First Class Sailing experiences and challenges: Recent Episodes
Ceri Hurford-Jones
People share their sailing experiences; including becoming qualified RYA Day Skippers, Yachtmasters and Ocean Yachtmasters. Some talk about how they spent a challenging week on board a yacht in the Solent facing not only the challenge of strong winds but also the constant pressure to get the best out of themselves and the boat. Others talk about taking on the challenge of crossing oceans with whales and butterflies for company! You can also hear from some RYA examiners and instructors offering some useful hints and tips to help you pass your exam(s). All in association with First Class Sailing in London and Southampton.
If you have a boat on the South Coast or hire one this year you must listen to the podcast! Rachael Sprot has been sailing in the Solent for over 20 years. For this episode she talks to marine podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones about some of her favourite places to visit and why you should too!!
To order a copy of her guide to the Solent or any other Imray publication just visit https://store.imray.com/collections/books-1
For this episode of Explore with Imray marine podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jonesis joined by two very special guests.
The managing director of Imray, Lucy Wilson and Adam Browne a qualified Yacht Master and First Mate with 59º North Sailing.
Adam lives, together with Laura and their lovely canine friend Angus, on board Yellow Matilda, a 1990 Hallberg-Rassy 312 powered both by the elements and an electric motor!
This episode is all about charts vs digital, the interplay between the two, what's best for the boat owner, what's best for getting more out of you, the boat, where you want to go, your pilotage and how it all works in together.....and what does the future hold?
For more information just click on;
https://www.imray.com/ Yellow Matilda
For this episode, marine podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones meets two heavyweights of the yachting world to talk about perhaps the best known pilot book of them all, The Shell Channel Pilot.
The sailing legend that is Tom Cunliffe is handing over editorship of this long-lived and authoritative tome to its first woman compiler, Rachael Sprot, herself a rising star in the world of sailing writing and from a family of well-respected sailors and authors.
To many, Tom needs little introduction. A celebrated career as a broadcaster, writer and Yachtmaster Examiner began when he was sent off to the Norfolk Broads as a teenager with his best mate and a book entitled ‘How to Sail’. At university he sailed when he should have been studying, and his first boat, Leihane, a 22ft centreboard sloop, led to him buying a bigger boat, Sarri, on which he and his wife Ros lived, berthed in the mud on the Hamble River in the 1970s. A chance meeting with a man in a pub who said he would give them a job if they sailed to Brazil led to them stocking up and setting off with just £50 in their pockets. He ended up working at the National Sailing Centre at Cowes, where he became skipper of the race boat Griffin, narrowly missing out on the infamous ‘79 Fastnet Race. Since getting his bus pass (his words!) Ros and Tom bought Constance, a 44ft Bermudan cutter that really allows them to stretch their sea legs.
Rachael Sprot is a sailing instructor and a Yachtmaster Examiner who’s been sailing since she was a child, when she was told in no uncertain terms that she’d be grateful for it one day! A prolific writer for sailing magazines including Yachting Monthly and Yachting World, she has run various boats when involved with Rubicon Three, a sailing adventure company, but has just bought her first ever personal boat, a pretty, long keel, 1970s-built Cheoy Lee 36 that she says is now taking an awful lot of her weekends to get up to scratch.
Although Rachael has just embarked on her own journey with the Channel Pilot, she has an impressive number of sea miles logged, from St Petersburg/ Svalbard to Tahiti. Now, as the book changes authorship, so too will its voice, as it has since it was conceived by K. Adlard Coles in the 1930s. It has long encouraged even the most novice sailor to explore the waters of the English Channel, and the wealth of knowledge it shares includes not just data but a guiding hand, a rich narrative and a sense of exploration that will be relished by all!
To get your copy of The Shell Channel Pilot visit https://www.imray.com/product/The-Shell-Channel-Pilot/IB0202-2/
In this episode Marine Podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones meets up with Annabel Finding to talk about the Imray pilot book she is newly responsible for……. The Channel Islands, Cherbourg Peninsula & North Brittany.
We had a lot of fun whilst chatting, as I’m sure you’ll be able to tell…but we did have all sorts of technical issues whilst recording….NOT anyone’s fault….such are the challenges of us both being on boats with Annabel’s located currently in Turkey!! So please excuse some of the variations in sound!!
