E M Sailing

We were really delighted, and given we paid the final balance on our yacht last week are now super super excited about what the summer holds for us out in the Mediterranean, with your top-tips we hopefully can't go wrong! (well once I've practised the lasso technique some more that is)

"Clova" the yacht was an excellent choice for the trip, well-founded and very comfortable, Eric as usual providing excellent leadership skills and catered very well for us. The "haggis" dinner was a very pleasant surprise, I can honestly say we were not looking forward to it but as it turned out we thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to having it again.

Round the Island Race 2008
Thank you again for organising the round the island race, it was a great weekend. Cheers,

Regards from The Baltic
About two years ago I arrived to UK and since that time was planning to sail. I have couple of years of experience sailing on Baltic Sea, however haven't got big experience with tides and sailing cross-channel, so decided to sail with somebody who know that waters and who can also teach me about sailing, on waters surrounded UK. I have chosen EM sailing.

Later on I realised that this decision was spotted on, according to learning British way of sailing, and get new experience from very patient, nice and absolutely experienced sailor. So if somebody from UK or even better, abroad (like me), is looking for sailing and learn how to sail, I would recommend EM Sailing as a very first choice. Very good quality of sailing, learning, organising trip and amazing opportunity to spend hollyday or just a long weekeng.

Selina to France
Unforgettable sailing through the Solent with you to France. Really enjoyed this well-organised trip to my home country where food and drinks were also well chosen, bravo au chef! Would recommend to anyone especially to de-phase yourself from day-to-day routine. Again, great organisation and charming boat, thanks again. Bon vent!

Manoeuvres
Thanks for organising the short "weekend manoeuvres" course down in Southampton. I found it to be not only most enjoyable and comfortable, but also very educational and instructive in terms of experience gained. This was demonstrated by the way tasks were tailored to each individual crew member on board, according to their own ability, experience and willingness. As I am working towards my "day skipper practical" and have limited experience on a boat, the piloting exercises and helming in marinas were of particular value to me. Thanks once again and I look forward to joining you back on a boat hopefully soon.

Sea Survival Course
The sea survival course at a centre in Fleetwood outside Blackpool that provides training for the Merchant Navy and Offshore Industry was very good indeed, and up to the usual high standard I've come to expect of any training provided or organised by EM Sailing.

We started with training in the classroom, running through everything from basic equipment to emergency safety procedures. The classroom was well-equipped with examples of everything from different types of lifejackets and liferafts to used flares, so it was possible to handle everything and understand exactly how it worked, and the instructor was very patient with the very many questions we asked! Safety procedures such as when to evacuate the boat, how to use the liferaft and when to get into it were carefully explained, and we were privileged the instructor shared with us his experience of a real-life emergency when the yacht he was on was lost.

We then adjourned to the pool and were shown and practised how to conserve energy and warmth in the water, "synchronised swimming" techniques whereby several people swim linked together thus ensuring that weaker people are not lost, how to right a liferaft in the water (easier than it looks) and how to get into a liferaft from the water (harder than you'd think). We also had two mock-up helicopter winches each, one from the water and one together with someone else from the liferaft, before our last exercise in a darkened, noisy, smoke-filled pool where we had to jump in, swim to and get in the liferaft and follow all the correct procedures once in there. It was surprising how disorientated one gets even within the safe confines of the centre. We then had a video with an enacted emergency which made it very clear why all the emergency guidelines should be followed. (It was explained that not all liferafts are equipped with playing cards and navy cigarettes!)

We had quite a jolly stay in a local hotel, and the local beer was excellent! I feel far more confidant that I would know what to do if I am ever faced with a real survival situation at sea. Thank you again to EM Sailing for organising some first rate training.

Sea Survival Course
Just a quick line to thank you for organizing such an interesting and informative course on Saturday. I hope I will never have to put the theory into practice but I will certainly feel a lot more confident now if I have to do so.

....thanks again for organising the weekend course. Lets hope we never need to put it into practice.

Thanks for organising the sea survival course. It was very worthwhile and enjoyable and I would recommend it to others.

Cuxhaven Mileage Builder
Thanks for another very memorable sailing trip, my 5th sailing experience that you have been involved with and the 2nd through E M Sailing. The mileage builder from Ipswich to Cuxhaven, Germany has added a great deal to my sailing experience. The Force 9 winds that touched Force 10 at one point gave an exiting ride with a feeling of relative safety. Thanks to skipper Martyn Smith, you and the rest of the crew. And of course not forgetting ‘Ocean Scout’ the coded 49 foot Oyster ketch.

Mileage Builders x 2. Ipswich-Dunkirk-Ipswich, Ipswich-Cuxhaven (North Sea):  Both trips organised by EM sailing, with Eric's logistical organisational skills put under scrutiny to get the crew there and back via car, bus, plane and train. He was not found wanting, even when a German train broke down!
The trips were both something to tell the grandkids or “bar buddies” about, big sea, strong winds but an experience not to be missed on a superb sea boat, (Oyster 49) that took everything the North Sea could throw at us.
My first taste of offshore passage making on a watch system. It was a real reality check coming on watch at midnight, in the middle of the North sea, with waves large enough to make the Oil rigs disappear from sight at the bottom of the trough, with the wind speed about 40 knots! Then just to test our watch, and Eric's ability to stay asleep and remain in his bunk, we had a F10 squall, which lifted Eric gently from his bunk, over his lee cloth and deposited him on the floor. Now awake!
All crew safely arrived at our destination and swapped stories, A memorable evening in Cuxhaven was had by all, some memories a little blurred by German lager! Good crew-mates, great experience, not to be missed! Logged about 500 miles over the two trips. Real experience for a very modest cost!!

Anglesey circumnavigation:  A trip organised by EM sailing on a wooden gaff pilot cutter (I did ask Eric if he could find a boat for this trip). We had a beautiful sail close to the shore of Anglesey, it revealed its numerous coastal features, from sandy beach to rocky cliffs and of course the infamous Menai Straits.
The boat being very atmospheric, with paraffin lamps and varnished wood reflecting the flickering light down below. Enough bits of string on deck to satisfy the saltiest of sea dogs, and a proper mainsail hanging off its gaff!! A real change from the "plastic fantastics" although I am a bit biased. Once again Eric catered for us all extremely well, and another memorable weekend was had by all. One more trip to stay in the memory bank, a rare opportunity to discover big wooden boat sailing. Excellent value.

Radar Course
What a superb course, many thanks to Eric and EM Sailing for such superb organisation. Well worth the effort of travelling to Ocean Village Southampton for the course, the classroom sessions could have been held anywhere but to be able to go to sea on Day 2 and put into practise the classroom lessons from Day 1 was invaluable. It’s not quite as easy as the book suggests but what an interesting and exciting way to develop real skills.

Our class was split into two groups, one group on the helm while the other group was below decks giving navigation instructions ‘blind’ just using the radar screen and charts. We were attempting to simulate thick fog but we had the safety net of having the skipper always on hand to ensure safety of the boat and crew as we experimented. After a while we started to recognise the ‘targets’ but I still kick myself for missing that bl**dy great tanker that I thought was a headland! Many thanks once again.