Three years ago Michael Goodwin, 63, sailed around Great Britain in his yacht Blue Star, raising £30,000 for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Now Stafford Coastal Cruising Club have contracted Michael, a former university academic, to teach the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Day Skipper theory course on their behalf. The course will be delivered on Saturday mornings at a venue ion Stone and is aimed at all aspiring yacht skippers planning to sail off into the sunset aboard their own boat. Michael explained ‘This is the first step to fulfilling your dream of captaining your own boat, whether it be for your new lifestyle or simply to charter a boat for next year’s holiday. No previous experience is needed to study on the course. Successful completion of the follow-on practical course then equips you to take command of a yacht with more confidence.’
Michael, himself a member of Stafford Coastal Cruising Club, recently led both a club sailing week in Corfu, and the club’s entry in the Round The Island Race around the Isle of Wight. The club facilitates members getting together to organise sailing weeks, and over the winter months hosts regular presentations on sailing matters. You do not have to sail in order to be a member of the club however – many members simply enjoy the social programme. Whilst membership of the club is encouraged, it is not required for enrolment on the Day Skipper course.
Anyone who is interested in joining the RYA Day Skipper course, which starts in November, should contact Michael via the Stafford Coastal Cruising Club website, or email training@staffordcoastalcruising.org, or telephone 07817122491.