Sailing News

A mix of insights into our courses and trips, engaging stories from some adventures, and educational content for anyone passionate about sailing.

From UK Winter to Caribbean Trade Winds: Why Sailors Escape South

Feb 3, 2026

Why sailors escape the UK winter for Caribbean trade winds, warm nights and real sailing through the winter months.

RYA Exam Fees for 2026: An Overview of the Latest Changes

Dec 18, 2025

The RYA has confirmed updated exam fees for 2026 across the Yachtmaster scheme, SRC and commercial endorsements. Here’s a clear summary of what’s changed.

Classroom navigation courses vs online navigation courses

Dec 16, 2025

Classroom navigation courses vs online navigation courses is part of a much wider learning debate. This guide explores the strengths and limits of both formats across education and explains how those differences apply to RYA navigation theory, from Day Skipper to Yachtmaster Ocean.

ARC Rally vs RORC Round Britain and Ireland Race: Two Offshore Adventures, Two Very Different Challenges

Dec 9, 2025

Warm trade winds or North Atlantic grit? The ARC and RORC Round Britain & Ireland Race couldn’t be more different. This guide compares both offshore challenges side-by-side and explains how to join our crews for 2026 — whether your dream is Caribbean landfall or a tough racing campaign.

ARC Rally 2025 — Mid-Atlantic Progress Report: Who’s Ahead, Stories So Far and What’s Left to Run

Dec 8, 2025

ARC Rally 2025 is delivering adventure across 2,700 miles of ocean. First arrivals are already in, but dozens of yachts remain mid-Atlantic with stories unfolding daily — trade winds, night watches, flying fish and the countdown to landfall. Here’s what’s happening right now.

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					  First Class experience.  - Very good experience with First Class Sailing. Mark was a terrific teacher and the boat was well equipped and comfortable for a 5 day course. Would definitely recommend.				
Michael K
October 8, 2025 

					  All female boat for day skipper practical  - Being in an all female boat is a great way to learn. Kirsten, our instructor, had a very calm and reassuring style. The small size of the group (only 3... read more of us) meant we got a lot of attention and many opportunities to practice.				
ALMC62
October 15, 2025 

					  Yachmaster Ocean Theory  - I just finished another training week at First Class Sailing’s training center. The week was dedicated to Yachtmaster Ocean Theory, with a highlight on Celestial Navigation. The instructor, Nigel Rennie... read more FRIN (Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation), was fantastic. It was very fast-paced, but covered the basics and theory behind Celestial Navigation. The jewel of the week was Rennie. His abundant patience, coupled with his experiences and passion for the art, made the week incredible. First Class Sailing have the best instructors. They know their craft and have real-life experience to make training both fun and memorable. Well Done!				
Marty S
October 24, 2025 

First Class Sailing Ltd

5.0

Based on 278 reviews

review us on

Maurice MacSweeney

11:45 30 Oct 25

Over the last few years First Class Sailing have taken me all the way from complete novice to Coastal Skipper, with theory and other courses along the way (like VHF, First Aid, etc), and there's now no other school I'd want to train and study with. They really stand out from other providers with the quality of their instructors and the support and responsiveness you get from the office team. There's never too many students on a course, so you get lots of time to practise and learn from the instructor. By the end of each course you really feel you've been stretched and graduated to a much higher level of skill. A really high quality outfit and thoroughly recommended!

Response from the owner 13:56 06 Nov 25

Hi Maurice, we're so pleased to have been with you from the start of your sailing journey. That's great that you enjoyed the ratio of students to instructor and felt confident with the levels you achieved. Thanks for the review, we hope you manage to get plenty of sailing in after all the hard work you've put in.

Marty Stromquist

15:22 24 Oct 25

I just finished another training week at First Class Sailing’s training center. The week was dedicated to Yachtmaster Ocean Theory, with a highlight on Celestial Navigation. The instructor, Nigel Rennie FRIN (Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation), was fantastic. It was very fast-paced, but covered the basics and theory behind Celestial Navigation. The jewel of the week was Rennie. His abundant patience, coupled with his experiences and passion for the art, made the week incredible. First Class Sailing have the best instructors. They know their craft and have real-life experience to make training both fun and memorable. Well Done!

