Ability & Requirements
We are keen to help you get on the water for yourselves and happy to help you get out there on or in your chosen watersports craft. To make sure you get the most out of your experience and to ensure it is an experience for the right reasons and one you wish to remember. We do have to set some guide lines and restrictions on places you can go and the level of competance required to use certain equipment. This is for your safety and the equipments.
Scilly has some amazing areas to sail and the waters are very safe, however we are tidal here and the weather can .jpg)
change very quickly and there are quite a lot of natural hazards below the surface. Due to this we need to ensure that our customers are always within their own capabilities and suitably qualified or experienced to use the craft they have chosen.
A damage deposit will be asked for prior to the commencement of the hire, this deposit is equvilant to the insurance excess (normaly £200) for boats and windsurf equipment or the value of the equipment (£30-£100) for wetsuits and bouyancy aids etc. Any damage and breakages caused will be charged for.
Dinghies & Dayboats
The level of experience to use these craft is very much dependant on the specific craft and the conditions at the time of hiring. If wishing to have a boat available to use away from our centres direct supervision (other islands) then we will require a higher degree of experience.
To use any of our dayboats, Wayfarers or any dinghies away from our centre we need the skipper to be of a minimum standard of RYA Seamanship Skills (old level 3). You must be competant at sailing on and off a mooring and anchor, rigging the boat for the conditions, navigate and passage plan and be capable of managing the boat, all other equipment and your crew safely at all times.
For smaller dinghies being used from our centres and on our training areas RYA level 2 or equivilant and recent sailing experience required.
Please do not take exception when asked for your sailing ability and experience, this is for your safety and to help our staff guide you to the right sort of boat for you. Yachtmaster certification is accepted as long as you have got dinghy sailing experience.
Unlike many warmer holiday sailing centres, we expect you to be able to rig the boats yourself. This gives us a very good indication to the level of your ability prior to you setting out. Our staff will not just leave you to it they are there to help and guide you as all boats rig slightly differently.
Windsurf Equipment
We only hire equipment that is suitable for your ability and that of the conditions at the time. We will not allow the hire of equipment if you have not had any tuition previously. This will ensure you get maximum enjoyment out of the equipment but will prevent any unnecessary damage to the equipment.
Sit-on Kayaks & SUP's
No previous experience is required to hire this equipment. They are generally for use in close proximity of our centres and in sight at all times. They are very stable and easy to use so great introduction to water sports with virtually no instruction required. It is possible to leave the immediate area of the centres teaching bay on exceptionally calm days and only with the express permission of the beach manager. Sit-on kayaks are availble to be hired for longer periods and be delivered to other islands for use.
