It’s rare that i get a chance to just go sailing for fun. But i still cling to this dream of working with and enjoying sailing at the same time. It is hard to turn off ‘instructor mode’.. …thanks go to my partner Steph who has to navigate this with me.
Back on the website ! 
Is it possible? When a hobby, interest or ability is taken from amateur to professional status our ego gets a good massage. We feel we’ve achieved Nirvana. We’ve worked, strived, yearned for this day. Dream of ‘making it’, legitimising our abilities, feeling lucky. Someone is prepared to pay for this thing we have been equally prepared to do for free.
Students constantly reinforce this with their envious looks at your ‘lifestyle’ as they furtively grab a weeks sailing imbetween the weekly grind in front of a screen. The highlight of their day being a Pret a Manger baguette and a busy train. So why do we lucky few lifestyle job exponents become so down hearted on occasion? Well for me it’s three main factors and one slightly more esoteric factor; the financial rewards and job security can be a bit sketchy if you accept the ‘going rate’/conditions, clients can be tiring if they have a different dream of sailing to yours and anything gets boring if you do it 40 hours a week. The solution? It’s essential to not be greedy, but don’t sell yourself short on pay or conditions, don’t take work from people you don’t chime with and don’t work too hard. 20-25 weeks / year is realistic. If you aren’t lucky enough to be able to do this there’s a good chance you are going to get very tired of it at some point. The esoteric factor is that we’ve found the dream life and the thought of going back to that safe desk and baguette goads us when we’re feeling a bit down about the inevitable strains of any job. But we’ve got more to lose than a job, it’s everything we stand to lose…
And lastly if you love sailing keep some of it back just for yourself to have fun! The picture above is Nevermore my tatty Nicholson 32 – my magic carpet.
Instructing for BRNC Dartmouth this week on Martlet (Contessa 38) with Galahad sharing space with a fairly chunky fishing boat. We’re locking back into Sutton Harbour, Plymouth after a night exercise looking at Plymouths’ nav sector lights. Chilly , but fun. And great crew as always..
New sail training opportunities for 2023
The decision to cease my cooperation with Liberty Yachts and the RYA sea school I established with them as their Chief Instructor 2 years ago was disappointing after all the work that went in to setting up the school. But for a cooperation to work there needs to be cooperation….
Sometimes though as one door shuts, another (better..) one opens and I’m really proud to be able to introduce my new coded training vessel – Gilken. A 36’ Sigma cruiser racer. She is based in Dartmouth and belongs to Andy Wright who is a highly respected RYA trainer and RYA Sea School principal. I been sailing her a lot for 2 seasons already and she’s a fantastic boat; fast, safe and well equipped for sail training. Also I’m excited about working with Andy who has been really supportive over the last couple of years.
Phone or e-mail for a quote. Let’s chat about what you’re trying to achieve with your sailing. RYA courses can be arranged through Andy’s sea school too with me as instructor. I’ll put a link in the links page to Andy’s sea school.
Sail opportunities on Gilken with me in 2023;
17th– 20thApril Dartmouth to either Torbay or Salcombe. Start Bay drills
15th– 19thMay Booked
12th– 16thJune France or Channel Islands
4th– 8thSeptember Yachtmaster preparation week.
This Autumn I was lucky enough to do some training with delightful Toby and Nat on their lovely Albin Vega. The weather was challenging (F6-7 most of the week), but it was great to see how they coped with the testing conditions and the somewhat mercurial engine aboard! By the end of the week picking up a mooring buoy under sail was routine for them! They plan to sail the Seven Seas on their new boat, Sondella, and I think they are going to ace it!
Amazing lady!
Sailing down to Falmouth this summer we were honoured to have these lovely characters join us for a bit of fun. They stayed with us ducking, diving and generally having a whale of a time (sorry!)
Lovely little delivery thanks to Simon at Liberty Yachts. Toby Bevington and I picked her up from the delightful St Just-in-Roseland and sailed her back to her new home in QAB Marina. Beautiful weather and a host of sea life; dolphins, porpoises off Dodman and a large tuna too! Delivery bliss 