Response from the owner 13:42 06 Nov 25

Thanks Marty. We're so pleased you enjoyed Nigel's expert guidance and passion for sailing. Like all our instructors, he loves teaching and sharing his knowledge, but manages to make it fun too. Thanks for the recommendation.

Anne-Laure McLeman

10:07 15 Oct 25

Being in an all female boat is a great way to learn. Kirsten, our instructor, had a very calm and reassuring style. The small size of the group (only 3 of us) meant we got a lot of attention and many opportunities to practice. Such a good week!

Response from the owner 13:24 06 Nov 25

Thank-you for the review Anne-Laure. That's great that the all female option suited you well and you enjoyed learning with Kirsten. Hopefully all that practice has set you up well for future sailing. Good luck!

Angus Sandison

19:57 07 Oct 25

Really great experience with First Class. My partner and I did our Day Skipper over two weekends with our instructor Mark. He was fantastic. Patient as we learned and made the whole thing fun. The boats are great and organization by First Class was seamless. Would totally recommend.

Response from the owner 13:17 06 Nov 25

Thanks Angus. That's good that you enjoyed Mark's style of teaching and also had lots of fun along the way. Wishing you lots of happy sailing in the future.

Tricia Bunten

18:48 07 Oct 25

I just finished a fantastic week taking my Day Skipper practical with First Class Sailing and I highly recommend them. I chose the Women Only week and had an incredibly patient instructor who was able to help each of us individually with areas of weakness but also worked great with us as a group. I had never sailed in the Solent before and it was the perfect location for this class. I am so grateful for First Class and my instructor for helping me build confidence and experience.

Response from the owner 16:59 04 Nov 25

Thanks Tricia, we're so pleased you enjoyed the Women Only week and had a positive experience. We always say that the Solent really is one of the best places to learn and it has some beautiful scenery to explore too, so that's good that you appreciated it. Hope you manage to get out on the water soon.

Evan Ainsworth

20:30 05 Oct 25

They do say that what sets great companies apart is customer service. This is my third time with first class sailing the first time was a few years ago when we did our competent crew it was one of the best weeks of our lives. Then we came again in August for the kids to do their competent crew and my wife and I to do our day skipper course. Unfortunately when I did my day skipper course the weather was terrible and I was unable to have a good session to pass. So Jake said to me you can come back and have a free weekend on us to enable you to pass. And again I had a fabulous weekend. There was just three of us on the boat. A wonderful instructor, Tom, and another student. Tom was an excellent instructor he was relaxed, he had great experiences, he got on with the practical part of sailing not just a lot of theory and he was thorough. He had lots of practical tips to make sailing easier and had some good exercises forest to try. We had a super trip down to Yarmouth where he cooked a wonderful dinner and then we went to the pub. Where we met another first class sailing group and spent the evening listening to their tall tales. The following day we had a super sail back to Southampton, with lots of cool exercises and I was thrilled to pass my day skipper.

Response from the owner 16:46 04 Nov 25

Thanks for the review Evan and congratulations on passing your Day Skipper practical, the hard work has paid off. That's good that the whole family joined you for one of the trips and so now hopefully you have some willing crew members for future sails. Good luck!

hugo kirby

15:26 09 Sep 25

great course with a very engaged and helpful instructor - who was happy to go outside the curriculum and give us the benefit of his wider knowledge - throroughly recommended

Response from the owner 15:30 11 Sep 25

That's good that you appreciated the experiences and extra knowledge that the instructor passed on. Thanks for the recommendation.

Justin Brooks

11:11 23 Aug 25

We would highly recommend First Class Sailing.

Very well organised with a top quality instructor who provided tuition tailored to our differing needs.