The Channel Islands, Normandy and Brittany coasts can seem a daunting sailing area for those unaccustomed to their ways, but this book provides reassurance and so much practical advice that anyone using it will feel confident of success.' (Yachting Monthly). It is the definitive pilot for anyone interested in the challenge of exploring the less frequently used passages and anchorages.
To find out more just visit:
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+pilots+and+cruising+guides/North+West+Europe/IB0199-1/
It’s my pleasure to welcome you to another edition in our series Explore with Imray. As I get to talk with more of the editors behind the wonderful pilot books Imray produce.
I hope you’ll enjoy hearing more about their passion for the water along with some of their favourite anchorages and of course discovering more about the cruising grounds they cover which hopefully will provide you with some inspiration for your next cruise.
In this episode I met up with Jane Cumberlidge to talk about the pilot book she is now responsible for……..The Bristol Channel and River Severn Cruising Guide including Milford Haven to St Ives including the Navigable Severn to Worcester
Yachting monthlysaid ‘This pilot book covers nearly every creek, pill, river and harbour from Milford Haven to St Ives via Lydney and Bristol. It’s beautifully illustrated throughout, with inspiring photographs and a comprehensive set of harbour chartlets. Plenty of historical and cultural asides and a wealth of detail on shoreside attractions’ .
To find out more just visit;
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+pilots+and+cruising+guides/North+West+Europe/IB0012/
For this episode marine podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones had the great pleasure to hook up with Chris Howes the editor of 2 pilot books - the Fenland Waterways and The River Great Ouse and its tributaries.
Chris had kindly moved his barge ‘Lily May’ upstream on the Great Ouse for our chat in order to get a decent Wi Fi signal (which also necessitated him temporally putting up an 8ft ariel pole) such are the challenges of communications in some of the far-flung outer reaches of the UK!!
An Amazon customer said ‘5 stars - quite simply, if you use the river Nene, then you need this book. It tells you where all the Friends of the River Nene spots are, it tells you where you can moor for the night, it tells you tons of info about places of interest. Just buy the book, it will really improve your river life.’
This is a great podcast that will have reaching for this link ;https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+Inland+Waterways+Maps+%26+Guides/British+Isles/IB0212-2/
In this episode marine podcaster Ceri Hurford-Joneswas delighted to meet up with Norman Kean the editor ofSouth & West Coasts of Ireland Sailing Directions, East & North Coasts of Ireland Sailing Directionsand (co-editor) of Cruising Ireland.
Norman is a fascinating guest who has a huge passion for theEmerald Isle, making it an absolutely fascinating conversation that covered everything from his favourite anchorages to some of the issues involved in taking your pets across to Ireland.
Relied upon for over 80 years as the standard text on small-craft pilotage of the Irish coast. Over 350 ports, harbours and anchorages, described passage planning, pilotage, tides, dangers, lights and marks, on shore facilities, latest information from INFOMAR, new pontoons in 12 harbours, and a new chapter on crossings to and from England and Wales.
To order your own copy of his book(s) just click here; https://www.imray.com/Publications/Bookshop/Other+Publishers+Pilot+books%2C+Handbooks%2C+Almanacs/North+West+Europe/RBICC0001-3/
In this Explore more with Imray podcast Marine Podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones talks to David Edwards-May about his pilot book The Inland Waterways of France.
Davidshares his own boating history along with his personal favourite stretches of canal. He also covers how the canals themselves are operated, licensed and managed, together with some fascinating insights into the uniquely French way of operating the actual system!He has some really useful practical advice for both the new and returning inland waterways cruiser.
The Inland Waterways of France pilot book was first published over 65 years ago as a single volume presenting nearly 80 waterways in alphabetical order. However, boat ownership, cruising habits, leisure and lifestyle choices have changed significantly over the years, and the extent of useful information has expanded. Consequently, the 9000 kilometres of navigable waterways in France are now covered by three volumes that David has a real passion for as you will hear!
Volume 1 covers Northern France down to the capital region Île-de-France, central France and Burgundy.
Volume 2 presents the waterways from the northeast to the southeast, hence the classic cruising itineraries from Northern Europe to the Mediterranean Sea via the Rivers Meuse, Moselle, Sarre or Rhine, converging on the ‘common trunk’ of the Saône and Rhône.
