Internationally renowned yachtsman and businessman, Ray Roberts, says sports and businesses around the world are still feeling the pinch due to the ongoing effects of CoronaVirus.
Roberts, the founder of Workforce International and owner of EastSail, speaks from experience, having sailed through many doldrums during his established career: “The last few months have been the worst,” he admits, pointing out the number of recreational boaties out on Sydney Harbour has taken a big hit since social distancing rules were brought in.
“But we know that Sydney-siders are anxious to get outdoors again and come out of hibernation,” Roberts says. Enquiries for sailing courses and charter boat hire have been extraordinary. There is a penchant for exploring the waterways and being part of the vista. Many calls are from empty nesters wanting to have a go on the helm and trim the sails.
Sydney Harbour is an incredible place; full to brim with natural charm and beauty. With the laid-back Australian feel, it suits all lifestyle seekers. The Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are icons of the Harbour, so it is natural to want to view them up close from a boat.
Harbour charter boats are positioned perfectly as a corporate networking tool. On a typical summer mid-weekday, over half the boats leave from Rushcutters Bay with a loaded with office colleagues getting to know each other and enjoying the incomparable scenery.
Roberts, an outstanding yachtsman who races on the international grand prix circuit, purchased EastSail in 2018. His passion for yachting now surfs alongside running Workforce International. And there are some policies he uses in the Workforce Traffic finger of the business, that are now being implemented into EastSail.
“We are hard at work reshaping our safety and health policies so our staff, charter guests and sail trainees are treated with the utmost importance,” the Sydney-based Roberts states.
For over 37 years, EastSail has been true to its origins and continues to provide second-to-none sailing experiences at reasonable prices. The company has trained thousands of sailors to race, cruise, or to just come to grips with the basics of sailing’s port and starboard jargon. The company offshore sailing season commences in October with five-day sailing courses to the Gold Coast, then onto Fraser Island and return.
Or for those who would like to dip their toes in the water, the inaugural three-day New Year’s cruise takes you up to the Hawkesbury River, where novices will raft up with other EastSail boats, meet fellow crewmates and enjoy a fun BBQ aboard.
Each day of training is affordable, at around $350 per person in a group size of only five, on one of EastSail’s luxury French-built Beneteau yachts.
What could be missing this summer is the huge demand from International tourists. Over the past few years, groups of up to 800 from the USA and Asia have experienced a three-hour regatta on Sydney Harbour as part of their incentive travel tour schedule in Sydney.
Roberts says, “Our fleet of 30 yachts and cruisers is the biggest in the Southern Hemisphere and has always catered for the large overseas groups. This year we aim to pamper the domestic market to make up the difference.”
For more information on EastSail courses, boat hire, regattas and more, please visit: https://www.eastsail.com.au/
EastSail welcome video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5o-f3-d4fo
By EastSail media
