September 2026

Northumbria Sailing        RYA

Sail Cruising Courses & Trips in North East England

Shore to Sail

            September’s News On and Off the Water

Sail Stacking Steve

Steve Douthwaite is the sailmaker for me. Steve trained with Rob Storrar and set up on his own years ago. I remained with Rob, same school bit, but now Steve has replaced my battered stackpack with an improved design too. stephendouthwaite@hotmail.com  

We at Northumbria Sailing deliver a Stayover version of the 3 Day Practical Crewing, our alternative to the RYA Competent Crew at less than half the price. Here Jeff, Jake & Robert visited Sunderland and Blyth for their two nights stayover during the August Bank Holiday. Apart from a ‘ticking off’ in RNYC’s bar, all went well.

 

Melvyn Wallhead, Yachtmaster & RYA Shorebased Instructor. I started this business in 2009, never expecting the school would grow to the present level and have myself delivered RYA practical courses from 2011 to 2023. The North East has a long maritime tradition but potential mariners have had to go outside the area. Over 30,000 sea miles have been spread over the UK, Med, Europe, Caribbean, Thailand, four continents in all and hope I can encourage others to do the same, without the ‘incidents’.

John Parlane, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor & Examiner. ‘Before sailing I’d spent my life in the world of mountaineering. Sailing was a new sport that could take me to distant islands, and more mountains. After learning the basics in a dinghy and taking part in club racing, I bought my own 28ft yacht. Many happy years followed, cruising the West Coast of Scotland, introducing family and friends to sailing. Eventually, I took the YM Offshore practical exam. As a self-taught sailor I wanted to see how I measured up! This soon led to becoming a Yachtmaster Instructor and a wonderful new journey started. Over the next few years I qualified as an RYA instructor in many other areas, both theory and practical, to offer a broad range of courses at my own training centre and elsewhere. I’ve very much enjoyed sharing everything I’ve learnt about sailing. And, there’s always more to learn!‘.

Steve Lovett, Yachtmaster & RYA Shorebased Instructor, has a wealth of experience, including sailing with Northumbria Sailing up to the Shetlands in 2016. Steve lives in Durham and has some 50 years experience on the water ranging from dinghies to cruising yachts in the UK and abroad, including the UK to Rio leg of the Clipper Race in 2013. He has been instructing with Northumbria Sailing for many years now and is still enthusiastic and keen to sail (also pesters me with requests!)

Elaine Beauchamp Yachtmaster. ‘ I started sailing several years ago on flotilla holidays, as many of us do. When I moved north to Berwick-upon-Tweed, I decided to redo my Day Skipper, which is when I found Northumbria Sailing! Since then, I’ve progressed through to Yachtmaster Coastal, gaining experience sailing on the Scottish West Coast; South East coast and the Solent. My latest sailing adventures have been from Gran Canaria to Madeira and back and a stomach turning rally from Lanzarote to Agadir in Morocco and back again to Fuertaventura.  An Atlantic crossing is planned for November 2026!’

Jon Hetherington Yachtmaster. ‘I started sailing in my early teens and was hooked straight away.  I progressed onto bigger boats, first with the Ocean Youth Club and then onto smaller cruisers in the Irish Sea and West coast of Scotland.  After a bit of a break for work and family I “scratched the itch” and became one of Melvyn’s victims, completing both Day skipper and then Yachtmaster qualifications through Northumbria Sailing  I’ve since enjoyed both racing small yachts and cruising extensively in the Mediterranean and Scotland.  I have enjoyed some long passages including most recently a trip from Arctic Norway to Iceland across the rough Norwegian Sea’. Greenland is next on my List for this year.

Update on Courses & Trips

‘Educate rather than cram – a lesson; Most academic programmes focus on force-feeding knowledge rather than releasing curiosity. The result? We know some things – but we lose what’s most vital: the love of learning. In one study of a top university, the highest scoring graduates were given the same final exams one month after graduation. All of them failed – Cramming seldom gets past short term memory.’

THEORY COURSES

Classroom

Onboard Pure Gallus there’s a classroom suitable for a small class but, mostly, the modern Life Centre in Heaton is used, as shown. Nice, warm and cosy in Winter!