Volume 3 brings together all the other navigable waterways, from Southern France (the ‘Midi’) via the rivers flowing into the Atlantic Coast, to the remarkable network of canals and canalised rivers in Brittany
For your own copy of this brilliant Pilot Book just visit: https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+Inland+Waterways+Maps+%26+Guides/Rest+of+Europe/IB0138/
In this Imray podcast together with The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation, Jo Winter talks with Marine Podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones about her favourite area, together with some words of advice for both the new and returning cruiser.
The South China Sea pilot books cover Singapore to Hong Kong via the Gulf of Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, the Philippines and Taiwan.
Jo first visited Southeast Asia in 1976 as an impoverished backpacker just two years after the end of the Vietnam War, She found then, as now, the people friendly, helpful but undemanding, often reserved or shy, but always responding to smiles.
Her love and fascination for southeast Asia, its culture and its people have remained with her ever since. Once Jo and her husband returned to the South China Sea in 2007 their planned (repeat) circumnavigation has been put on hold as they have spent longer and longer exploring the fabulous cruising grounds of South East Asia, and enjoying the company of the resourceful, friendly people who live here.
Jo hopes that her Cruising Guide will encourage many more people to head east on their boats and experience, as she has, one of the most diverse, beautiful, unspoiled and undiscovered sailing areas in the world.
To discover more of the delights that this fascinating area has in store just go to: https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+pilots+and+cruising+guides/Pacific%2C+Australia%2C+New+Zealand%2C+Asia/IB0147/
Steve Pickard is the Pilot book editor for Mediterranean Spain, including the Straits of Gibraltar all the way to the French border
In this Imray podcast (together with The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation). Steve Pickard brings to life, with Podcaster Ceri, some of his favourite Med Spain areas together with some words of wisdom for both the new and returning cruiser.
Steve first came to the Mediterranean region in the winter of 1978 on a delivery trip from the Hamble to Greece. In Gibraltar he took over a Nicolson 39 that had spent Christmas hove to off NW Spain. Almost certainly as a result of these excesses the rudder dropped off on their first night out from Gib when he was amazed to find out how warm the winter sea was! As Almeria drew close he was treated to his first sight of Moorish Spain with the town’s imposing castle dominating the very welcome port. Steve has cruised this coast many times since and always too quickly has found that the slower the progress, the greater the rewards.
To order your copy of this fascinating pilot book just go to:
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+pilots+and+cruising+guides/Mediterranean/IB0236-1/
For this edition of Explore More with Imray, together with The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation, podcaster Ceri meets up with Linda Lane Thornton to talk about the pilot book she co writes with Anne Hammick FRIN and Hilary Keatinge.......The Atlantic Islands. This amazing book covers; Bermuda, Azores, Madeira Group, Canary Islands and Cape Verdethe.
Linda started off sailing a little Wayfarer dingy, before progressing to completing an Atlantic circuit including a visit to the Azores.
She then married Andy, who was at that time a complete Novice sailor, so they went off chartering in the Greek islands before buying there own Nicholson, half Tonner, that they sailed out of Blyth, Northumberland, before trading up to a Nicholson 35 in 2006.(Andy said it was her birthday present!!). On which they sailed over 5,000 miles, completing a complete circumnavigation that ended up in…… the Azores!
After three more Atlantic circuits they finally settled on São Jorge, in the Azores over 15 months ago.
To order your own copy of this fascinating book goto; https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/IB0235-1/
Welcome to another edition in our series Explore More with Imray as Ceri Hurford-Jones talks to more of the contributors that work with Imray. Today’s guests are Rod and Lu Heikell, editors of the Greek Waters Pilot and Ionian
Growing up in the west country Lu gained a love of cruising and dinghy sailing from her father, Peter. Then met up with her husband Rod in 1999 when she joined him as crew on a trip from the Azores to Gibraltar…..
Born in New Zealand, Rod Heikell, abandoned academic life in the UK, and sailed a 1950s, 20 foot plywood yacht down to the Mediterranean where he worked in the charter market. Until in ignorance of the scale of the task, he decided to write a yachtsman’s guide to Greece. Over the past five decades, together with Lu, they have produced a whole host of pilot books covering everywhere from the Med to the Indian ocean, along with many other books and novels.
Now, living on the Isle Of Wight, when they're not on their beloved yacht Skylax, they work on their books and enjoy cooking great food.
For your copy of these pilot books just go to:
https://www.imray.com/publications/Books/IB0211-1/
Marine podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones meets up with the Editor of Imray publications Jane Russel to talk all things about sailing with families on board. Jane shares some fascinating insights into how she and her husband have traveled hundreds of miles, relatively stress free, whilst keeping young folks entertained and very safe!
