Sailing News

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

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers – What You Can Expect Sailing the 2026 ARC on a Challenger 72

Nov 27, 2025

The 2025 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers is in full flow, inspiring sailors across the world to plan their own ocean crossing. Here’s why joining our Challenger 72 for the 2026 ARC could be the most rewarding sailing adventure of your life.

How Long Does Day Skipper Theory Take?

Oct 31, 2023

The RYA Day Skipper Theory course gives you a...

It’s Time To Take Up Sailing

Oct 31, 2023

Are you aged eight to thirteen and love the idea...

Sailing Experience Days (Solent)

Oct 31, 2023

There aren’t many things you can do in life that...

First Class Sailing Rescue Historic Vessel

Oct 19, 2023

First Class Sailing has rescued a 1908 Gaff Rigger. After some restoration and a refit she will be sailed along the south coast to her new home in Southampton where she will live alongside the existing fleet of modern cruising yachts.

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					  More than a course, a real step towards becoming a skipper  - I have just completed my RYA Day Skipper Practical with First Class Sailing in the Solent and had an excellent experience. The course was very well organised, practical and progressive,... read more with plenty of opportunity to take responsibility and make real decisions. Our instructor, Tom, deserves a special mention. He has a remarkable ability to share his knowledge clearly while building confidence in his students. He knew when to explain, when to challenge us, and when to step back and let us make our own decisions. I came to the course wanting to improve my sailing skills; I left feeling much more capable of taking responsibility for a yacht and its crew. I could not have asked for a better instructor for my Day Skipper. An excellent experience with First Class Sailing, which I would recommend without hesitation.				
Efemix
October 4, 2026 

					  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 

					  Comp Crew Course - If you’re thinking about learning to sail, we would definitely recommend the Competent Crew course with First Class Sailing in the Solent. We completed the course as a group of... read more five (3 adults, a 16 and a 12-year-old) and it exceeded our expectations from start to finish. 

Our boat was very well maintained and served us well throughout the course. We explored the Solent, visiting some fantastic Marinas along the way – including Gunwharf Quays, the Hamble and Cowes Yacht Haven.

Our skipper, Simon, was exceptional throughout. He was calm, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable, always taking the time to explain things clearly and in a way that made everything easy to understand. His relaxed approach created a great learning environment, and we all gained a huge amount of confidence and practical sailing experience over the few days.

The course struck the perfect balance between hands-on learning, skill-building, and simply enjoying being out on the water, especially as the weather was wonderful. We came away not only with new abilities, but also fantastic memories and a real enthusiasm to continue sailing.

A big thank you to First Class Sailing for a well-organised and enjoyable experience.				
Gavin H
October 5, 2026

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

ARC 2016 – Prepping Challenger 3 in Las Palmas

Nov 5, 2018

Here is the first in a regular series of blogs from the crew of Challenger 3 as they race in ARC Rally 2016 Friday 18th November The pontoons of Las Palmas Marina have been a hive of activity this week as crews rush around to complete the final boat preparations...

ARC 2016 – Tracking Challenger 3 During the Race

Nov 5, 2018

It’s a race and it's about to begin! ARC 2016 excitement is building for both the crew and those of us willing them on from home or work. You can following every move of Challenger 3 and her main competitors Challenger 2 and Challenger 4 using this tracking device....

ARC 2016 – Meet the FCS Crew – Helena Sandberg

Nov 5, 2018

Meet the FCS Crew - Helena Sandberg A Swedish sailor is one of the FCS crew participating in the ARC Rally, the renowned two-week transatlantic yacht race. Originally from Tidaholm in Sweden, Helena Sandberg, 32, is now living in central London and was tempted to...

ARC 2016 – Day 1 – And We’re Off!

Nov 5, 2018

Finally at Sea This is the first blog to arrive from Challenger 3 and is written by Deckhand Ralph Goodchild and Skipper Ricky Chalmers And We’re Off! At last… some of us had been in Las Palmas for 10 days or more (not to mention those among the crew who delivered the...

ARC 2016 – Day 2 – Already It’s A Breeze

Nov 5, 2018

This is the second blog to arrive from Challenger 3 and is written by Skipper Ricky Chalmers Well, Monday morning dawned with the lighter winds as forecast. The fleet seems divided how to cope with them. Lots have chosen to stay on or return to a Port Gybe and try and...

ARC 2016 – Day 3 – Take The Helm Speed Challenge

Nov 5, 2018

Take the Helm Challenge This is the third blog to arrive from Challenger 3 and is written by Mate Kirstie Rowe 22 Nov. 16 Well, after wishing for wind... we got it! After clinging on to my bunk like a bat at 4am and debating popping my head on deck, a patter of feet...

ARC 2016 – Meet the FCS Crew – Andrew Northall

Nov 5, 2018

A former McDonald’s employee from Birkenhead is part of the FCS crew and only left his job two weeks ago! Andrew Northall, 22, is one of the watch leaders and former floor manager at the fast food chain. He’s part of the expert quartet guiding the crew, which includes...

ARC 2016 – Day 4 – Pineapples, Potatoes and a Yankee or Two?

Nov 5, 2018

75th in All Boats, 7th in Racing B In this blog it is Bill's turn to give us some words from the crew followed by captain Ricky Chalmers Third day out. We are well ahead of Challenger 2 and 4; we a on a northerly course so morale is high in this highly competitive...

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Sailing News

Atlantic Rally for Cruisers – What You Can Expect Sailing the 2026 ARC on a Challenger 72

How Long Does Day Skipper Theory Take?

It’s Time To Take Up Sailing

Sailing Experience Days (Solent)

First Class Sailing Rescue Historic Vessel

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All Blogs

ARC 2016 – Prepping Challenger 3 in Las Palmas

ARC 2016 – Tracking Challenger 3 During the Race

ARC 2016 – Meet the FCS Crew – Helena Sandberg

ARC 2016 – Day 1 – And We’re Off!

ARC 2016 – Day 2 – Already It’s A Breeze

ARC 2016 – Day 3 – Take The Helm Speed Challenge

ARC 2016 – Meet the FCS Crew – Andrew Northall

ARC 2016 – Day 4 – Pineapples, Potatoes and a Yankee or Two?

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