The Bridge of the Tokyo Sail and Power Squadron (TSPS) is excited to announce that we have received formal approval to join the UK-based Royal Yachting Association (RYA) as an Affiliated Club. TSPS is the only RYA Affiliated Club in Japan, and one of a handful of such clubs in East Asia. TSPS will continue to be a member squadron in the United States Power Squadrons, so there are no changes in that regard.

Formed in 1875, the RYA is a UK national organization for boating, including dinghy, yacht and motor cruising, all forms of sail racing, and other forms of sports boats and personal watercraft. Although headquartered in the UK, the RYA is a global association and RYA Affiliated Clubs (numbering 1,400+) include over 337,500+ members globally with more than 2,500 RYA Recognized Training Centers across almost 50 countries. More than 250,000 people a year complete RYA training courses. The RYA has over 110,000 personal members.

TSPS will receive the following four major benefits from RYA affiliation:

(1) TSPS will be eligible to become an assessment center for the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), which is required in most European countries, as well as many other countries, for chartering yachts. As an ICC assessment center, TSPS can help our members obtain their ICC before traveling outside of Japan;

(2) TSPS will be able to promote ourselves through the RYA website and newsletters to other RYA clubs and members as their first stop in Japan for all boating related information, classes, and JMRA licensing;

(3) TSPS education will see further improvement from RYA affiliation by leveraging RYA educational materials to supplement existing USPS materials for practical boating education. In the future, TSPS also expects to progress to become an RYA Recognized Training Center, which means that TSPS members will be able to obtain internationally recognized training and development certificates in the Tokyo/Yokohama area including Competent Crew, Day Skipper, and the prestigious Yachtmaster;

(4) Finally, TSPS will be able to provide members interested in dinghy or yacht racing in Japan with access to RYA racing rules, handicapping, coaching, training of racing officials, and other support services.

The Bridge is very excited with RYA affiliation and we look forward to offering even more services to our members going forward. To learn more about the RYA, please visit: http://www.rya.org.uk