Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
I am looking to send my wife and son to do their Comp crew. I would welcome suggestions and any horror stories. You can PM me if you don't want to publish it in the forum.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Recomended Sailing school on the south coast.
- Thread starter Seven Spades
- Start date
cardinal_mark
Well-Known Member
tonyran
Well-Known Member
I did the day skipper and coastal theory and practical (and offshore theory) with Jeff Golds and he is excellent and resonably priced too. He uses his own Halberg Rassy - and serves a memorable naughty breakfast. I would recommend Jeff every time. His number is on the RYA website. He is based at Port Solent
Malish
Well-Known Member
I did a course with Plain Sailing out of Brixham some time ago, most enjoyable and much more interesting sailing that the Solent (stops included Dartmouth, Plymouth and Salcombe)
http://www.plainsailing.co.uk/
http://www.plainsailing.co.uk/
kesey
Well-Known Member
Southern Sailing in Southampton: http://www.southern.co.uk/
You can do a search in the forums here. You'll find that most people have enjoyed themselves and learnt a lot. My two sons and I had a great time with them.
You can do a search in the forums here. You'll find that most people have enjoyed themselves and learnt a lot. My two sons and I had a great time with them.
ChrisE
Well-Known Member
I, too, would endorse Southern Sailing. My better half did Dayskipper with them, and me YM and we both thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The skippers we had were very pragmatic and let you make mistakes so that you could learn from them rather than shrouding you on cottonwool and keep you out of trouble. The food provided was fairly average but the skippers we sailed with weren't averse to eating in a pub instead.
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Hamble School of Yachting. www.hamble.co.uk (I think)
Mark
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes I contacted them but they would't take my son (13 years old) even though his mother will also take the course because other adults wouldn't want a child on board! They would only accept him during standard school half term week, his private school has an out of sync half term for the week of 11th June.
Hamble School of Yachting. www.hamble.co.uk (I think)
Mark
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes I contacted them but they would't take my son (13 years old) even though his mother will also take the course because other adults wouldn't want a child on board! They would only accept him during standard school half term week, his private school has an out of sync half term for the week of 11th June.
zephyrsailor
Well-Known Member
i could be wrong but i heard hamble school of yachting ceased trading?
Solitaire
Well-Known Member
No Helen, it went into temp liquidation, but Rob and Chris bought it out and are tradeing again.
Goodge
Well-Known Member
Would give another vote for Hamble.
Did Ym with them in November, the food was the best I've knon from a sailing school and so much of it too.....
Did Ym with them in November, the food was the best I've knon from a sailing school and so much of it too.....
Re: Not Southern Sailing
If you search back 18 months you will find a sea school thread where I was a lone voice against the Southern Sailing School. My comments were prompted by a relative who spent an unhappy week aboard doing a competent crew course. The food was awful and the yacht was cramped and tatty.
A few other contributors to that thread agreed that SS would not be the right option for someone wanting a sailing holiday with competent crew training in the mix.
In general I think competent crew trainees get a bad deal on a mixed ability school yacht and some outfits dish CC certificates out like smarties.
If you search back 18 months you will find a sea school thread where I was a lone voice against the Southern Sailing School. My comments were prompted by a relative who spent an unhappy week aboard doing a competent crew course. The food was awful and the yacht was cramped and tatty.
A few other contributors to that thread agreed that SS would not be the right option for someone wanting a sailing holiday with competent crew training in the mix.
In general I think competent crew trainees get a bad deal on a mixed ability school yacht and some outfits dish CC certificates out like smarties.
alant
Well-Known Member
I've worked for HSY, so could be biased, but agree about the food - they are also known as 'The Hamble School of Eating'.
As opposed to some schools who shall remain nameless (taking allocated rashers of bacon from the victuals when only 4 instead of 5 pupils turn up), HSY boats often return with more excess fodder than other schools start off with. Lets hope this 'give customers exactly what they want & have paid for' attitude continues.
Remember, when comparing schools on prices, make sure that there are no extras to be charged for - eg. wet weather gear, sleeping bags, mooring fees. Not all schools include them in the cover price.
As opposed to some schools who shall remain nameless (taking allocated rashers of bacon from the victuals when only 4 instead of 5 pupils turn up), HSY boats often return with more excess fodder than other schools start off with. Lets hope this 'give customers exactly what they want & have paid for' attitude continues.
