Rockley International, based at Rockley Point in Poole, is training seven candidates from seven nations on an ISAF Scholarship Training course. The eight week long course is designed to give participants the knowledge and skills to develop a National Sail Training Programme within their respective countries.

The candidates, from Egypt, Madagascar, Mozambique, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam and the UAE, are currently undertaking the training which has been made possible by the IOC Olympic Solidarity funding available within these countries.

The ISAF Scholarship aims to not only give candidates the knowledge and expertise they require to promote sailing but also the confidence to encourage the long term development of the sport and inspire a nation of sailors both young and old.

Richard Percy, ISAF Training Scholarship Co-ordinator and Managing Director of Rockley International said: “Candidates have been working heavily on developing an understanding of how to produce a structured sailing coach education pathway that trains participation (learn to sail) and performance (learn to race) coaches. Both are in line with the guidelines set out by the International Council for Coaching Excellence during the 2012 Olympic Games in London.”

Rockley International is the only provider of the ISAF scholarship worldwide. ISAF has now been recognised as the international minimum standard for sail training worldwide and is dedicated to developing grassroots sailing.