Question: Can I call up and reserve a place? 

Answer: We can only reserve places on receipt of a completed booking form (printed or on-line) with full payment. However we will be pleased to let you know the status of any course when you contact us, offer alternatives or place you on the cancellation list for any full courses (No charge is made but we cannot guarantee a place will become available).
 
Question: Can I pay the deposit only and still qualify for discount later?
 
Answer: Sorry no. We no longer take deposits. All bookings must be signed and dated with full payment, to guarantee that your courses are reserved.  Only bookings made before the specified time limits qualify for the 5% early payment discount. as follows:

ANY COURSE BOOKED 60 DAYS PRIOR TO THE START DATE.
 
Question: Do all courses qualify for early payment discount?
 
Answer: Yes.  In the case of online Special Offers the period required for early payment discount will apply prior to the first course booked.  

 
Question: I cannot book multiple course on-line!
 
Answer:  We are currently working on the website upgrade in order to make this facility available.  The technical problem of gathering so much information for different courses including multiple participants has not yet been solved.  In the meantime individual courses can be booked with multiple participants.

Some search engines offer faciltities to enable you to autofill information and we are looking into this as an 'add-on' to speed up the process. 

 

Question: Can group bookings be made using individual booking forms from each person?
 
Answer: No. Group bookings apply if ONE person organises a group for the SAME course. The savings are made in administrative work only and confirmation will be sent to the person who made the booking.  It will be that person’s responsibility to pay in full and inform other members of any relevant information sent in the confirmation.
Group booking discount prices are available for most adult courses and group size and discounted rate is indicated on the course banners.
 
Question: I would rather book by telephone, can I take advantage of the special offers on the website?
 
Answer:   Yes in the interest of customer security we have now stopped taking payment for online booking.  All bookings will qualify for discount whether made online or by phone.  The final payment stage will always be by phone.  We charge cards direct to terminal and so we do not hold any record of your card details on any electronic/written media.
 
Question: My children completed Stage 2 last year can they go straight on to a Stage 3 course this year?
 
Answer:   If they have had more sailing experience since their stage 2 course then the answer is yes. However if they have not been on the water since last years course, we strongly recommend at least 3 or 4 x Supported Sailing sessions prior to booking Stage 3. This is the same for all advanced courses. IE. if your child achieved Stage 3 last year then more experience will be required before booking the Stage 4 course.
Competent sailing skills are needed for attainment of Stage 3.  The advanced courses are really only suitable for good, all-round sailors. 

 

Question: I would like to do a level 2 course but cannot find a level 1 course with the right dates can I go straight to a Level 2 course?
 
Answer: We recommend not. However you can choose 2 x 2 hr or 1 x 4 hr Short Sessions in order to cover the essential elements of the level 1 course. It will increase the range of suitable dates.
NB the advantage of these lessons is that you can set the agenda and therefore they are useful at any stage of your skills development.
 
Question: I have done some sailing before, but it was a long time ago (IE over 5 years).
Do I need to start at level 1?
 
Answer: Not necessarily. If you have previous qualifications or considerable experience, you can book on to the level 2 course straight away.  If you feel rusty why not book a Short Session in order to refresh your skills prior to booking level 2.
If you have not steered a boat before then you should book level 1.
 
Question: What’s the difference between a dinghy and a keelboat?
 
Answer: A dinghy describes any small craft with or without sail, up to about 18’-20’.  A sailing dinghy is inherently unstable to a greater or lesser extent and needs to be balanced by the crew.  A keelboat – normally – has a fixed keel providing balance, is between 18’ – 28’ long and is inherently stable.  A yacht is a large keelboat.  We use the Hawk 20 keelboats, which have a swing keel – stable – yet able to negotiate the shallow creeks to and from moorings.