Remember, when comparing schools on prices, make sure that there are no extras to be charged for - eg. wet weather gear, sleeping bags, mooring fees. Not all schools include them in the cover price.
billmacfarlane
Well-Known Member
Re: Not Southern Sailing
You weren't the only one who thought Southern Sailing weren't all they were cracked up to be. I've had a moan in the past about the food at SSS which I thought was awful. I also thought the instructor had a bit of an intimidating manner about him and the two competent crew didn't really get a good deal.
You weren't the only one who thought Southern Sailing weren't all they were cracked up to be. I've had a moan in the past about the food at SSS which I thought was awful. I also thought the instructor had a bit of an intimidating manner about him and the two competent crew didn't really get a good deal.
jimi
Well-Known Member
Re: Not Southern Sailing
I've got mixed feelings here, I did my DaySkipper and Coastal Skipper with Sunsail, thoroughly enjoyed it, learnt a lot and could'nt criticise. However my wife and eldest daughter also did a sailing course with them , where the skipper got wrecked and disappeared with a mate on the first evening and did'nt emerge from his pit until miday the following day. That course was not a success. I did my YM with SS with 2 other YM candidates and a CS candidate, Of the 2 YM candidates 1 had blagged it onto the course and ended up with a CC certificate, another scraped a CS and the CS candidate was almost YM standard. The range of abilities rendered the course less than enjoyable for me cos we ended up teaching one guy how to tie bowlines and suchlike rather than practising complicated fings. Had the course members been all of similar standard where you're learning from peers as well as the instructor I'd have felt a lot happier. In the end the training from instructor on the Sunsail CS course was far superior to that of SS. I've concluded its really just a matter of luck firstly on who happens to be fellow course members and a long way second who your instructor happens to be... but training on a manky old boat helps co you do'nt feel guilty when you run it aground or have a robust berthing up!
I've got mixed feelings here, I did my DaySkipper and Coastal Skipper with Sunsail, thoroughly enjoyed it, learnt a lot and could'nt criticise. However my wife and eldest daughter also did a sailing course with them , where the skipper got wrecked and disappeared with a mate on the first evening and did'nt emerge from his pit until miday the following day. That course was not a success. I did my YM with SS with 2 other YM candidates and a CS candidate, Of the 2 YM candidates 1 had blagged it onto the course and ended up with a CC certificate, another scraped a CS and the CS candidate was almost YM standard. The range of abilities rendered the course less than enjoyable for me cos we ended up teaching one guy how to tie bowlines and suchlike rather than practising complicated fings. Had the course members been all of similar standard where you're learning from peers as well as the instructor I'd have felt a lot happier. In the end the training from instructor on the Sunsail CS course was far superior to that of SS. I've concluded its really just a matter of luck firstly on who happens to be fellow course members and a long way second who your instructor happens to be... but training on a manky old boat helps co you do'nt feel guilty when you run it aground or have a robust berthing up!
Seven Spades
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Would give another vote for Hamble.
Did Ym with them in November, the food was the best I've knon from a sailing school and so much of it too.....
[/ QUOTE ]
It's a shame that they have such a bad attitude rearding my 13 year old son, because you all seem to praise them.
Would give another vote for Hamble.
Did Ym with them in November, the food was the best I've knon from a sailing school and so much of it too.....
[/ QUOTE ]
It's a shame that they have such a bad attitude rearding my 13 year old son, because you all seem to praise them.
alant
Well-Known Member
<they have such a bad attitude rearding my 13 year old son>
If this is the true reason & they have had specific feedback, surely they are showing consideration to other clients wishes, so why is this a bad attitude?
Possibly the strict regulations concerning teaching of children might be a consideration, even if parents are involved. If HSY or any S/School thought they could do make a profit out of doing so, they would be already doing it.
You want your son to learn to sail, so why not start him off in dinghies, which would certainly be beneficial, more fun for him & take away any physical shortfalls he (as a 13 yr old) might have working a 'big' boat.
Have you considered chartering the entire boat as a family & get tuition together, without the complications of strangers/objectors.
If this is the true reason & they have had specific feedback, surely they are showing consideration to other clients wishes, so why is this a bad attitude?
Possibly the strict regulations concerning teaching of children might be a consideration, even if parents are involved. If HSY or any S/School thought they could do make a profit out of doing so, they would be already doing it.
You want your son to learn to sail, so why not start him off in dinghies, which would certainly be beneficial, more fun for him & take away any physical shortfalls he (as a 13 yr old) might have working a 'big' boat.