Jane Russell grew up with parents who were big dinghy sailors, meeting her husband through the same route! After university, instead of being sensible and buying a house, they bought an old steel boat, living and cruising on her knowing almost nothing!! As she says 'it all built from there'! With many sea miles under the keel from sailing to various destinations around the world, they landed back in the West Country in 2000.
Once children arrived, right from the word go, they had them on board, as they continued to cruise extensively.
On behalf of Imray marine Podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones meets up withPeter Harvey, editor of The Tidal Havens of The Wash and Humber who’s sailing origins are all based on the East coast, where he's well used to boating around in muck, as opposed to mucking around in boats!
Peter's love of all things that float goes right back to his school days, when the boat he built wouldn’t actually fit out of the woodwork room! After serving in the Royal Navy he got involved in various forms of Marine consultancy, that led him back to the Wash where he was involved in the design and building of Wisbech yacht Harbour, of which he later became harbormaster. Now retired, he dedicates his time to helping the sailing community to explore more of his favourite part of the UK.
To get your own copy of this fascinating pilot book just click here. https://www.imray.com/Publications/Other+publishers+Pilot+books,+handbooks,+almanacs/IB0176/
Managing Director Lucy Wilson talks to podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones about Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd nautical publications, who produce over 250 charts, 100 pilot books and cruising guides, along with a series of apps for the digital era.
It’s a time of change, not only for Imray but also within the wider marine industry as sailing habits are changing and technology open up huge opportunities.
It’s an exciting challenge and one that Lucy couldn’t take on without the rest of the wider family at Imray!
Listen to this podcast to hear more about what the future holds for this amazing 300 year old company @imraynautical
This is a bonus edition in our series Exploring Sailing Topics with Imray with Ceri Hurford-Jones.
Today’s special guests not only know about all the places to visit, but they will probably help influence your culinary choices on the way! On this podcast they talk about some of their experiences sailing to some of the most amazing and uplifting coastlines around.
Born in New Zealand, Rod Heikell, abandoned academic life in the UK, and sailed a 1950s, 20 foot plywood yacht down to the Mediterranean where he worked in the charter market. Until in ignorance of the scale of the task, he decided to write a yachtsman’s guide to Greece. Over the past five decades, together with his wife Lou, they've produced a whole host of pilot books covering everywhere from the Med to the Indian ocean, along with many other books and novels.
Lou Heikell, met her husband when she joined him as crew on a trip between the Azores to Gibraltar, many sea miles and a circumnavigation later, they have lived loved and worked together for nearly 20 years. Now, living on the Isle Of Wight, when they're not on their beloved yacht Skylax, they work on books and cooking great food.
Explore Sailing topics with Imray and Ceri Hurford-Jones, today’s guests are Dinah and Trevor Thompson who have been keen sailors since childhood.
Trevor began his time at sea with a brief stint in the Merchant Navy. Dinah began sailing in Poole harbour. Then together in 1973, they got together pooling their resources to buy a 17ft sailing cruiser, getting as far as St Ives with her.
Various adventures and boats later they purchased Joleta of Pettycur, a 26' junk rigged beauty in which they set off to sail to the Mediterranean, and the boat which was their floating home in the Adriatic.
Keen to pass on their knowledge to the next generation, both have formed deep relationships with their local Sea Cadet Corps, but their Magnum Opus is, The Adriatic Pilot first published by Imray in 1986 and now in its eighth edition.
Please follow the link for more information;
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/IB0240-1/
Ceri talks to another great guest in the series Explore Sailing topics with Imray, together with The Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation.
Today’s guest is Andrew Wilkes the editor of Arctic and Northern Waters pilot book. Andrew started his working life as a Radio Officer in the merchant navy but came ashore in his twenties to work in the telecoms industry. He’s been an active cruising sailor ever since with stints at the helm of everything from a dingy to a 67ft steel Challenge yacht.
He’s an RYA Yachtmaster Instructor who with his wife, Máire sail their 56 ft steel gaff cutter, Annabel J, to some of the world’s most remote places; from Argentina to the Baltic, and from the Faroe Islands to Alaska.
