This is what our customers say about Sail Nelson and our instructors:
Excellent, full content, great tutor, extremely patient. Great course. Spending time/sleeping on the boat allowed for great ability to gain confidence.
Chris D. New Zealand Competent Crew
It was an amazing adventure. Lots of different things to see and do. I can’t wait to start sailing again. We saw Hectors Dolphins which was incredible!
Ella D. (age 12) New Zealand Competent Crew
Was a great mix of fun and sweat. We learnt a lot, both theoretical and practice. Felt well supported through the whole experience. Dave was fabulous. Easy company and also an excellent instructor who was always in control. Dave was magic with the kids. This was such an amazing experience. I was really worried, but keen. After the course I feel so confident in my ability to learn more and I have fallen in love with the ocean.
Lee B-D New Zealand Competent Crew
Dave did an excellent job to train us individually and as a crew, plus he is an amazing cook.
Thorsten Z Switzerland Day Skipper
Really relaxed vibes and learnt heaps. Food was bloody good too. Covered everything. Heaps of fun.
Robert H New Zealand Day Skipper
Gained a huge amount of knowledge, good course structure. Good teamwork on board. Kat was an excellent instructor.
Fabian A. Germany Competent Crew
Kat is a great instructor, really friendly and patient, happy to go over things again and explore beyond what’s currently being taught. I took this course to get a crew cert to use while crewing deliveries. I learnt so many things and how much more there is to learn A++
Andrew K. Day Skipper New Zealand
Excellent journey, I am planning to do this experience again.
Norberto B. Argentina Day Skipper
Fantastic. First class in all areas. Very Encouraging, never a cross word. Positive and Kat knew her subject extremely well.
Colin A. New Zealand Day Skipper
I really appreciated Dave’s calm, cheerful and positive approach. He inspired confidence. I felt free to ask lots of questions, his experience is obvious and his enthusiasm for what we were doing felt genuine. I’d definitely recommend this course and look forward to more.
Bridget C. New Zealand Competent Crew
Very helpful to sail for a week with continuous education. Because of his great experience and calm Dave allowed us to have a go at everything without causing anxiety.
Thomas A. Switzerland Day Skipper
Dave was a great cook, sailor and instructor. Great week, lots of fun, learnt lots.
James M. New Zealand Coastal Skipper
Exceeded expectations. Dave is an excellent tutor. Thorough, patient, fun and with an enormous bank of experience from which to draw on to illustrate his teaching. If you want to improve your sailing skills – or a beginner – you can’t go wrong with this course. It is so informative, pitched to whatever level and great fun. Don’t hesitate – just do it!
Jo M. New Zealand Day Skipper
Legend. High level of knowledge. Professional and personable with great stories of his experience at sea. Made the course even better.
Dom B. New Zealand Day Skipper
Great instructor. Very calm. Clear instructions. Wealth of knowledge. Great food. Good laughs. Always felt safe. Would recommend course to others.
Peter H. New Zealand Day Skipper
Excellent course providing practical experience by a very knowledgeable skipper who tailored content to each individual…..look forward to the Coastal Skipper course.
Paul A. New Zealand Day Skipper
Very informative course. Been sailing part time for years – great to be on a course learning so much as refresher and new knowledge.
Geoff C New Zealand Day Skipper
Surpassed my expectations. A very well spent week – wish I had done it years ago. Learnt very valuable techniques to enable me to enjoy a more complete control of my boat. Many thanks.
Kevin J. New Zealand Coastal Skipper
Expectations exceeded! Highly knowledgeable instructor & the course was the ideal experience to get a taste of the sailing lifestyle. Highly recommended
Terry, Switzerland: Competent Crew
Fantastic course. Highly recommended for anyone contemplating keel boat sailing or ownership. Dave is a perfect tutor, mixing patience with calm throughout and revealing the simplicity in every aspect.
Malcolm, New Zealand: Day Skipper
What an epic week that turned out to be. Fantastic. I have been left with a very high regard for Dave, the Farr 1020 and your organisation. Thank you.
Ian, UK : Coastal Skipper
Had a lot of fun and really felt like skills and confidence improved over the week. Dave is hugely knowledgeable and calm under pressure – an inspirational teacher. And a mean cook!
Malcolm, New Zealand: Day Skipper
Again, everything was perfect in this 2nd course I took at the Sail Nelson school.
Raoul, Switzerland: Day Skipper
…Many thanks to David for his great instruction & excellent teaching & to Chris for his help with our pre-course questions. Meals, particularly dinner were great…
Caitlin, USA: Competent Crew
…a safe learning environment, practical experience gained was wonderful & there was much time for practice and repetition to practice all the skills, leaving me wanting to sail more and learn more.
Lawrence, USA: Competent Crew
Really thorough and well taught course which will give me all the tools to sail better & safer. Couldn’t have asked for better.
Chris, UK: Day Skipper
Good booking process, easy communication, good equipment on board, would recommend, lovely boat… this has really built my skill base…
Polly, UK: Day Skipper
Everything was spot on. Dave could not have been a better instructor. He was constantly teaching and sharing knowledge. Cannot get across just how helpful Dave was.
Jalen, Canada: Day Skipper
Had a great time this week sailing in some stunning locations…. Dave has excellent teaching methods and made the whole week a fun experience.
Charlie, UK: Competent Crew
Awesome!! First time sailing, loved it! Chris was awesome. Learnt heaps!! He made everything easy to understand. Brilliant!! Awesome 5 days! Good food! Good company!
Jade, New Zealand: Competent Crew
Gave myself a better knowledge of sailing… very good… very patient, great experience of sailing the world’s oceans, great teacher. I feel the course covered everything I needed to make me a better sailor.
Ashley, New Zealand: Competent Crew
A very good week, great sailing, beautiful area. The instruction was excellent, I have learnt a lot through the course and greatly enjoyed it.
Chris, UK: Day Skipper
A very good course; Jiri was to the point, so there was no misunderstanding as to what you would achieve from the course, depending on experience…… he also could cook! Lol
Craig F. UK Competent Crew
Great quality instruction. Jiri really helped explain issues clearly and with enthusiasm.
Howard R. UK Competent Crew
I booked this course to gain experience, having already qualified as a Day Skipper. Jiri was excellent. Calm, knowledgeable and a brilliant teacher…. He made the week excellent.
Fiona F. UK Day Skipper
Jiri is an exceptional instructor who instructed everyone on board (various levels) to a superb level. The instruction was extremely motivational and inspiring. A very amiable and personable young man.
Tim R. UK Day Skipper
Had a very good time. Learnt a lot and Jiri increased my confidence with sailing massively. Excellent teaching.
Kurt L. UK Day Skipper