Have you considered chartering the entire boat as a family & get tuition together, without the complications of strangers/objectors.
Neals
New Member
I did my Day Skipper with Southern Sailing last year based on recommendations from this forum and others. Since I have not done any other similar courses it is difficult to compare but the boat was indeed very tatty and the food dreadful. Sharing a boat with four other strange blokes whose bodily emissions at night made for an explosive atmosphere was not something that I would choose to do again.
However, having accepted that I once again had to live as I had done in my impoverished student days many years ago it was quite fun (the weather was also good and we could escape to the pub on occassion).
Although the instructor was qualified he did not have extensive experience but, as most of the participants could already sail, had done the theory, were most interested in leaning how to handle the boat under power and do some practical navigation we got what we wanted out of the course. The instructor was quite strict and taught how things should be done correctly rather than what you might do in practice, he was also very diligent. He claimed that this is what Southern Sailing required of all their instructors. As they use a large number of instructors on a sub-contract basis and it is therefore pot-luck who you will get, having a consistent teaching methodology that works is important.
On the basis of my expereince I would recommend Southern Sailing if you want to be taught properly and do not mind roughing it (alot). If you want a comfortable holiday then go somewhere else.
However, having accepted that I once again had to live as I had done in my impoverished student days many years ago it was quite fun (the weather was also good and we could escape to the pub on occassion).
Although the instructor was qualified he did not have extensive experience but, as most of the participants could already sail, had done the theory, were most interested in leaning how to handle the boat under power and do some practical navigation we got what we wanted out of the course. The instructor was quite strict and taught how things should be done correctly rather than what you might do in practice, he was also very diligent. He claimed that this is what Southern Sailing required of all their instructors. As they use a large number of instructors on a sub-contract basis and it is therefore pot-luck who you will get, having a consistent teaching methodology that works is important.
On the basis of my expereince I would recommend Southern Sailing if you want to be taught properly and do not mind roughing it (alot). If you want a comfortable holiday then go somewhere else.
jonburt
New Member
Hi Paul,
I'm Jon. The person that spoke to you from the Hamble School of Yachting about your son. I'm very sorry to hear that you feel I treated you badly with my response.
I would hope that you understand that I has to consider the feelings of everyone else that weould be on the boat at the same time. I appreciate that his mum would be with him, but sadly a lot of people would still be uncomfortable sailing with children on board.
As I explained on the phone, I would be more than happy to try and accomodate you during the summer holidays, which would coincide with other schools or I guess, if you were to here of another family in the same situation as yourself that want to bring a child sailing during the same week as your son is off during the May half term, then I would happily come to some arrangement.
If you would like to speak to me further on this matter, then feel free to contact me privately on 07881 786005.
Again, I have to say I'm very sorry to hear that you feel I treated you badly with my response, and hope that we could maybe sort something out.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Jon.
I'm Jon. The person that spoke to you from the Hamble School of Yachting about your son. I'm very sorry to hear that you feel I treated you badly with my response.
I would hope that you understand that I has to consider the feelings of everyone else that weould be on the boat at the same time. I appreciate that his mum would be with him, but sadly a lot of people would still be uncomfortable sailing with children on board.
As I explained on the phone, I would be more than happy to try and accomodate you during the summer holidays, which would coincide with other schools or I guess, if you were to here of another family in the same situation as yourself that want to bring a child sailing during the same week as your son is off during the May half term, then I would happily come to some arrangement.
If you would like to speak to me further on this matter, then feel free to contact me privately on 07881 786005.
Again, I have to say I'm very sorry to hear that you feel I treated you badly with my response, and hope that we could maybe sort something out.
I hope to hear from you soon,
Jon.
gregmlucas
Well-Known Member
Planning to do competent crew
I'm hoping to book a five-day competent crew course for some time in April. Probably with Four Winds at Bucklers Hard - based on recommendations elsewhere on this forum.
Have previously done a two-day "experience" with SunSail which was fine but as I believe all their skippers are contract there's no telling who you mightv= get so I thought I'd try a smaller school.
If I do, I'll let everyone know how I got on.
Cheers,
. . Greg
I'm hoping to book a five-day competent crew course for some time in April. Probably with Four Winds at Bucklers Hard - based on recommendations elsewhere on this forum.
Have previously done a two-day "experience" with SunSail which was fine but as I believe all their skippers are contract there's no telling who you mightv= get so I thought I'd try a smaller school.
If I do, I'll let everyone know how I got on.
Cheers,
. . Greg