When not on his own boat, Andrew sails with the Ocean Youth Trust, a charity which takes disadvantaged young people to sea
To find out more about his pilot book please go to;
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/IB0209-2/
Welcome to another edition in our series Explore Sailing topics with Imray as Ceri Hurford-Jones talks to more of the contributors that work with Imray. Today’s guest is Lu Heikell co-editor of Mediterranean France & Corsica Pilot
Growing up in the west country Lu gained a love of cruising and dinghy sailing from her father, Peter. Then met up with her husband Rod in 1999 when she joined him as crew on a trip from the Azores to Gibraltar…..they have been together now for over twenty years and live on the Isle of Wight when not on their yacht ‘Skylax'.
Click here for a copy of Mediterranean France & Corsica Pilot
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/IB0194-1/
Join Ceri Hurford-Jones,for another in our series Explore Sailing topics with Imray, together with the RCC Pilotage Foundation.
……Today he is talking to David Baggaley, who with his wife Susie, have over 65 years’ sailing experience between them and have sailed over 150,000 miles, most of which have been since their retirement, including extensive periods in the Caribbean, North America and northern Europe as well as the Mediterranean. They have certainly used their Beneteau 42, Kookaburra to good effect as they carried out their extensive research of the Balearic islands for the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation Islas Baleares cruising guide. Having lived on Menorca for several years, it’s clear that’s where their hearts lie. They say, that high on their list of priorities these days is for well-protected anchorages with good sand or mud bottoms where they can sleep soundly through wind shifts!
To order a copy visit
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/IB0231-1/
Ceri Hurford-Jones talks to Geoff Crowley, an RYA Ocean Yachtmaster, who speaks Icelandic!He’s also one of the volunteer skippers in theAble2Sail charity that offers free sailing experiences to disabled young people. In his 'spare time' he is the editor of the Clyde Cruising Club’s Sailing Directions and Anchorages Firth of Clyde - one of the titles in the CCC’s well-known and popular series.
Part of the Clyde Cruising Club’s Sailing Directions and Anchorages series, Firth of Clyde extends beyond its titled area to the coast of Northern Ireland (Rathlin Island to Belfast Lough) and on the Scottish side southwards from Stranraer to Portpatrick and beyond to the Solway Firth and Cumbria.
Firth of Clyde covers everything from the busy waters of the Firth of Clyde and River Clyde to the more remote areas of the wider estuary and connected lochs, including the protected and beautiful Kyles of Bute and Loch Riddon, Loch Fyne and the Crinan Canal. Coverage then extends west and south to encompass North Channel and Solway Firth.
‘Drawing upon an impressive list of sources… All charts, photographs and commentary provide unique information for sailors wishing to undertake real or ‘virtual’ cruises in the finest areas of west and northeast Scotland- those of us who have cruised there in the past can only look with envy on all the data, wishing that these fine publications had been available in our day!’ Cruising Magazine.
Buy your own copy of this pilot book here;
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/IB0242-1/
Ceri Hurford-Jones talks to Madeleine Strobel who met her partner at a sailing school in Germany in the 60's, luckily, they both liked sailing (and clearly each other!) and have kept both passions alive since.
From dinghy sailing on Lake Geneva to many years of extensive cruising in northern Europe on Easy Rider, their trusted Bowman 40, and southwards to the Mediterranean including Corsica and Sardinia where they have spent many years, both on and off the water, researching and writing the latest edition of the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation’s pilot book Corsica and North Sardinia.
The west coast of Corsica and the northeast coast of Sardinia have some of the finest scenery in the Mediterranean for the cruising yachtsman. Limpid blue and turquoise waters, small coves and spectacular cliffs and beaches are scattered along the 1,000M of coastline......on the podcast Madeleine shares some of her favourite anchorages and harbours along with some great advice for anyone planning on visiting the area.
For more information on this wonderful cruising ground please visit:
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/IB0218-1/
Covering the whole Atlantic coast of France, from Ouessant in the north to Hendaye on the Spanish border, the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation Atlantic France pilot book has been thoroughly revised and updated by Nick Chavasse who has taken his Bowman 40, Wild Bird, into every main port and a multitude of anchorages, including explorations up the numerous navigable rivers.
During this podcast Nick talks to Ceri Hurford-Jones about the delights of the Brittany coast west from L'Aberwrac'h, to the gateway to the Chenal du Four including the islands of Ouessant and Molène. This podcast will help you understand more about this long and varied coastline with its sometimes-daunting tides and currents and why so many sailors enjoy sailing here.
