A new RYA Training Centre at Karpaz Gate Marina will provide new opportunities for sailors to achieve their RYA certifications in North Cyprus
‘Ocean Yachting – Karpaz Gate Marina’ now offers a range of RYA training schemes and courses as part of the world’s leading training programme for leisure and professional boaters
This new RYA Training Centre, the first training centre recognised by the renowned Royal Yachting Association to operate in North Cyprus.
The ‘Ocean Yachting – Karpaz Gate Marina’ RYA Training Centre based at the 5 Gold Anchor-rated marina will offer a range of RYA training courses for adults, including:
- RYA Start Yachting
- RYA Competent Crew
- RYA Day Skipper
- RYA Coastal Skipper
- RYA Coastal/ RYA Yachtmaster
- Offshore shorebased and RYA Yachtmaster
Future plans will expand the programme to include various powerboat courses, while combined packages offering both education and pleasure will also be introduced with the upcoming Karpaz Gate Marina boutique hotel scheduled to open later this year.
RYA Yachtmaster Instructor
Ocean Yachting is led by Chief Instructor Erez Ben-Eshay, an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor with years of experience in the delivery of both practical and theory training courses. The new partnership with Karpaz Gate Marina creates an exciting opportunity for local sailors in North Cyprus, as well as marina clients, berth holders and visitors, who want to achieve their theory and practical sailing certifications with expert tuition in a stunning East Mediterranean setting.
The new facility at the award-winning Karpaz peninsular marina will provide beginners and experienced sailors the chance to complete the RYA courses in North Cyprus waters on-board the training yacht, a 46ft blue water sailing vessel named ‘No Contest’, or their own vessel.
Experienced sailor
An experienced sailor and RYA instructor with a passion to teach new generations of sailors, Dr Erez Ben-Eshay, PhD, is an RYA Yachtmaster Ocean and Yachtmaster Instructor, IYT offshore, USCG, MCA3000, HM CAP A, all commercially endorsed, and is a PADI dive instructor. He has completed several competitive global circumnavigations, including the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race and single-handed Volvo Ocean Race, and has logged more than 120,000 miles at sea.
The opening of the RYA Training Centre is the latest development at the increasingly popular North Cyprus destination. The on-site sailing expertise adds to the existing leisure facilities on offer, including the exceptional Karpaz Gate Marina Beach Club, with 33m infinity pool and watersports centre, Private Gallery Club, gym, children’s play area and Hemingway’s Resto-Bar. A boutique hotel, hammam and spa will open in later this year.
UK’s national body
The RYA is the UK’s national body for dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, RIBs and sports boats, windsurfing and personal watercraft and a leading representative for inland waterways cruising. More than 250,000 boaters undertake RYA courses each year through its network of more than 2,400 recognised training centres across 58 countries.
Karpaz Gate Marina caters for yachts up to 60m and features an on-site Technical Centre meeting demand for a range of requests from maintenance work, to hull painting and teak replacement. Featuring a 300-ton capacity travel lift and 18,000 square metre dry dock area, the boat yard’s team of on-site specialists include carpenters and painters.