RYA OCEAN YACHTMASTER Explore the wonders of a sextant with Celestial Navigation and Ocean Passage Planning. This ‘top of the range’ RYA theory course can lead to the coveted ‘Ocean Yachtmaster’ ticket. I have a star globe, five sextants, one new lightweight metal, one plastic & two old brass, for you to handle. A practical session is included. Cost £625 or £925 on tailored tuition. ‘I have to say it was tough, and tested the brain calls somewhat. However – it was great challenge and good company – Debra’.  Try this link from a former Royal Navy officer relating his experience navigating by the stars for real whilst sailing down to the Falklands Jonathan.

RYA COASTAL YACHTMASTER The advanced Course, a must for those proceeding to Yachtmaster level. Cost £650. You need a good knowledge of this Course before being tested by the RYA Examiner. Winter/Spring evening classes 2026/7; November 16, 23 & 30th, December 7 & 14th, January 11, 18 & 25th, February 1, 8 & 22nd, March 1, 8 & 15th + 2 reserve dates March 10 & 17th. Thornley successfully completed his back-to-back with Day Skipper Theory; ‘I wanted to do this now otherwise it would have taken time to get back to speed again‘.

RYA DAY SKIPPER A popular starting point for so many over many years. Autumn face2face evening classes on Wednesdays, 6 – 9pm. Nice and cosy in a spacious modern building in Heaton, Newcastle upon Tyne. Cost £625.  Autumn dates: September 23 & 30^th, October 7, 14, & 21^st, November 4, 11, 18, & 25^th, December 2, 9 & 16^th. One session to be arranged. Filling up.   Day Skipper Theory

I can’t do these times and am in a hurry!

Then a Tailored Timetable with one to one tuition could be for you. Costs £795 for Day Skipper, £850 for Coastal/Yachtmaster™ and £925 for the Ocean. Available when the diary permits

Whilst I would not wish to encourage missing sessions, it’s a fact of life in todays world and time can be made up through private sessions or, sometimes, within the class timetable. Mario’s Journey

Skills Centre

It’s now some 15 years since I started delivering RYA Courses, their format and their questions to be answered. Yet important messages are not always given their due weight and there’s no scope for further investigation. Skills Centre sessions and courses will have this in mind and offer the opportunity to seek further knowledge as well as refreshing existing. I see subjects being mainly theory with some practical, but am open to suggestions

Face2Face Theory

TIDES In this subject we look at real tides and apply this to examples in waters of the UK and Europe, with particular emphasis on our very tidal North East Coast. Learn how to calculate tidal heights and streams at main and secondary ports. You will be using Reed’s Almanac and the first session will be for assumed beginners leading to more advanced stuff later on. This Course will be run across three sessions 1800 – 2100hrs at Heaton. Cost £95 for three sessions, less for fewer. ‘Being new to sailing and having seen numerous yacht go aground in Amble harbour entrance, the tides we have on the NE coast frightened me a little. I looked into the online courses but decided to go with you and the classroom instead and I’m glad I did. Learning in a group with instant help and feedback from you made understanding the lessons so much easier.’ – Thornley 

Online

FOG ALL OVER You have a chart plotter, AIS and Radar showing there’s another vessel out there. Plenty of electronic information but you then realise none tell you which way to turn. In the collision between Whispa and Gas Monarch the former was not on a collision course but the skipper misconstrued notorious Rule 19d and actually turned towards Gas Monarch and collided. What are the shortcomings of AIS? This short course, delivered by Zoom across 2/3 evenings, will attempt to throw some light on this important subject. The RYA require aspiring Yachtmasters to be conversant with radar. Cost £95. 1915 – 2115hrs maximum. ‘I feel a lot more confident now about plotting.’ – Justin 

CEVNI test for the Inland waterways endorsement to your ICC. Done online, cost £35

RYA ESSENTIAL NAVIGATION ONLINE Do this starter course on your own laptop. A good introduction to the theory part of sailing, with yacht or power boat. Cost £79 plus £30 (includes instruments) for the RYA Pack. Online Navigation

Online One2One

You might be stuck on a subject, a question online needed to be answered correctly or just wanting greater knowledge and are looking for a private consultation with myself. Maybe you just have ‘information overload’. This I can do online via Zoom in sessions from one to two hours daytime, weekends or evenings. Subjects typically causing most problems are paper chartwork to include estimated position EP and Course to Steer CTS. Also calculation of tidal heights, particularly secondary ports, Collision Regulations, Radar and more. Cost £30 per hour with the first session, a minimum of two hours.