To order your copy just visit:
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+pilots+and+cruising+guides/North+West+Europe/IB0162-2/
The East Coast Pilot has become the bible for cruising sailors for the waters between Great Yarmouth and Ramsgate covering as it does the many harbours, rivers and creeks in a clear and concise manner. This podcast features Ceri Hurford-Jones talking to the authors Garth Cooper and Dick Holness as theyreveal some of the mysteries of sailing these shallow and shifting coastal waters. Both authors keep their boats on the East Coast and are life-long lovers of the area. They maintain that every time they cast off and take to the water, they learn something new, adding to the considerable wealth of experience which they have passed on enthusiastically over many years.
To find out more just visit:
https://www.imray.com/Publications/IB0232-1/
Podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones talks to 19 year old Peter Russell, who despite being reasonably experienced and knowledgeable for his age, found that people wouldn’t take his sailing dreams seriously. He was hell bent on proving them wrong, initially setting about doing dinghy cruising, he rapidly found that planning and completing his own cruises required a lot more forethought and knowledge than he realised. Luckily he got the chance to turn his experiences around, as he was introduced to an extraordinarily generous man, Jon Stokes, who lent him his yacht, Muffin. She was for all intents and purposes a dinghy with a lid. She had only two beds, an anchor light, a depth sounder, a radio, an outboard and a suit of sails. Most would say she wasn’t much, but she was enough for Peter, enough to start gaining his own experiences as a skipper, learning from his own mistakes, and having his own adventures with great support from Imray.......circumnavigating Britain via the Caledonian Canal!
Read Peter's full log here;
https://liveicomgrshot.blob.core.windows.net/rccfiles/Uploadedpdfs/Logs/Peter%20Russell%20RCC%20Marshall%20Award%20Log%20%202020.pdf
Graham Adam, author of the Royal Cruising Club Pilotage Foundation pilot book Isles of Scillytalks to Ceri Hurford-Jones about this extraordinary and beautiful archipelago, just ten miles long and five wide, that has so much to offer and yet so few know of its very existence, let alone where it is!
The islands are 30 miles out into the Atlantic, so any visitor, travelling from any direction, must make a special effort to get there. It is certainly not the easiest of cruising destinations but well worth the effort! This podcast will draw you in to find out why this compelling mix of dramatic seascapes, a huge variety of flora and fauna, and a fascinating history that reaches back over 4,000 years will draw you towards it.
To order your copy just visit;
https://www.imray.com/Publications/Imray+Pilots/Imray+pilots+and+cruising+guides/North+West+Europe/IB0137-1/
First Class Sailing help boat owner Mark Essex achieve his goal of getting his Yachmaster qualification. Hear he talks to FCS Ceri Hurford-Jones about how he found the course and the pressures of the exam and the challenging conditions it was was held in!
Jamie steers the good ship First Class Sailing through the myriad of RYA approved courses available and the length of time you should allow to get the best out of the course at a pace that works for you.
Alex Eyre talks to First Class Sailing's podcaster Ceri Hurford-Jones about her sailing experiences to date and her plans for the future.
At the age of 7 Alex discovered sailing, mucking around in old wooden wayfarers in the Devon estuaries. But is wasn't until University that she really got the sailing bug as she joined the yachting team race training and exploring the Clyde, spending nights at anchor in remote Scottish villages and towns including Tarbet and Holy Loch.
In 2013 she ended up working on some ex Whitbread yachts in the Whitsundays taking backpackers on 3 day trips, followed by a life changing experience that saw her taking part in the Fastnet yacht race,
In 2017 she decided to fulfill a life long dream and cross the Atlantic, at trip that really followed in her mother’s foot steps. And that is where First Class Sailing came in.
First Class Sailing talk to Paul Pilsworth about the practical courses he runs for us and what to expect when you get on board for a weekend of week with him.
Upon retirement Paul sailed across the Atlantic, before relocating to Cowes where he bought a yacht. He then realised his long held dream of sailing round Britain before becoming a cruising instructor! He's enjoyed teaching both novice and experienced sailors for First Class Sailing now for over 7 years. As many of my students say about him "Paul really is really living the dream!” To find out how you could take the helm on board one of First Class Sailing yachts just visit https://www.firstclasssailing.com/
fulfilment of a long held dream of arriving at a favourite destination on our round Britain sail.
Ricky discovered the thrill of sailing relatively late in his life after booking a sailing holiday on a whim for his family. He then signed up for a Round-The-World yacht race, billed as the "Worlds Toughest Yacht Race" - the Global Challenge 2004-5., That experience decided Ricky's future - he gave up his high powered career in Information Technology.
