ON COURSE: Sailing specialist First Class Sailing has plotted a course for success by offering a wide variety of classes to amateur sailors. The Southampton-based company has entered a Challenger 72 yacht to the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) this year. Twelve amateur crew members have signed up for the two-week transatlantic challenge from Las Palmas to St Lucia, which began on Sunday.
A Hampshire sailing company is on course to build on its continued success as it works to satisfy the demand for a range of navigational and practical classes for amateur sailors.
First Class Sailing, based in Shamrock Quay in Southampton, has experienced year-round appetite from the public for its classes and sailing holidays – including city workers seeking to escape the rat race.
The sailing specialist, currently involved in the 2016 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) transatlantic race, has grown steadily since its launch in 2000 and principal Charlie Tulloch is keen to maintain its progress.
He said: “We are broadening our range of sailing holidays to service the demand of a growing number of people.
“Next year we’ll be offering Norwegian fjord cruises in addition to races such as the 2017 ARC, the Rolex Fastnet from Cowes to Plymouth via the Fastnet rock off the coast of Southern Ireland plus the Round the Island race circumnavigating the Isle of Wight.”
Another major factor in the appeal of the company to city workers is the company’s London presence.
First Class Sailing is the Cruising Association’s recognised provider of RYA shore-based courses in Limehouse.
In addition, the firm holds a number of navigation theory classes and one-day supplementary courses in other central city locations.
Charlie said: “We hold theory classes for individuals looking to gain the qualifications needed to become a proficient sailor. We’ve held these courses for employees at several major companies including UBS, Deloitte, JP Morgan, Shell, KPMG and St. James’s Place.
“They are quite accessible because we can offer them in autumn, winter and spring ready for a summer holiday – for instance somebody might want to charter a boat in the Mediterranean.
“Once the theory side is completed, the practical learning remains and depending on the course, clients can finish this in a five-day session or over a couple of long weekends.”
First Class Sailing was established at the turn of the millennium by the late Saul Masson. Charlie took over the business in 2004.
Between ten and 15 practical instructors and six to ten theory instructors work with the company to help customers gain the relevant qualifications.
First Class Sailing is RYA accredited and provides the full range of RYA sailing courses, plus a huge variety of yachting experiences – including delivering the ARC yacht to Las Palmas via Biscay and back across the Atlantic to the UK from St. Lucia.
The company has been awarded a Trip Advisor certificate of excellence three years running.
Sailing holidays to various parts of the world are on offer, including Norwegian fjord cruises next year and participation in races such as the 2017 ARC Rally, The Rolex Fastnet – a race from Cowes to Ireland, finishing in Plymouth – and the Round the Island race circumnavigating the Isle of Wight.
Anyone wishing to book a place at the 2017 ARC with First Class Sailing should contact Charlie Tulloch on 0203 006 3717 or via email info@firstclasssailing.com
- You can follow the 2016 race via First Class Sailing’s blog: https://www.firstclasssailing.com/blog/
