Raymarine, the leading manufacturer of marine electronics, has donated a host of the latest marine navigation, communications, electronic and safety equipment to create a state of the art training and navigation suite at the UKSA.

Supplied and fitted by Raymarine’s local Isle of Wight based dealer, RHP Marine, the training and navigation room is being formally opened today (Thursday 30th November) by Raymarine’s Chief Executive Malcolm Miller. On hand will be a number of well-known UKSA graduates and Raymarine users, including Katie Miller, who recently completed an epic Round Britain circumnavigation.

The Raymarine Navigation Training Room has been designed to create three consoles within the training classroom, giving the feeling of being on board well-equipped boats. These provide students with real life, real time navigational training, whilst on-shore – a key additional facility to the UKSA’s on the water training.

The new training suite will be used by all the UKSA’s students, covering all levels and courses. This includes career student, professional crews, and those training for the Yachtmaster and other RYA courses. Raymarine equipment is widely available through the world, and is standard fit on many of the leading boat manufacturers – from power to sail, from the smallest craft to superyachts – and is used on all the UKSA’s vessels.

The equipment installed includes the popular ST60 instrument system with graphic displays showing wind speed, strength, direction, as well as water depth and position. The data can be selected for display on the large multi-function Raymarine E120 screen, enabling students to quickly and easily select the most vital and relevant data required. The consoles are also fitted with Raymarine Ray 240E VHF hand held radios, which include the latest emergency DSC (Digital Selective Calling) features, and CAM100 video cameras.

Fiona Pankhurst, International Marketing Manager at Raymarine says: “We are delighted to be supporting the UKSA with this equipment, which will be used by the thousands of new and experienced sailors coming through the academy. The UKSA is one of the UK’s best known training organisations, and also plays a vital role on the Isle of Wight, supporting other ventures alongside Raymarine, including the Island Sailing Club, the JPMorgan Asset Management Round the Island race, and last year’s Inspire High School Challenge which saw youngsters from the Island training and competing under the expert guidance of Olympian Shirley Robertson. Many well-known sailors and power boaters have trained through the UKSA and now use Raymarine equipment to make life easier, safer and more enjoyable on the water.”