Practical

Update on Courses & Trips

YACHTMASTER SKILLS Are you a Yachtmaster already or an aspiring one and wish to hone your skills under the guidance of an RYA Examiner? This three day Course could put you to the test on a twin wheeled Sun Odyssey 419 sailing out of Royal Quays, an area often referred to; ‘if I can sail off the North East Coast of England I can sail anywhere’. You will already have a good RYA Day Skipper practical at least, meaning the certificate and varied, logged, sea miles.  Prices £550 & £650.

SKIPPER SKILLS Another short course aimed at improving skills of either an existing skipper or a very competent crew about to take their RYA Day Skipper Practical. Two days with overnight stay onboard, this Course will include exercises such as berthing and others according to demand. For example; use of up to date Raymarine electronics, night sail or just confidence building.

Northumbria Sailing  Adventures

These adventures are when we either charter a sailing yacht or take Pure Gallus somewhere interesting and challenging. When weather and crew status permit we will do distances, often sailing through the night via the watch system. If this is not possible we will cruise looking for pleasant places to visit with good shoreside wining and dining facilities. We will endeavour to have you fully involved in the sailing of the boat and to consider your preferences. Alcohol will often be enjoyed when we are no longer underway. At the end of the trip you will have a log book filled and plenty of nautical adventures to tell.

Mini Miles

Brush up on your sailing skills and add some sea miles to your logbook too on this short Adventure. For three days we will typically sail from Royal Quays Friday to Sunday and, depending on the decision to go north or south, aim for Blyth/Amble or Sunderland/Hartlepool, and returning. You can expect the challenge of entering a tidal port. Next Miles,; Season End to Hartlepool; October 24+25th (FULL) Due to demand I’m arranging another ‘Last Sail’ October 31st+November 1st. 

Mini Miles Masterclass

A superb opportunity for a 3 day sail under supervision and instruction from an RYA Examiner. John Parlane will share his extensive knowledge of sail cruising, in particular focussing on Sail Trim and Mile Building. This is your chance to experience this locally and September 4 – 6th (FULL) has been arranged. prices from £350. All levels of experience welcome.

PRACTICAL COURSES

All local courses take place on the school boat, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 419, 12 metre built less than 10 years ago and the type of boat you may aspire to when going out on your own adventures. For full information on what to expect from an RYA Course with Northumbria Sailing you are recommended to click[space_20]

Where Do I Sleep?

On Pure Gallus you will have the opportunity to select your berth and pay accordingly. Singles go in the saloon or an aft cabin with doubles in the forecabin which has private ensuite facilities. Doubling up in an aft cabin provides the cheapest deal.

PRACTICAL CREWING My version of RYA Competent Crew. Three days, 0930-1700hrs onboard for up to four ideally, sometimes five, and you will be up to the Comp Crew standard. No experience necessary and no need to stay onboard overnight. Here we see with myself; David, Matthew, Steve & Jo.  Cost £395. Next Courses;  September 11 – 13th & October, 12 – 14, 16 – 18th (only 1 place left). Course Review by  Elena

‘Thanks again for everything Melvyn, we really enjoyed the experience. Looking forward to building on it’ – Pam

This popular Course is now available stayover where you will spend two nights onboard away, if possible, from Royal Quays. There is a maximum availability of five persons onboard plus the instructor, and the prices vary according to the berth, ranging from £350 sharing & £450 alone.  ‘Your course was exactly what I wanted and I certainly feel more confident about a number of things.  You explained things very clearly and all the repetition was helpful.’ – Gill .

RYA COMPETENT CREW A 5 day, live aboard, course where you will learn ‘the ropes’ and to become a useful crew member. A good start to, perhaps, a lifetime boating. No experience needed. Cost, according to berth, from £675 sharing or £995 alone. Competent Crew Next availability; (FULL for 2026). Or see Practical Crewing above. ‘You were a pleasure to have as a guest, instructor and examiner. Your wisdom, advice and encouragement was much appreciated’ – Rachel

RYA DAY SKIPPER PRACTICAL  The key to bareboat charter, this course aims to get you to the ability ‘ to skipper a small cruising yacht safely by day in tidal waters with which the student is familiar’. Then you can be let loose to find your own adventures and provide endless anecdotes for you to enjoy telling. For Bareboat charter this is the first qualification to be obtained. Nevertheless in some areas, the Solent for example, a higher qualification is needed and UK tidal requested. Where’s Your Ticket?

