The Subic Sailing Club and Europa Yachts are happy to announce that their collaborative effort, the Europa Sailing School, is now open for enrolment. Recently opened this December, the newest premier sailing school in the country aims to bring sailing education in the Philippines to the next level.
“Whether you’re just curious about sailing as a hobby, a new sport to play, or as an exciting new career, the Europa Sailing School can help you learn all the skills you need to become a competent sailor,” said Richard Sarinas, Europa Yachts’ Director of Marketing and Business Development.
Students will be in good hands thanks to the school’s experienced instructors hailing from the Subic Sailing Club and the International Yachting Fellowship of Rotarians (IYFR). Marcus Avecilla, the Subic Sailing Club’s current Managing Director and Head Instructor, will be leading the way as Chief Instructor of the new sailing school. He has received certifications from the International Yacht Training (IYT) Worldwide, the Philippine Maritime Industry Authority, and the Asian Yachtmasters. Joining him as part of the Europa Sailing School Team are FernanAbapo Sarmiento and Sean Mitchell.
“No matter how much or how little you know about sailing, our instructors will be there to help you learn the ropes,” added Sarinas. “In line with that, we are currently offering four different courses to cater to students with different levels of experience.”
Total beginners can enroll in the Intro Sail Course, a 3-hour session that teaches students the basics and ends with a quick sailing activity. Those who want a bit more can try the Start Sailing Course, a 2-day course that teaches students how to steer a yacht under power, how to raise sails, and how to handle ropes.
More advanced classes include the Competent Crew Course, a 4-day program that lets students experience being an active crew member, and the Day Skipper Course, a 6-day program that gives students a taste for yacht racing and ends with a qualification for the Bénéteau First Cup.
“We are confident that after our courses, anyone—even those who have no prior knowledge of sailing—can start confidently navigating the waters,” said Sarinas.
Indeed, the Europa Sailing School is just one of the Subic Sailing Club’s many initiatives to make sailing an accessible sport to more aspiring Filipino sailors, regardless of their background.
“We are proud to be partners with Subic Sailing Club in this endeavor,” said Sarinas. “They have always believed in the potential of Filipinos to become world-class sailors. We, too, believe that Filipinos can excel at sailing on a global scale.”
The Subic Sailing Club has been working toward this goal since it was first formed in 2004, when it was previously known as the Saturday Afternoon Gentlemen Sailors (SAGs). Initially, composed of expats, entrepreneurs, and sports enthusiasts with an insatiable appetite for sailing, the group aimedto spread the love of boating to a new generation of Filipino sailors. Today, as the Subic Sailing Club, the group continues its advocacies to raise the level of consciousness and awareness about the Philippines’ maritime heritage, as well as to help the country reach its full potential as seafaring nation.
To help the club with its initiatives, Europa Yachts has provided the Europa Sailing School with several Bénéteau First 14 sailing dinghies. This boat’s simple yet ergonomic design allows for more speed and stability and can accommodate up to two sailors. It is also easy to maneuvereither one- or two-handed thanks to its double centerboard casing. One top of these, she also wields performance specs that are sure to be appreciated by much more experienced sailors. This makes it the perfect boat to practice sailing for both beginners and experts alike.
“It is exciting to think about how these boats could be the starter vessels for future world-class sailors,” said Sarinas.“Indeed,we are honored to lend a hand in this this undertaking, which aims to train the future leaders and players of the Filipino sailing community.”
If you would like to learn more about the Europa Sailing School and their current courses, please visit the enrollment page on the Europa Yachts website.