The Southern Sailing School

First did day skipper with them, then coastal elsewhere, then returned for YM both sail and power, and instructor prep too, and could not fault them.
 
jac said:
Wonder what the record is?
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I dunno but this one rates high in usefulness. The opinions have not changed over the time, the school, is still highly regarded.

I was struck by this early post

Badger said:
Trashed boats but really good instruction.
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the more posts I read, the more I thought, if the boats appear somewhat battered, that is a sign they have been used to teach people what they can do, right up to the boundaries.

So if another school has boats that are pristine, it could indicate a lack of willingness to do that.
 
Both SWMBO & I have been there - I thought SWMBO would be lost to sailing as the boat was, to put it mildly, past the first flush of youth. (But it takes the worry out of berthing the thing and means neither student nor instructor panics if it looks as if you're going to hit the pontoon. Anyway, she came back absolutely glowing and with a load of stories of what they'd got up to on which she dined out for years.

All the instructors seem to be characters so life is never dull.
 
she31 said:
Who cares if the boats are a bit old. Sounds like they they train you on boats with a TILLER, which must be a good point for them. Why bother learning on a boat with a wheel if most yachts have tillers?
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Perhaps this might help? My bolding:

"Sea-Fever"

I must down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,
And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,
And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,
And a grey mist on the sea's face, and a grey dawn breaking.

I must down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide
Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;
And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,
And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,
To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;
And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover
And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

By John Masefield (1878-1967).
 
BobPrell said:
the more posts I read, the more I thought, if the boats appear somewhat battered, that is a sign they have been used to teach people what they can do, right up to the boundaries.

So if another school has boats that are pristine, it could indicate a lack of willingness to do that.
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Absolutely right.

Personally I would steer clear of a school where there was only one boat. Even more so if it was also the proprietor's cruiser.
 
she31 said:
Who cares if the boats are a bit old.
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Actually, I would care if the boats were old.
Not so much old, but worn out is a better discription. This would especially be the case if I was taking a reluctant partner along and trying to 'sell' the dream.
In this instance I would want a new, modern, shining, plastic fantastic similar to what I would be chartering in the Med.
I have been on some boats where frankly they were embarassing. Cushions where sponge was now poking through, windows so crazed you couldn't see out, windows and deck fittings that leaked at even a hint of rain. Some of the wear was downright dangerous. Winches that were as smooth as a baby's bottom. The only grip being from the self tailor.
Food would also be an important part. No 'Happy Shoppy' catering and not all of us drink and want to eat ashore in a pub. Not everyone can afford additional monies to supplement what should have been provided on board or pay for mooring/berthing fees that came as a last minute surprise.
People have different expectations from sailing schools and so it's best to research the school beforehand.
Gone are the days when people are happy to cosy up on a thirty four footer. The reality needs to meet the expectations. I'm sure many on this forum will remember the thread about a sailing school in Poole where two clients walked off the first evening because the brochure/expectation was very different from the reality.

I ran a course for one school where the course was sold as having a luxury boat. One of the City clients stood up the first evening and said "This isn't a luxury boat." I could spin it stating that because it was old we could throw it around a bit but he was right. The high expectation had started the course off on a bad note.

From reading the threads above I wouldn't be booking this particular school because it's not what I would want. It would however suit others. The people who are using these forums tend to be enthusiast who would have a good idea of what's what. A substantial number of sailing courses though are sold to very much non-sailors and the course may be the one and only time they go sailing. Sticking them on a 20 year old boat may not be the best way to promote the pastime.
 
I am sure that SSS used to state on their web site and in their paperwork that the boats used were working boats and, as such, may not be in A1 condition visually. This was stressed as customers should not be afraid of causing the odd bump or two as this was all part of the learning process.

Did YM Practical with 'em many years ago when John Goode was in charge (is he still?) and have to say that the whole experience was excellent.
 
Giblets said:
I am sure that SSS used to state on their web site and in their paperwork that the boats used were working boats and, as such, may not be in A1 condition visually. This was stressed as customers should not be afraid of causing the odd bump or two as this was all part of the learning process.

Did YM Practical with 'em many years ago when John Goode was in charge (is he still?) and have to say that the whole experience was excellent.
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Same here! If I'd wanted a cruise on a luxury yacht I'd have picked something different!
 
Just to say that a boat that is a bit tatty and semi falling apart isn't necessarily a good sign for a sailing school!

I used to work as an instructor before I escaped and at most of the schools I worked at we let people try things out and were happy for them to bash the boats around as that's the only way they learn. However if it was a bad bash then we taught them how to repair the damage or got somebody in to fix it. Leaving damage (even if you don't think it's structural) or broken kit on a boat isn't great practice or very safe, it's lazy!

SSS is obviously a very good school from what you guys have said. However it's not great to have a boat that is ruffed up and I personally wouldn't advice somebody to a place that can't be bothered to fix a boat.
 
alasdair said:
Just to say that a boat that is a bit tatty and semi falling apart isn't necessarily a good sign for a sailing school!

I used to work as an instructor before I escaped and at most of the schools I worked at we let people try things out and were happy for them to bash the boats around as that's the only way they learn. However if it was a bad bash then we taught them how to repair the damage or got somebody in to fix it. Leaving damage (even if you don't think it's structural) or broken kit on a boat isn't great practice or very safe, it's lazy!

SSS is obviously a very good school from what you guys have said. However it's not great to have a boat that is ruffed up and I personally wouldn't advice somebody to a place that can't be bothered to fix a boat.
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When I did a course with SSS the boat was perfectly seaworthy and everything worked properly. The instructor was first class.
 
alasdair said:
Just to say that a boat that is a bit tatty and semi falling apart isn't necessarily a good sign for a sailing school!

I used to work as an instructor before I escaped and at most of the schools I worked at we let people try things out and were happy for them to bash the boats around as that's the only way they learn. However if it was a bad bash then we taught them how to repair the damage or got somebody in to fix it. Leaving damage (even if you don't think it's structural) or broken kit on a boat isn't great practice or very safe, it's lazy!

SSS is obviously a very good school from what you guys have said. However it's not great to have a boat that is ruffed up and I personally wouldn't advice somebody to a place that can't be bothered to fix a boat.
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like this ;-)

6169682757_d5f251a42f_z.jpg
 
jimi said:
like this ;-)

6169682757_d5f251a42f_z.jpg
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Looks like they could also have done with some training on splicing a line onto a fender.
(Can't really talk. Mine are tied, not spliced.)

And for anyone buying fenders, blue topped ones are a nightmare. I have numerous blue paint marks on my boat as a result of them.
 
Talulah said:
Looks like they could also have done with some training on splicing a line onto a fender.
(Can't really talk. Mine are tied, not spliced.)

And for anyone buying fenders, blue topped ones are a nightmare. I have numerous blue paint marks on my boat as a result of them.
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I'd never splice a line on a fender or anything else if I can help it, lines such as those used for fenders are transferable, sometimes even need undoing ideally without a knife - even though I have lots of them.
 
Sailed on their Yamaha years ago. The instructor ex RA was a bully to say the least. Going into Portsmouth Harbour at night near Stokes Bay a seawater union failed and we were pumping by hand all the way in. The instructor would not make VHF contact with QHM which I pointed out wasn't the most seaman-like thing to do....we did however make it to a berth ok. John Goode wrote me an extremely apologetic letter some weeks later.
 
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