You need to be properly ready to take this important Course and, for minimum standards, check out on the web page Day Skipper Pre-Quirements. These standards and experience are expected at the time of booking. Cost, according to berth, from £750 sharing or £850 alone. This Practical Course is now packaged with autumn/winter classroom theory in the classroom. ‘I was pleased with the way the course was organised, the instructions for preparation and attending, the fact that you were there waiting for me when I arrived, and your welcome both before and after we boarded.’ – Hassall. Course Review by Tim Edwards For a murky glimpse of a night sail try Night Sail 

RYA COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL If you are interested in this course and meet with the Pre-Quirements then email.

Taster Days & Trips

These are an introduction to sailing and meant to be a nice experience, so conditions have to be right even though it means being more sensitive to the weather. No-one wants a macho adventure, but this still wouldn’t stop us from going out to sea briefly in a high wind.

DAY TRIPS. Run throughout the season with the aim of having a pleasant day out on the water. You can see whether yachting is for you at modest cost. Trips operate out of Royal Quays 0930 – 1700hrs and have been very popular during the 2025 season. Cost £90 weekday & £120 weekend/Bank holiday. Next Sails; September 22nd & October 3rd.‘ When you book a novice sailing course such as this online, without a personal recommendation, there’s a concern over what you’ve going to get and a resolve to walk away if it doesn’t look right. From the start everything was great, the yacht was clearly built for much greater challenges than we were going to face, and in excellent condition. Melvyn made us welcome and crewing for Elaine was a pleasure, delivering the right combination of tuition, discipline and fun. If you want an introduction to sailing, this is where to start. All overlooked by a statue of Admiral Collingwood, so there’s a reassuring reminder of a great seafaring history too.’ – Tod  

TASTER@SEA  The successor to the popular RYA Start Yachting Course, as above. Easier and more flexible to arrange dates and prices are similar to last year’s RYA Start Yachting. This Course will follow the RYA syllabus, but without the certificate. A two day course for beginners which can be the ‘start’ of greater things. You live onboard for two days and may visit another marina away from Royal Quays. This is a Weekday Course for which a minimum booking of two is needed (singles also welcome). Cost from £300 sharing & from £295 single.

Have a look at my Theory Training Centre with this video. Training

Specialist Courses   

RYA VHF Get ready for sailing with this very important ticket. This one day Course is available in class, onboard, online or at your own Club. Don’t be caught without a proper licence as you could be fined up to £5,000, plus 6 months inside, plus equipment confiscation – yes it’s very severe! At Northumbria Sailing  you will receive tuition one per training set. As you will be assessed for practical skills as well as theoretical, I think it’s advisable that you have every opportunity to familiarise yourself with the equipment. The RYA require you to book your face to face assessment at the time of enrolling on a Course. Beware of anyone offering this Course in the online version without this. Cost £145 plus £76 for the RYA. Online at £115 to include manual. Assessment £76 extra. Fastrack certificate available. Next Sessions; September 15th & October 23rd. Sarah; ‘Many thanks Melvyn, great to meet you yesterday and a really good course’.  RYA VHF 

RYA RADAR Are you safe using your set? Can you properly identify a collision situation? If you have radar you are required to know how to use it properly and could be held responsible if an incident was to occur. Candidates for RYA Yachtmaster examinations are expected to be conversant with radar. This Course will take place onboard Pure Gallus to enable access to the recent Raymarine equipment, as well as a simulator. Day Course: Cost £130, plus 12 to RYA. Next Session; September 27th. RYA Radar ‘Thank you very much for yesterday’s course’ – Stephen

RYA DIESEL ENGINE

A Volvo Penta 2003 marine diesel engine will be used for demonstrations and you will get several chances to try your hand at changing filters etc. Alternatively this can be done on your own engine on a One2One basis. (cost £350 to include reasonable travelling expenses)

The Course is for beginners and will show the simple maintenance tasks you can do yourself to help maintain your engine in working order. The RNLI has complained that most of call outs are from engine failure where simple tasks have  not been performed. Your rescuing lifeboat may make firm suggestions if this is found to be the case. RYA Examiners have requested greater knowledge from candidates. Cost £130 plus £12 for the RYA Pack. Maximum 6 persons. Next Session October 9th. RYA Diesel Engine ‘Very informative and definitely worth attending’ – Steve   

RYA FIRST AID. All day for the RYA certificate, valid three years. Find out the latest recommendations on what to do at sea from an experienced seafarer for, at sea, you may need to administer yourself. You will be actively involved in this Course, which is practical orientated. Cost £140 plus £10 for the Pack. Next session; October 6th. First Aid Certificates   

