The Centre

We are a Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Recognised Teaching Establishment and we are also licensed through the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA). Both of these bodies inspect our set up annually to check that we are operating safely, our staff are qualified and that we are also offering a high standard of quality instruction.

We operate two centres during high season, our main base at Porthmellon St. Mary's and Ravensporth Sailing Base Old Grimsby Tresco. During peak season both centres get very busy making booking for tuition advisable.

Porthmellon

The Sailing Centres main base operates from "The Rat Shack" on Porthmellon beach next door to the Gig sheds. Open from Easter to late September we offer instruction in sailing, windsurfing, power boating and stand-up paddle boarding. Porthmellon beach is an excellent venue for teaching, just a few minutes walk from town, the beach is still very quiet and the bay is really sheltered making it incredibly safe and easy to learn in. Just a few hundred feet out through the yacht moorings and you are into the open space of St. Mary's roads offering superb sailing conditions. Being our larger centre we carry more equipment here for hires and are able to offer repairs and storage.

Ravensporth Sailing Base

This idyllic spot right in front of the Island Hotel on Tresco offers a beautiful sheltered teaching area in this stunning horse shoe shaped bay. Once out of the immediate bay you are amongst uninhabited islands and stunning beaches. Manned daily throughout July & August this is predominately a teaching base with a small selection of equipment available for hire. Additional equipment is always available to be brought up from our St. Mary's base.

Brief History

The Isles of Scilly Windsurf & Sailing Centre was established by Keith Buchanan in 1973 with just a couple of the first windsurf boards in the country. Through Keith's  determination, energy and passion for all things water based the centre has developed and grown. As a child Richard learnt to sail and windsurf at the centre and returned to instruct and work as beach manager. In 1999 Keith & Richard established Ravensporth Sailing Base in front of the Island Hotel on Tresco. In 2001 Richard took over the helm of the whole set up from Keith.

The past 10 years has seen the centre grow in size and strength and it now employs over 12 instructors during peak season. All of our staff are highly qualified and experienced with many of our staff returning year after year. Several of our staff teach year round and when not in Scilly head south to our sister centre in Sydney Australia. Tim the owner of Northside Sailing has been bringing several of his instructors over to us for the last few years and in return we send him back to Australia with some of our home grown instructors. This has given us a team of instructors who are teaching year round together, giving them a high level of skill and experience.