Melvyn Wallhead, Yachtmaster & RYA Shorebased Instructor. I started this business in 2009, never expecting the school would grow to the present level. The North East has a long maritime tradition but potential mariners have had to go outside the area. I have sailed all over; 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. I learnt to sail dinghies back in the ’80s in Morecambe Bay. My first trip on a cruising yacht was across the Irish Sea to the Isle of Man – at night time! A few years later, I bought a small yacht and developed a lasting love of the Scottish West Coast. I became a sail cruising instructor in 2006, working for several companies in the Firth of Clyde and began teaching RYA theory courses at home in Morecambe. My list of instructor qualifications has grown each year, to include ‘Advanced Powerboat’ and ‘Senior Keelboat’ Instructor. I started Bay Sea School in Morecambe in 2012 to provide Keelboat courses for adult beginners.
Steve Lovett, Yachtmaster & RYA Instructor has a wealth of experience, including sailing with Nothumbria 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.
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 adventure was 6 weeks in Turkey and Greece.
Cordon Bleu Catering
A decision was made to outsource onboard catering. Not that my own cordon bleu cooking wasn’t up to standard, or so I thought (!), perhaps meals should be more in keeping with the high boat standards. Julie was the answer, if she could be persuaded as her efforts are not for sale but for charity fund raising. As we are both involved in charity fund raising for children in Thailand Lert Sa Wat Julie was persuaded and already several £100s have been sent to a worthwhile cause. The quality of the catering has been received with acclaim, often unexpected onboard; ‘Food was really good btw which I wasn’t expecting!’ – Alan, ‘The whole experience was made all the better for the quality of the dinners that were pre-prepared, they were so tasty and wholesome, the portions were big which is just what we all needed after a day tackling the elements’ – Matty ‘The food was absolutely amazing, I even had seconds! Please pass this on to Julie and also let her know the ginger cake is to die for!! 😁’ – Paulene