Sailing News

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

Mile Building for Yachtmaster: Sail from the Solent on Extended Passages

Apr 15, 2025

Following on from our blog about mile building trips after Day Skipper (which can be read here) we thought we’d follow up with one for aspiring Yachtmasters. For the Yachtmaster Coastal you need 800nm. If you have done the Coastal Skipper course...

Taking your Dog Sailing

Mar 31, 2022

Dog Life Jackets You must make sure your dog has...

Why you should sail the Norwegian Fjords.

Mar 29, 2022

Sailing the jaw-dropping dramatic Norwegian Fjords carved from rock by glaciers way back in the Ice Age really is the way to experience this breathtaking landscape

Sailing Round Britain

Mar 7, 2022

In April, May and June we will be sailing a boat around Britain. There are 5 legs available for those keen to build miles and enjoy some great sailing experiences. Each leg has been allocated 6 days and the distances of each leg vary, the shortest being 175nm and the longest being around 390nm.

The Round the Island Race, really is a Race for All!

Feb 14, 2022

In June 2022 over 16,000 sailors compete in this unique yacht race around the Isle of Wight. It is a race for all. Be part of the fun, excitement and magnificent spectacle that is the Round the Island Race. Crew spaces are available on our yachts in June 2022.

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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 

					  Excellent training course with Fergus!  - Excellent training course with Fergus! He made sure that across levels we were all learning and having fun! The extra context from his experience sailing was insightful and entertaining!				
Jamie S
October 25, 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

A Sailor’s Pilgrimage To The Pulpit Rock

Jun 16, 2018

The voyage to Norway is not just about the journey, the destination is amazing and as you will read below one of the highlights is a trek to a viewpoint that fills some with a sense of awe. Taking The Weather With Us Today we were able to spend some time on dry...

Leaving Norway For A Bumpy Sea

Jun 15, 2018

The FCS crew on Challenger 2 have enjoyed their visit to Norway and are now looking forward to the return leg to historic Portsmouth. Only the North Sea to re-cross, how will she behave this month? These are Skipper Sue's daily reports. Boat Mode and Breeze 12...

The Crack of Dawn On Our Voyage To Norway

Jun 7, 2018

Sailing adventures come in many shapes and sizes and one that is proving very popular with our clients ins the voyage to Norway and back. It has just the right mixture of elements: from testing your sailing skills across the North Sea to a destination that is...

Reduce The Risk Of Cold Water Shock With These RYA Courses

May 29, 2018

There is nothing better than jumping off a yacht in a bay and enjoying a swim in crystal clear blue seas. However, as much of the UK’s coastal water isn’t as warm as you’d expect (even in the summer) you have to be aware of the potentials dangers. The RNLI’s...

What happens on a Competent Crew Course?

Apr 25, 2018

Sailing Holiday A RYA Competent Crew course is a really fun learning experience. It can certainly be viewed as a holiday and there is nothing that comes close to getting away from it all and escaping everyday life than going sailing! Live Aboard a Boat You live on...

Get a Bank Holiday Sailing Bonus Around The Solent

Apr 11, 2018

Get a Bank Holiday Sailing Bonus Around The Solent Make the most of your Bank Holiday weekends by combining it with a sailing course. You'll have great fun while learning valuable new skills on your way to becoming a much better sailor. Held over two consecutive...

Luxury Sailing in a Race Fit for Vikings

Mar 12, 2018

Once in a while, it is refreshing to get out of your sailing comfort zone, experience some testing new waters and sights that will live with you for the rest of life. So imagine doing that in comfort! There is an opportunity this June/July for two couples to...

Do you have what it takes to be a Yachtmaster?

Feb 9, 2018

Yachtmaster Offshore The RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence is largely regarded as the pinnacle of sailing qualifications. The Exam To achieve the qualification you need to pass a practical on the water exam that can last for up to 12 hours. That...

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