So excited to have finally secured some prime inside workshop and power boat storage between Kingsbridge and Salcombe. This allows me to achieve a long term ambition to create a local and sustainable business within minutes of where I live. In addition to storage and logistics to and from slipways on the estuary our services will also include winterising of engines, antifouling and repairs. Watch this space!
An old friend, Steve, contacted me earlier this year asking if I could get him to Yachtmaster Offshore standard over the next 18 months – 2 years. His previous experience and career as a pilot are going to see him in good stead. He’s working through Day Skipper theory for starters and we are arranging a practical weekend every month on Gilken over the summer months of 2026. So far its been a hoot and I’m very confident we can get him his YM Offshore with flying colours as progress continues.
Something i’ve been meaning to do for years – my Power Boat Instructors qualification. It was a great week with Andy Wright and three of the river staff from Sandquay BRNC. I learnt loads and am really excited to be teaching on the water and then going back home in the evening! I’m planning on concentrating on working with RTC’s in Dartmouth and Salcombe
In My Element is a lovely little Bayliner that usually lives on the pontoons at Kingsbridge. She’s holidaying elsewhere at the moment! With 80hp on the back she’s no slouch….
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…..