughout the UK to speak directly to those involved in national organisations, sports facilities, clubs and commercial centres. All candidates, although tired, successfully completed the scholarship programme and presented their National Development Plans on the 28th October to Jerome Pels at the ISAF HQ in Southampton. Richard Percy of Rockley International commented “It has been a real pleasure welcoming candidates from all over the world to our Poole base in recent years and the 2011 ISAF Training Scholarship has proved itself to be a huge success, I look forward to hearing from each of the candidates in the months ahead as they put their plans into practice”.

September 2011 - 2011 ISAF Training Scholarship

It’s just a few days to go until the 2011 ISAF Training Scholarship participants arrive in the UK. With specific training elements in Safety Boat training, SWOT Analysis, MNA development plan writing, Level 1,2 and 3 Coach, First Aid training, Presentation skills and a two day 'Managing Outcomes' workshop as just some of the modules on the course, the International team will be putting in some long days both on and off the water. The 2011 Scholarship Candidates are: 1. Mrs Dyan Puspito Rini (Ririn) - Indonesia 2. Mr Go Hashimoto - Japan 3. Mr Earl Tobias - Trinidad and Tobago 4. Mr Rodin Acosta - Trinidad and Tobago 5. Ms Anna Ólöf Kristófersdóttir - Iceland When the 8 week Sports Specific Training course for Coaches starts at the Rockley Academy in Poole, UK next Monday (5th September) the Candidates will be spending a few days getting used to their new surrounding by going through some basic powerboat handling skills. This activity will also give them a great opportunity to get to know the sailing area that will be their home for most of the time in the UK.   You can keep up with this Course from the ISAF Training Scholarship Facebook group and on the ISAF Website at www.sailing.org/training/scholarship   For specific information on how your country can engage with ISAF and with help putting together funding applications for all courses please email Dan Jaspers, ISAF Training and Development Manager

July 2011 - Rockley International continues its partnership with OmanSail

Rockley International has recently completed a further stage, working in partnership with OmanSail in the development of their instructor training programme. Held at Rockley Academy in Poole, UK, candidates were identified as suitable to focus on instructor, senior instructor or instructor trainer skill development and the Rockley International Coaching team of Richard Percy and Rob Clark set a learning environment and coaching senarios to ensure the group could gain practical experience of the various stages of instructor training, learning from each others experiences and holding open discussions to gain an insight into the practicalities of running such courses. It is OmanSail’s aim to become self sufficient in the identification, training and development of their instructor team, leading the programme to be able to run and develop at their own pace and the 17 candidates on the course said they had found the experience and learning outcomes to be invaluable. Anyone interested in finding out more about Rockley International’s range of sail training incentives, instructor programmes or centre development packages should contact Richard Percy – richardpercy@rockley.org

South African Sailing Gains ISAF Recognised Sailing Status

Rockley International Director and ISAF Inspector, Richard Percy has returned from from South Africa as South African Sailing (SAS) gains ISAF recognised sailing status. The six day inspection included inspections at four national training programme centres in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban and Mossel Bay.

Further details and comments from Richard Percy and ISAF Training and Development Manager Dan Jaspers can be found by clicking here

Rockley International Travel to South Africa 4.04.2011

Rockley International Trainer Richard Percy and ISAF Training and Development Manager, Dan Jaspers, are in South Africa to complete an ISAF Recognized Training accreditation inspection of the SAS National Sail Training Programme. We'll update you with more news...

Rockley International Develops Grassroots Windsurfing Participation for the Turkish Yachting Federation 11.03.2011

February 2011 saw Rockley International and ISAF appointed Trainer, Tim Cross complete the first Windsurf InstructorTraining course for the Turkish Yachting Federation (TYF). The course took place from 15th – 19th February 2011 at the Ulra Yacht Club, Izmer, where, during the previous week, the countries top 45 youth sailors had competed for the Youth National Championship.
 
Twelve candidates, all experienced coaches in their specific windsurfing disciplines, including Olympic Class coaches and the National Freestyle champion took part in the 5-day course. The course brought together the country’stop trainers and coaches and as a result all the candidates successfully achieved their TYF Level 4 Windsurf Instructor certificate, which allows them to instruct the TYF Level 1 Windsurfing course. Having Instructors trained to internationally recognised standards is a huge step forward in Turkey’s bid to develop the sport of windsurfing nationally.
 
ISAF Trainer, Tim Cross said; “It was fantastic to be working with such energetic, talented and enthusiastic trainers who all share the same passion and want to help ensure that windsurfing is firmly established as a national sporting activity within Turkey."
 
The Windsurf course follows a series of successful Dinghy Instructor Courses delivered by Rockley International for both the Turkish Yachting Federation and for Oman Sail. It marks real progress in both countries attempts to develop national interest in the marine industry and a sustainable National Training Scheme reflecting the individual country’s requirements and ensuring increased participation levels in sailing and windsurfing.

