About the Skipper

Hi my name is Jack, I have been involved in boating since the age of seven. It all started on a boating lake in the village of St. Osyth in Essex. I very quickly learned to row and sail small lugg rigged boats with the help of my father. As a teenager I sailed in herron dinghies, enterprise, lazer, 505, flying dutchman and many more.

As I entered my twenties I became interested in sailing smacks and any cruising boat I could get my hands on. My first cruiser was a Hurley 24/50 twin keeled but great for the kids outings. Then I was offered a partnership in a Carter 33 which was a big step up to the fast cruising yachts which really interested me. It was on the Carter 33 that I first attempted a north sea crossing. Armed with a little knowledge and not enough navigational aids I made my way with a friend to Belgium and back. All very exciting in those days. My brother and I then purchased a 20 ton Hillyard called Kira, it was with Kira that we first started chartering, taking people for trips to the rivers Orwell, Stour, Deben, Alde, Blackwater and Continental cruises. Then came Kuramu, an Oyster 39 which was purchased in the Med and brought back via Spain, Portugal, Biscay etc. Kuramu was sailed locally, to the continent many times and circumnavigated the British Isles.

Then I fell in love with a Brightlingsea boat built in 1922, which was refitted extensively and sailed to the Med to take part in the classic yacht racing organized by Prada. Ayesha, fully gaff rigged won her class in Palma and was very competitive in the other four races. She motored her way home via the French canals. After returning she was raced locally and to her credit has gained a 1st, two 2nds and a 3rd place at the very competitive Swale Matches in Kent. Then came the Caribic 40 Alize which I bought to start the sailing school. Alize has only been in my ownership for five years, and has proved herself to be ideal for the purpose. Last year we clocked up over 2550 hours chartering, which took us to destinations like Belgium, Holland, Germany and Denmark.

I am a fully qualified Yachtmaster Offshore Skipper with commercial endorsements and my main aim is to encourage people to get on the water and improve their skills of seamanship. Do come and join us, we have a lot of fun.