PERSONAL SURVIVAL. A must for all fit and healthy seafarers over the age of 16. The RYA Basic Sea Survival Course is unavailable in the North East, but this is the STCW equivalent and an accepted substitute by the RYA. The Course is delivered by Tyne Coast Maritime College in their Pool at South Shields on the banks of the River Tyne to educate in the ability to survive at sea after vessel abandonment. Cost £250. Wet in the Pool ‘I found the personal sea survival course very useful.  Hopefully I will never need to use this knowledge but it helps to know how to launch, handle and manage the life raft should it ever be required. The course was very professionally delivered and the practical in the pool was very well organised and the instructors very attentive. With 3 experienced instructors (2 in the pool) it felt safe, despite the final test being in the dark, with water sprays and simulated waves. The morning session was obviously tilted towards larger vessels but there was useful information about flares, electronic alert systems and cold water shock also applicable to users of small boats. It was challenging and quite exhausting but definitely worthwhile. The facilities were good, the classroom was a little cold but otherwise fully recommended’. David

Pieces of Eight (The Educational Section) 

Collision or Allision? I learnt a new word recently – Allision, when a moving vessel hits a stationary object. Collision being when they are both moving. Differentiating between the two is important when considering the consequences; legal, insurance and environmental.

RYA’s 7 Common Senses

Summarised here, with a link for the full read below;

Russian Roulette The media went anti-Russian in reporting this near collision with a yacht in the English Channel. Yet the Russians had made the required 5 blasts warning signal without appreciable result. The yachties, in their own words, altered course by 2 degrees to port, quite inadequate to demonstrate to the Russian vessel their awareness. It’s important that a significant course alteration is made to show their intentions. In this case perhaps it should have been 60 degrees at least. The yachties could always take this off shortly afterwards.   Collision   

The Missing Wheel Earlier this month the family sailed a charter boat, a Beneteau 393 out of Largs, on the Clyde for a few days. On Pure Gallus we are accustomed to twin wheels and going  to the single created difficulties – we couldn’t see when the sprayhood was up, as it needs to be in Scotland! Maureen is shown here at the helm on the East Kyle having to stand on the cockpit seat, something I clamp down on for the boom then becomes a hazard. I, myself, found vision impaired too, especially in close quarters. Therefore, in answer to a frequent question about twin wheels, for starters it means the helm can see properly. There are other advantages too, assisting stern-to berthing, for example.

 

Rob Langley has his boat, a Najad Pendragon based at Brest in Brittany, France and was needing volunteer crew to move the boat to Falmouth and the return trip. A successful sail it was and I had provided Rod  to join well established crew Ross. Shown here as well is Tom, poor shipmate never having enjoyed the pleasures of Northumbria Sailing. I enjoy a regular pint with Rob when home close to myself. Indeed Rob and I have been friends for many years and he’s a skipper with a boat whom I could trust when recommending. He has extensive sea miles and experience in many sea areas.   

This is why I’m in the Sailing Business

Reader’s Links

A section featuring links of a maritime interest sent to me.

For vessel traffic on the Tyne try NormTyneShips on YouTube.

Donna gives a clear picture of how she felt as an ordinary person coming to her RYA Day Skipper Practical Course; Donna Sail

Steve Austin has uploaded this video of our 2018 Adventure sailing a traditional Dutch flat bottomed boat

Try this super video, via Facebook, from Darius

Phil Butler highlights the unexpected and rapid shift in Earth’s Magnetic Field.

Phil Butler again with very useful advice on mal de mer. Seasickness 

Peter MacLaren mentioned this article about a Yacht Delivery Skipper’s Life.

Peter Chater has found a remarkable way of plugging a failed seacock – with a carrot! Sea Cock Repair

Peter Chater sent this one about a fisherman suing as a result of a collision Fisherman Sues

Peter Chater again – ‘How about this for a large yacht collision’  Antigua 

Nigel Hierons saw this news item about a flare  Flare in recycling explodes

Franek Richardson sent this  Time Lapse

Phil Butler mentions the two women rescued after 5 months at sea in the Pacific.

Stuart Porter took and posted this great dolphin display, quite the best I have seen North Sea Dolphins 

And finally from myself, try this one for a Broach    

Try me on Facebook for lots more images Facebook

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