Rockley International Consolidates its Partnership with Oman Sail 16.02.2011

Rockley International Trainer Andy Smith and ISAF Trainer Tom Wilson have completed a Dinghy Instructor Training Course for Oman Sail at Marina Bander Al Rowdha, Muscat. The course which took place from 22 January – 2 February 2011 is the second such coaching course to run out in Oman and comes following the success of the 2010 Olympic Solidarity funded ISAF level 1 Technical Course.
 
During January 2011 Rockley International Trainer Richard Percy also completed the first in a series of Turkey Yachting Federation (TYF) Dinghy Instructor Courses in Turkey, Cesme – both of these courses now mark the start of a new era of nationally recognised sail training within Oman and Turkey.
 
ISAF Trainer Tom Wilson said of the Omani candidates; “Having a group of individuals that are all keen to learn and assimilate information and advice passed on to them from more than one coach is wonderful.
  
“The Omani sailors all worked very hard to develop their own styles of coaching and over the ten days we spent with them have shown a huge increase in not only coaching skills but also personal technical sailing skills. If this level of dedication is upheld then there is no end to the achievements that they can accomplish.”
 
Eleven candidates, from a range of different backgrounds attended the ten- day course, the majority of whom will be joining Mohammed Al Balushi, (recently qualified Oman Sail Senior Instructor) at Oman Sails' new centre which opens this week at Musannah, where the 2010 Asian Beach Games were held.   
 
The Oman Sail project has come on a long way since it started with previous Coach candidates and the new wave of coaches ready to help expand the project and introduce more people to the sport. 
 
Neil Coxon, Director of Training at Oman Sail, said; “Having our Instructors at Oman Sail trained to internationally recognised standards means a great deal to us. 
 
“Oman Sail has a strong relationship with the Ministry of Sport Affairs in Oman (The ISAF Member National Authority) and as such is keen to maintain the highest level of training possible. With ISAF Connect to Sailing Partner Rockley International and the ISAF Trainers we have been able to benefit from the wide range of expertise and experience that they provide”.

Rockley Consolidates its Partnership with the Turkish Yachting Federation 09.02.2011

January 2011 saw Rockley International Trainer Richard Percy completing the first in a series of Turkish Yachting Federation (TYF) Dinghy Instructor Courses in Cesme, Turkey. The course was the first of its kind and marks the start of a new era of nationally recognised sail training within Turkey.
 
The Dinghy Instructor course is the start of the second phase in the ongoing partnership between Rockley and the TYF. Rockley has been working in partnership with the TYF since 2009 to aid them in the development of grassroots sailing and to train their current coaches to an International standard. All the sail training and training syllabus developments undertaken by Rockley in Turkey are inline with the International Sailing Federations “Recognised Training” accreditation standards.
 
The 6 day TYF Dinghy Instructor Course brought together some of the most experienced coaches within Turkey who all successfully gained their TYF Dinghy Instructor qualification despite challenging sailing and coaching conditions within Cesme! The course saw a series of water and land based workshops aimed at teaching the coaches how to train beginner and intermediate sailors.
 
Emrah Surmen, ISAF Training Scholarship graduate and the Turkey National Training Manager commented, “This Dinghy Instructor course is the first nationally recognised sail training course within Turkey. Working in partnership with the experienced Trainer from Rockley has given Turkey the tools and the methods to train a new generation of Dinghy Instructors who in turn will drive grassroots participation within their own clubs and centres.”

2010 ISAF Annual Conference 07.11.2010

The 2010 ISAF Annual conference is well underway in Athens, Greece.
 
From 4-14th November commissions of the International Sailing Federation will be reporting on their activities for the past year and advising on their particular areas of expertise.
 
Day one began with several commissions scheduled to hold presentations on their specialist topics, these ranged from the Coaches and International Regulations Commissions to the Medical, Multihull, Olympic Classes and Athletes Commissions.
 
Rockley International is attending fours days of the conference, represented by Peter and Lis Gordon, Pip Woods and Richard Percy. The conference is a great networking opportunity for everyone involved and a great stage for Rockley International to promote the assistance that can be offered to others in developing sail training programmes and increasing participation.
 
With each day being dedicated to different topics covered by ISAF, Sunday 7th November was scheduled as the ISAF Connect to Sailing Seminar. The Q&A session actively encouraged ISAF members to get more involved in growing Youth Sailing Participation, followed by presentations from several Connect to Sailing Partners.
 
As a Connect to Sail Partner, Rockley International MD, Richard Percy's presentation covered the ISAF Training Scholarship Course and the development of work alongside ISAF during 2009 & 2010. Pip Woods, ISAF Trainer, presented the topic of growing participation in clubs and schools and opened the room to discussions of success stories and how the delegates can work together.
 
ISAF Training Scholarship graduate Rob Holden, was also present to offer his views on the training programme and to talk about his journey since completing the course at Rockley Academy.
 
The conference will continue on until the 14th November covering a wide range of topics to be discussed. To follow the daily seminars and schedule of presentations click HERE or follow ISAF on Twitter @isafupdates