Through its La Belle Classe Academy training centre and Sports Section, Yacht Club de Monaco (YCM) has taken another step in its commitment to provide excellence in maritime education. It was at the annual Members Cocktail that YCM President, HSH Prince Albert II, announced the RYA (Royal Yachting Association) accreditation, a global reference in boating and water sports training, which positions its La Belle Classe Academy among institutions of excellence serving yachting and sailing professionals.
YCM has been delivering the Powerboat Level I & II courses since March 2024 and has now expanded its offer to include the RYA Dinghy Sailing and Personal Watercraft (jet ski) courses.
“It is with great pride that I announce this evening that the Yacht Club de Monaco is now an accredited RYA centre,”said HSH Prince Albert II. “This international recognition reinforces the quality of our training for the benefit of professional crews and young people in our Sports Section. I hope we can take it further as we develop the ‘RYA by La Belle Classe Academy’ programmes to train tomorrow’s sailors with rigour and enthusiasm”.
Assistant Instructor course offers springboard for future supervisors
As the first coach to obtain RYA Sailing Scheme Senior Instructor certification at the UKSA centre in Cowes, Isle of Wight, Tiziano Massa will now be responsible for training young sailors in the Club’s Sports Section, who are keen to supervise sailing courses for the youngest sailors, to be assistant instructors. Focused on teaching, safety and assessing technical skills, including seamanship, an intensive three-day course will be offered supervised by James Brooke, Chief RYA Instructor at YCM. “Having travelled the world supervising RYA courses, I am extremely proud to be part of this outstanding team at YCM where a diversity of skills is used to offer opportunities to a broader public,” says James Brooke.
Enriching local expertise to open up international prospects
By offering a full range of certified courses year-round, YCM’s goal is to train tomorrow’s sailors, support boat enthusiasts and professionals, and assert the Principality’s position on the international scene. By joining a global network of over 2,400 RYA recognised centres, Monaco is stating its ambition for excellence and innovation in the yachting sector.
YCM Summer Yachting Camp: immersion in the yachting world (7-11 and 14-18 July 2025)
Following the success of its first one, the YCM Summer Yachting Camp returns in 2025 for two sessions. Aimed at young people aged 16 to 22, the immersive programme, in collaboration with Seascope France, offers a full introduction to yachting combining theory with practice and international certifications:
- RYA Personal Watercraft (PWC)
- RYA Powerboat Level II (to drive boats up to 10m in length).
- STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping)
No prior experience is required for this opportunity to those who are curious about the sea and eager to experience something unique, while acquiring invaluable skills.
Courses for everyone all year
RYA Dinghy Sailing courses are now available year-round at the YCM’s Sports Section, run by a team of certified instructors. For info on all training courses available: www.labelleclasseacademy.com
With this latest accreditation, Yacht Club de Monaco is confirming its ambition to ramp up its maritime training courses. YCM Managing Director and General Secretary Bernard d’Alessandri concludes:“By developing internationally renowned certificated courses, La Belle Classe Academy continues to meet the needs of boating enthusiasts and professionals, while affirming Monaco’s position as a global reference of sustainable yachting. This initiative is fully in line with our collective ‘Monaco, Capital of Advanced Yachting’ approach”.
