Building confidence
Tom Cunliffe says own boat coaching is one of his favourite ‘caps’ to wear. “I’ve been offering this service ever since I gave up full-time teaching and examining. I meet my clients as equals and many have become friends.” The Yachting World author and renowned authority does own boat tuition, holds masterclasses at yacht clubs and teaches celestial navigation (www.tomcunliffe.com).
“Often, I can help self-taught sailors who have kept outside the system prepare for a Yachtmaster exam. Sometimes, folks will have bought a bigger boat and need a confidence booster. There may be some new technicality that’s baffling an old hand, or perhaps a pig of a berth dealt out by a harbourmaster who deserves a private slot reserved in hell!
“Occasionally, the issue is more subtle, such as helping one of a duo to appreciate the joy of sailing. Those are secretly my favourites.”
confidence on board. I also hoped that I might complete my Day Skipper. That way I’d know I could manage the boat if Paul was taken unwell.
“There were numerous other things we wanted to cover, for example the radar, which we hadn’t really had call to use before. We wanted to get to grips with all of it properly before we were out on our own.”
Lisa Walker of Marine Matters, a training, brokerage and charter business based in Warsash, in the Solent, says it is important that the instructor is well matched to the boat and student for one-to-one tuition. “We put a lot of effort into ensuring the dynamic is likely to be a success from the start, so having a good discussion about your experience and what you hope to achieve is important.
“Some clients want an easy-going character to bounce decisions off and hone skills, whereas others actively seek a more regimented style of learning and want to be pushed. Ultimately, own boat tuition is a very efficient way of learning; it’s possible to cover far more ground than on a course with several others aboard.”
While many sail training businesses are happy to offer own boat tuition, some don’t due to the insurance and liability obligations. Yacht insurers emphasise that owners should contact them in advance as having a professional skipper on board, even if you are on the boat at the same time, is likely to alter the terms of your cover.
Lisa Walker adds: “If you are going to bring an instructor on board, you should check what equipment you are expected to have on board. We will provide you with a list and talk through your boat with you, but we can’t go to sea without the basics in place.”
Theresa Carew found the planning, which began well before departure, a useful exercise in itself. “Pete got us thinking about the passage planning process long before we slipped lines. When he did come on board, he talked through the plan we had drawn up.
“Very diplomatically, he suggested some changes and reworked the watch system slightly. With hindsight, it made perfect sense. He got us in the frame of mind for a long passage, so when we were at sea there was nothing unexpected.”
Besides technical skills, some owners find the soft skills acquired from an instructor among the most valuable things they take away. “Pete was very relaxed, but doesn’t compromise safety; he taught us how the two can go together perfectly well, which has helped us enjoy sailing a lot more. It