giraffe
Active Member
Time to put theory into practice! Which sailing school along the North Wales /Northwest coast should I choose to do a DS practical course?
many thanks,
martin
many thanks,
martin
Recommendations for Sailing School North Wales please
- Thread starter giraffe
- Start date
ShipsWoofy
Well-Known Member
Bajansailor
Well-Known Member
Plas Menai is an excellent sailing school - I did a 1 week dinghy sailing course there in summer '92.
And sailing in the Menai Straits and around Anglesey is brilliant - very different to eg the Solent!
Did my Yachtmaster with Conwy Sailing School - thought they were excellent as well.
But this was 14 years ago, on a Victoria 34, and they seem to have moved on now to some Jeanneau 39s that really look the business - more info about them at http://www.conwy-yachting.com/
And sailing in the Menai Straits and around Anglesey is brilliant - very different to eg the Solent!
Did my Yachtmaster with Conwy Sailing School - thought they were excellent as well.
But this was 14 years ago, on a Victoria 34, and they seem to have moved on now to some Jeanneau 39s that really look the business - more info about them at http://www.conwy-yachting.com/
Amphitrite
Well-Known Member
I have chartered with Conwy Yachting twice and hav enjoyed extremely good service and the very well equipped yachts. When we met some of those coming back from a course, they seemed very pleased.
scottishsailor
New Member
I've had mixed reports about Conwy sailing school, e.g. good course but with people's confidence being unneccessarily skaken. Only once sailed with them myself on weekend 'just for fun' course, (on the old Victoria 34), and wasn't all that impressed, (the weather was also very mixed), but you tend to get the better instructors on the RYA courses. Have chartered from them - absolutely fine though very expensive.
I've done many theory and dinghy sailing/windsurfing courses with Plas Menai - all excellent. Only done 1 actual cruising course - again a weekend - fairly good though not the best ever, but have heard much better since.
Also did a weekend's custommade boathandling course with Island Sea school, (but can't find their website any more). This was fairly good, though I think the skipper was a bit bored just doing boathandling.
We did our dayskipper with the scottish equivalent of plas menai, and it was absolutely superb, but it was about 10 years ago, and so much depends on the skipper you get.
Also, the Clyde is a great area for developing dayskipper skills, whereas in North Wales you go from the shelter, but tidal difficulties of the Straights to the completely unsheltered waters round Anglesey. But then if this is where you're going to sail, probably best to learn something about it.
This is the scottish national centre:
http://www.nationalcentrecumbrae.org.uk/
I've done many theory and dinghy sailing/windsurfing courses with Plas Menai - all excellent. Only done 1 actual cruising course - again a weekend - fairly good though not the best ever, but have heard much better since.
Also did a weekend's custommade boathandling course with Island Sea school, (but can't find their website any more). This was fairly good, though I think the skipper was a bit bored just doing boathandling.
We did our dayskipper with the scottish equivalent of plas menai, and it was absolutely superb, but it was about 10 years ago, and so much depends on the skipper you get.
Also, the Clyde is a great area for developing dayskipper skills, whereas in North Wales you go from the shelter, but tidal difficulties of the Straights to the completely unsheltered waters round Anglesey. But then if this is where you're going to sail, probably best to learn something about it.
This is the scottish national centre:
http://www.nationalcentrecumbrae.org.uk/
ridgy
Well-Known Member
I did DS with Conwy and it was great, very challenging.
ColdFusion
Well-Known Member
I've sailed with Stan of Island Sea School at Port Dinorwic several times in the past and would recommend him. Also heard very good things about Plas Menai - my ex did her Dayskipper with them and loved every minute of it.
vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
I didn't want to be the first to mention Island Sea School, as I have never sailed with them but I have known Stan for a very long time. Highly experienced sailor, one I have heard recommended many times. He was doing annual trips to La Coruna and back, if you wanted something a little different from 20 miles down the coast to the next pub.
Kawasaki
Well-Known Member
Conwy School of Yachting.
Ian is the Chief Instructor.
Speak to Ian.
I don't do saily things but talking to 'Them/Ian' If and when I do saily stuff that's where I will berth.
Ian is the Chief Instructor.
Speak to Ian.
I don't do saily things but talking to 'Them/Ian' If and when I do saily stuff that's where I will berth.
Skylark
Well-Known Member
It's always a bit of a lotery becuase there are so many variables. North Wales is a wonderful cruising ground and a great place to learn to sail. Plas Menai has a very good reputation, as does Conwy (now under new ownership with new boats), and it would be unfair not to say the same about any of the sea schools. Cumbrae, as has already been mentioned, has access to some simply stunning scenary but is less tidal than North Wales. Picking up buoys etc under sail or power in a good tide is a worthy skill to learn so I'd suggest sticking to your plan. Pick up the phone and call the schools. See which sounds most enthusiastic and symphathetic to your needs. Good luck. Please don't run into any moored boats around Beaumaris when sailing through the channel in the dark!