RYA training centres with winter warmth (non-EU)

[mullet]

I've a window this winter when I need to leave the EU for a few days (90/180 related) and it could potentially be a good time to do the Coastal Skipper Course that I've wanted to do for a while. Much as I enjoy British waters, if I'm doing a course in February or early-March I'd prefer to go somewhere warmer.

Does anyone have any recommendations of sailing schools in warm places? Anywhere I should consider beyond the Caribbean? Somewhere that could be reached with BA air miles flights (potentially Barbados, Antigua, Aruba, St Lucia, St Kitts, Turks, Trinidad and Tobago, Caymans, also Bermuda and Bahamas) would make it easier to justify. All suggestions/opinions gratefully received (as long as they aren't of the "suck it up and enjoy the Solent in the snow like we did in my day" variety).

 

[Roberto]

Canaries?


later edit
sorry I did not read the non-EU req.

 

[mullet]

Canaries?

Definitely in the EU last time I checked, needs to be somewhere outside the EU! Otherwise almost certainly where I’d go.

 

[BobnLesley]

There used to be (20 years back) a couple of places in Gibraltar that did sailing courses and Gib's no longer in the EU.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

There used to be (20 years back) a couple of places in Gibraltar that did sailing courses and Gib's no longer in the EU.

Our own Captain Sensible perhaps ?

 

[Skylark]

Search RYA website for training centres in Caribbean.

Find a club or centre | Where's My Nearest | RYA

 

[mullet]

There used to be (20 years back) a couple of places in Gibraltar that did sailing courses and Gib's no longer in the EU.

Thanks. I’d mentally ruled Gib out because of the likelihood of sailing into Spain - it seems this is fairly common. Wrong assumption? Obviously I can make some calls to check this after the weekend.

 

[mullet]

Search RYA website for training centres in Caribbean.

Find a club or centre | Where's My Nearest | RYA

Thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately the RYA’s search function isn’t that helpful because it only lists operations by their home location - whereas a number (the majority?) of training boats in the Caribbean seem to be based elsewhere but overwintering in the Caribbean. According to the RYA there are only 3 establishments running yachting courses in the Caribbean (and one of the describes itself as dinghy only on its website…).

 

[crewman]

Rubicon 3 have boats in the Caribean over the winter and do RYA courses. Try them?

 

[mullet]

Rubicon 3 have boats in the Caribean over the winter and do RYA courses. Try them?

Emailed them. Thanks.

 

[Sticky Fingers]

How about Montenegro? Not EU or Schengen. Well established boating centres. Much shorter flight than the Caribbean too.

 

[[70521]]

Plymouth is lovely and warm in winter.

 

[westernman]

Thailand.
For example (don't know anything about these guys),
Andaman Yachting. Phuket's Premier RYA Training Centre. Sailing Holidays and RYA Sailing Courses in Phuket, Thailand.

 

[doug748]

Plymouth is lovely and warm in winter.

Also renowned for it's pleasantly, dry climate :




.

 

[st599]

There used to be (20 years back) a couple of places in Gibraltar that did sailing courses and Gib's no longer in the EU.

Gib joined Schengen in 2020.

Thanks. I’d mentally ruled Gib out because of the likelihood of sailing into Spain - it seems this is fairly common. Wrong assumption? Obviously I can make some calls to check this after the weekend.

From Gib you go to Morocco, Ceuta (part of Spain in N. Africa) and Spain.

 

[mullet]

Gib joined Schengen in 2020.

You might want to tell the Spanish border police, I don’t think they agree.

 

[wonkywinch]

Thanks. I’d mentally ruled Gib out because of the likelihood of sailing into Spain - it seems this is fairly common. Wrong assumption? Obviously I can make some calls to check this after the weekend.

You are right, the two main schools are Trafalgar and Jolly Parrot and their courses will inevitably have you in Spain unless you booked something custom with them.

RYA sailing courses in Gibraltar | Trafalgar Sailing School Gibraltar

RYA Sailing School | Jolly Parrot Sailing

It's peak season in the Caribbean so do make sure you can book your flights using your Avios points first.

 

[Neeves]

Go outside your comfort zone and go somewhere exotic

Australia, and I expect NZ, do RYA courses.

Obviously there will be cultural and linguistic problems but we are very understanding. February is still summer here but March and then April you are into autumn and sea temps off Sydney will be a chilly 24 degrees.

Jonathan

 

[RunAgroundHard]

... Somewhere that could be reached with BA air miles flights ...

... Australia, and I expect NZ, do RYA courses. ...

Expensive air mile destinations.

From BA Avios website

Using British Airways, to NZ a Club World redemption costs 340,000 Avios (peak) or 290,000 Avios (off-peak) plus £750 in Reward Flight Saver fees.

Barbados

30,000 +£75

35,000 +£75

 

[Neeves]

Mullet made no suggestion of parsimony - he wanted ideas. No need to tell me the costs of flights back to Europe, we went to North Cape this summer - we decided it was worth it - and have not regretted it since. Maybe you would be surprised how many Brits come to Oz - just for a holiday (some like it so much they come back to live. ).

Jonathan