A blustery October week saw another Day Skipper complete his ‘ticket’ with flying colours. Andy did really well in the challenging conditions and i’m sure will be back for more sailing ! Thanks to Fiona at Torbay Sea School for the call.

After a the summer of 2025 sweltering abroad its time to get back to the basics of getting soaked to the skin whilst teaching sailing and navigation. Nice to have some proper tidal streams to ferry glide with…..

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.

 

 

 

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 

2020 has certainly been a year of plenty of ups and plenty of downs. But one of the ups has definitely been my new partnership with Liberty Yachts in Plymouth. With me as Chief Instructor and Simon Beeby (Liberty Yachts) as Principal we have set up Liberty Yachts Sea School as an RYA Recognised Training Centre. We are concentrating on quality, bespoke training. 3 : 1 instructor student ratios and a cabin for everyone! Watch this space for pictures of our training boat Vents Secundis!! I’ll be delivering  the vast majority of RYA courses myself in 2021.

First students of 2020

 

 

Ready to document some activities earlier this year as my website needs  updating….It’s a bit old fashioned this retrospective ‘news’, but I like there to a lasting record of these sailing ventures, or as many would call them, misadventures..This is the start of Moonshadows’ delivery to Southern Spain for regular client Guy. This is Moonshadow being delivered to the crane for a complete re-rig courtesy of Yacht Delivery UK and Allspars. Electrics separated ready for the rig to come down. More on that later and the whole passage in a bit…..

Working with Jon Colwell  to help set up a new RYA training venture. Watch this space! The picture is from the Riva in Split city centre.

Having a well earned wander after tying alongside the Pandora Inn’s new pontoon. We get to stay FOC as long as we buy a beer. How very reasonable. Let’s see how Juan’s bilge keel Cobra likes drying out! A nicer crew I’ve yet to find, keen to learn and always upbeat…

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It was great to see some new places recently with Toby, Dan and Jaime. The 500 mile training fortnight took in a wide range of conditions that will hold them in good stead for their Yachtmaster Offshore with Rock Sailing of Gibraltar. I can especially recommend the Rio Guadiana for a slightly surreal experience. More on this later this week.

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Here are some recent pictures of a Yachtmaster Preparation week delivered on behalf of Trafalgar Sailing. Both candidates passed! Congratulations to both Dan and Emma.