Sailing Schools that you would use

[RobF]

Yes, I'd recommend them. Four to a course and a spare boat in case one gets damaged.

BTW, many years I was told a story by one of Southern Sailing School's instructors in the days when John Goode ran it (maybe he still does). This instructor had a student, a retired Army officer he said, who objected to doing any of the domestic chores. The instructor phoned John Goode for advice, and was told to take the boat back to the base, where JG met the boat on the pontoon, gave the student a cash refund and told him to pack his bag and clear off.

I wouldn't be surprised if JG outranked the officer in question!

FWIW, very good experiences with BOSS and On-Deck. On-Deck definitely had the best food!

 

[GruffT]

+1 for Southern.

Also look at Sailing Logic - can only speak from the racing point of view but they do pretty well there....

 

[kaptainkrunchie]

Les Rant
sails out of Suffolk Yacht Hbr
one of the few who uses a spinnaker

Another vote for Les

 

[TiggerToo]

Definitely Trysail in Falmouth (http://www.trysail.net/). Andy is a top class guy who, apart from being an excellent skipper/trainer/principal is also a great chef (actually professionally qualified) to boot.

Of course I need to qualify this by mentioning they do use Tigger o)

 

[Stork_III]

Les Rant
sails out of Suffolk Yacht Hbr
one of the few who uses a spinnaker

Les is pretty good, but even he can't sail out of SYH with a spinnaker, head sail maybe.

 

[P4Paul]

John Challener at Christchurch Yachting gets my vote.

Used him over the years for both formal and informal training delivered in a calm, relaxed style at a pace suited to the individual.

 

[Flying Penguin]

I'd use Dream or Two again very happily. Did my DS there and it was a great course, will be doing my CS with them in due course.

 

[Talulah]

Hot Liquid had a boat show deal.
£100 off RYA courses booked for Gibraltar. (As a payment towards flights.)

 

[Billjratt]

Maritime Connection, Troon. Bob's a good instructor who understands the needs of individual pupils on each session.
Results count. He produces competent boat people.(sail or power)

 

[andytrombone]

Cornish Cruising out of Falmouth are excellent. Top class instructors and a fantastic training ground around Carrick Roads and the Cornish coast.
Mile builders to North and South Brittany, Ireland and The Scillies run all year round.
They are very flexible and will go out of their way to accommodate any special requirements.
I had Diesel instruction from a Diesel engineer, VHF taught by a retired head of the coastguard in Falmouth, Sea Survival from a retired Army survival instructor (and current RNLI station manager) and a variety of sailing instructors from a number of different backgrounds.

 

[hrchivers]

Another vote for Southern,

and for one that has not been mentioned: Compass Sea School in Portishead, they specialise in power boat but also do the shore based courses.

Howard

 

[DogWatch]

So with such a highly visable thread running concerning a Sailing School that does not get much praise. What Schools could forumites recommend?

I have had a very great experience with "Dream or Two" based at Royal Clarance in Gosport. Did my first ever Round the Island with them,

No Ego's on board, friendly and fun to deal with, great teaching.

Wish I had done my DS with them.

Will certanly do my Costal with them when I get round to it...

One that teaches weather, where to get it and how to interpret it during lesson one. Even if you are starting competent crew. If you are not reading the weather before you go everything else, tides, navigation, ropework is all insignificant.

 

[Rumtotty]

Sailing Schools that you would use.

I can't speak highly enough of Cornish Cruising! Really nice knowledgeable people, nice boats and a fabulously varied sailing area to practise in.
When doing DS practical course our Instructor had a link with Culdrose and we even took part a training helicopter rescue with a 10 stone dummy as it timed nicely with one of their practice sessions, which was an incredible experience.
Am signed up for circumnavigation this spring and counting down the days.

 

[jimi]

I can't speak highly enough of Cornish Cruising! Really nice knowledgeable people, nice boats and a fabulously varied sailing area to practise in.
When doing DS practical course our Instructor had a link with Culdrose and we even took part a training helicopter rescue with a 10 stone dummy as it timed nicely with one of their practice sessions, which was an incredible experience.
Am signed up for circumnavigation this spring and counting down the days.

This was'nt you was it? If so you shot past us at max revs last year ;-)

 

[Caladh]

I trained under John Goode and later became one of his instructors at Southern Sailing. Old boats, but good food and no egos to get between the instructors and students. The ratio of 4:1 was perfect.

I for one would NOT recommend Southern. (sorry John). When I did my Yachtmaster training some years ago the instructor (ex.RA) proved a severe bully and almost ended my sailing days. To his credit JG did contact me and indicate that the instructor was out of order but ever since I have a a very sour taste in my mouth re. yacht "training" in general. Have since sailed our yacht from UK to Greece round the outside. Still no YM - hey ho.

 

[LittleSister]

Southern

I'm sorry to hear Caladh had a poor experience with Southern.

I did a Coastal Skipper course with them quite a lot of years ago, and had an excellent experience. Brilliant instructor who gave us students space to learn from each other and from our mistakes, as well as hear it from the expert. Very helpful, informative and encouraging.

One of the things that sticks in my mind is how he unobtrusively set up situations that tested our ability to skipper, rather than just apply the different techniques. One of the students was quite capable, in terms of knowledge and technique, but rather overconfident, and fell apart when things started going wrong.

The Solent might not be the most exciting cruising ground, but it meant we got to go into and out of any number of different types of rivers and harbours at every state of the tide and time of day, and not spend half our week on passage in open waters.

 

[skipperRO]

Which school will the distinguished forumites recommend for RYA Cruising Instructor course?
I would like to take this course and now I am doing my market research; any help in this respect will be greatly appreciated! TIA