Marina Bandar Al Rowdha

Located in one of the craggy bays near the centre of Muscat, the sailing school at the Marina Bander Al Rowdha is not only picturesque, but it also boasts world-class facilities.

Boasting berths for over 100 yachts and motorboats of all sizes as well as hard-standing and maintenance facilities, the marina is also a magnet for leisure activities and dining.

The Oman Sailing Schools started here in 2008 and it remains in it's original position looking out to sea, next to a wide and gentle sloping slipway. Within the school is a classroom that offers full A/V facilities to show students instructional videos and presentations. There is seating for up to 15 students at a time or 40 students standing for a briefing session. Below the classroom is the kit-room where students collect their buoyancy aids (all from reputed makers with a kite-mark of excellence and safety standards), cover themselves in sun-cream and collect mineral water to drink on shore and on the boats. There is also a full workshop where the instructors maintain the sailing boats so they are always in immaculate condition and ready to go when students need them.

The boats themselves are kept in the shade and are part-rigged so that students can be on the water and sailing in the least amount of time. The boats are all keep on their recommended manufacturers trailers that are light and maneuverable for even the lightest of sailors to take to the water and launch easily. The admin and management of the sailing school is onsite where an open-door policy is constantly upheld.

The Marina school is open 6-days a week and, due to the stronger winds, offers courses primarily in the afternoon but morning sessions are organised in some instances. On Thursdays the school runs the Legacy Club, set up for students who visit during the week* and wish to continue their sailing in their own time. The club has proved incredibly successful and regattas are planned for the students to sharpen their skills and enjoy the competition of sailing against peers.

As well as local school groups taking part in the Try Sailing programme, their have also been groups from the Sultan's Armed Forces as well as corporate days.

There are currently 14 fully ISAF qualified instructors and senior instructors at the Marina Bander Al Rowdha school, some of whom will go and set-up the subsequent schools and use their skill and experience to teach and employ more instructors in them. The goal of having seven sailing schools along the coast of Oman are well under way with three more currently in development and construction (Mussanah, Sur and The Wave, Muscat)

*In Oman, the week starts on a Saturday and finishes on a Wednesday with the weekend being Thursday and Friday, the Muslim holy day.