Wind forward fifteen years and Ricky has now clocked up 260,000 sea miles, completed another Round-The-World-Race, this time as skipper in 2007-8, six trans Atlantic ARC races, six Fastnet Races, and sixteen Atlantic crossings as well as sailing as far North as the Lofoton Islands in the Arctic Circle and as far South as 62 degrees South, 120 miles further South of Cape Horn. He is the Principle of his own RYA Sailing School, instructs and examines for a number of other sailing schools including First Class Sailing.
Nigel Rennie started sailing in 1984 whilst serving in the Army (REME). He qualified as a Yachtmaster Instructor in 1990 becoming an RYA Examiner a few years later. He’s skippered large sail training yachts worldwide, crossing most of the oceans and venturing south as far as the Falkland Islands.
Presently Rear Commodore Sailing for Warsash Sailing Club, Nigel splits his sailing time between instructing and examining Yachtmasters, teaching Celestial Navigation, offshore racing safety and boat handling skills. Recreational sailing includes supporting club sailing and family chartering
Here he share with First Class Sailing some of hints and tips that could help you become a qualified RYA Yachtmaster.
Nigel Rennie started sailing in 1984 whilst serving in the Army (REME). He qualified as a Yachtmaster Instructor in 1990 becoming an RYA Examiner a few years later. He’s skippered large sail training yachts worldwide, crossing most of the oceans and venturing south as far as the Falkland Islands.
Presently Rear Commodore Sailing for Warsash Sailing Club, Nigel splits his sailing time between instructing and examining Yachtmasters, teaching Celestial Navigation, offshore racing safety and boat handling skills. Recreational sailing includes supporting club sailing and family chartering
Here he share with First Class Sailing some of the wealth of experience he has built up as to what makes a Ocean Yachtmaster.
Sue Speed talks to Ceri about remote learning and how First Class Sailing have really helped her to up skill her knowledge base via the on line portal with a live instructor. To find out more about zoom learning with First Class Sailing just visit https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-online-sailing-courses
Kate Hattersley explains how an on line theory course she is taking really helped her to get the knowledge she needed for the next step on her sailing journey with First Class Sailing. To find out how to expand your sailing knowledge via an online course, with a live instructor just visit https://www.firstclasssailing.com/rya-courses/yachtmaster-ocean-theory-course
In this special 'live' edition Hugo talks to fellow candidate Ceri Hurford-Jones about his sailing experiences to date and his three days of yachtmaster prep as he gets ready to face the examiner. To talk to the First Class Sailing team about improving your own sailing skills visit https://www.firstclasssailing.com/
A superb range of courses are on offer from First Class Sailing....listen to find out more from their head instructor. To find out more just go to https://www.firstclasssailing.com/
RNLI crew member Rebecca Miller talks to Ceri about taking part on the 2019 ARC yacht race and how in the middle of a night watch she was visited by a butterfly, whilst whales played in the wake of their 72ft craft. You could experience this for yourself by clicking here........https://www.firstclasssailing.com/arc-rally-2020
Clive Morgan tells Ceri how he moved from racing a dingy to helming a 72ft racing yacht across the Atlantic from the Canaries to the Caribbean in the ARC Rally. Sailing across the Atlantic is a pretty special experience, let alone racing across. Ocean racing is not for the faint hearted. It might be at times quite physically demanding, certainly exhilarating, and definitely fun. You could experience this for yourself by clicking here........https://www.firstclasssailing.com/arc-rally-2020
Katie chats to Ceri Hurford-Jones from First Class Sailing about the key influences in her life that led her to signing up for a basic RYA training course and then onto becoming a yachtmaster in the space of just a few years, with a very different future now in front of her. To follow Katie out onto the water just visit https://www.firstclasssailing.com/
Novice sailor Billy tells Ceri Hurford-Jones from First Class Sailing how completing an RYA qualified competent crew course gave him the confidence to get onto a yacht and pursue his dreams. If you would like to follow in Billy's footsteps just visit https://www.firstclasssailing.com/
Jane and Carol share their experiences about becoming qualified RYA Day Skippers. After a gruelling week on board a yacht in the Solent they faced not only the challenge of force 8 gales all week but also the constant pressure to get the best out of themselves and the boat. To find out more please visit https://www.firstclasssailing.com/ or call Martin in the office to have a chat 02380 011 077