A fantastic option for a couple wanting an entire boat to do a mixed Competent Crew / Day Skipper itinerary.

Response from the owner 14:21 28 Aug 25

Thanks Justin. We always find that mixing the Competent Crew & Day Skipper works well, so that's great that it worked for you too. Hope you manage to get out on the water soon and put all your learning into practice.

ChrisC

15:37 22 Aug 25

Great experience doing a Yachtmaster Offshore prep week followed by exam. Lots of useful paperwork up-front for the course admin and training exercises. The 3-day prep format worked well and Hayley did a brilliant job of cramming in the training over those days. Lovely modern boat too called Sazerac. Will be back.

Response from the owner 14:17 28 Aug 25

Hi Chris, thanks for the review. Congratulations on gaining your YMO qualification. There's a lot to cover, but as you've found, the hard work really pays off. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future.

Miles Barr

11:27 03 Aug 25

I completed my Competent Crew and Day Skipper Practical with First Class Sailing. It was a great experience. I hired the whole boat each time, taking my family members along who also earned their Competent Crew qualifications.

Response from the owner 15:21 21 Aug 25

Thanks Miles. That's great that hiring the whole boat for your courses worked well for you all. Now that your family have their comp crew qualifications, you'll have plenty of help onboard for future sails! Good luck.

All Blogs

7-Day Channel Triangle Trips – Log Serious Miles in a Week

Nov 24, 2025

Challenge yourself on a 7-Day Channel Triangle Trip — a week-long offshore passage from Southampton to the Channel Islands, France and back. Log around 300–350 miles while practising passage planning, watchkeeping and night sailing — ideal for Yachtmaster Offshore preparation.

Mile Building Sailing Trips – Build Confidence, Experience, and Sea Miles

Nov 24, 2025

Build miles, confidence, and real offshore experience with our Mile Building Sailing Trips. From weekend Channel hops to coastal sails, Norway voyages, and Atlantic adventures, you’ll handle different conditions, learn to problem-solve at sea, and gain the miles needed for RYA Yachtmaster or Coastal Skipper progression.

Coastal Skipper RYA — Qualification, Course & Requirements

Oct 21, 2025

The Coastal Skipper RYA qualification is your next step toward confident coastal cruising and night sailing. Learn what’s involved, who it’s for, and how to earn your certificate.

Chasing the Horizon: Preparing for the RORC Round Britain & Ireland Race 2026

Oct 17, 2025

Learn what makes the RORC Round Britain & Ireland Race 2026 such a legendary offshore challenge, and how First Class Sailing’s full training and race campaign prepares sailors to take it on safely, confidently, and as part of a professional crew.

Competent Crew in Autumn and Winter – Why It’s the Perfect Time to Learn to Sail

Oct 16, 2025

Competent Crew in Autumn offers a completely different kind of sailing experience. The Solent is quieter, the winds are steadier, and there’s more room to learn without the summer rush. With smaller crews, expert instructors, and the chance to experience night sailing, autumn and winter are the perfect seasons to take your RYA Competent Crew Course and discover the real joy of sailing.

Why RYA Sailing Courses Are the Best Way to Learn to Sail

Oct 15, 2025

RYA sailing courses offer a hands-on, structured way to learn to sail with expert instructors on the Solent, in Southampton and London. Build real confidence, earn internationally recognised qualifications, and discover why RYA training is trusted worldwide.

Sail Across the Atlantic: Join the 2026 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC)

Oct 10, 2025

Join First Class Sailing in the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers 2026 — a world-famous transatlantic adventure from Gran Canaria to St Lucia. Sail aboard a Challenger 72 yacht and make 2026 the year you cross the Atlantic.

What to Expect on an RYA Competent Crew Course | First Class Sailing

Oct 8, 2025

What to Expect on an RYA Competent Crew Course: A Day-by-Day Guide Have you ever wondered what it’s really like to live aboard a yacht while learning to sail? Whether you're completely new to sailing or just looking to build confidence on the water, the RYA Competent...

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