PRACTICAL COURSES
We have superb sailing grounds on the west coast of Antigua where we are in the lee of the north east trade winds with relatively calm and beautiful blue waters. We are just a few nautical miles from the Atlantic Ocean where the more adventurous can experience some ocean sailing conditions!
BASIC SKILLS Level 2
October 2016
Anne
“Excellent. Tanya was very calm, incredibly helpful and positive. I now feel safe on the water and ready to learn more. Wish we had done a weekly course. I am definitely coming back”. Did we meet Anne’s expectations? “Absolutely”
October 2016
James
“Tanya was very calm and got the message / instruction across very clearly and simply. I learnt a lot from this course but it was also very enjoyable. I enjoyed my first experience of a proper sailing yacht. Thank you!”. Did we meet James’ expectations? “Exceeded”
October 2016
Emma
“Very good, very kind and calm. There wasn’t any moment where I felt unsafe. Very entertaining. I really enjoyed this course and wish we had more days to spend out sailing. I learnt a lot. I feel confident on the yacht now.”. Did we meet Emma’s expectations? “Yes”
October 2016
Phillip
“Very good. Conveyed information very well. Very helpful. Carried out all parts of the course. Very calm. Plotted course use of auto helm, GPS, helped with all of these. Great with our children. Learnt a lot!.”. Did we meet Phillip’s expectations? “Yes!”
August 2016
Nicolas
“Great, good repetition of learned theory. Student is part of the team and is allowed to do a lot of things by himself after explanation”. Did we meet Nicolas’ expectations? “Yes”
START YACHTING
January 2016
Alan
“Very enjoyable and informative 2 days”. Did we meet Alan’s expectations? “Yes”
January 2016
Louise
“Excellent. First class learning. Will do more”. Did we meet Louise’s expectations? “Yes”
COMPETENT CREW
February 2017
Wendy
“Very good, everything was explained clearly and with a lot of patience, constructive comment, positive attitude.” Did we meet Wendy’s expectations? “Yes”
January 2017
Phil
“Very effective direction with each student getting lots of opportunities to practice. Enjoyed the laid back but very efficient, friendly atmosphere.” Did we meet Phil’s expectations? “Definitely”
January 2017
Rachel
“Overall it was a great experience. Pippa was very helpful and I feel like I learned a lot in 5 short days!” Did we meet Rachel’s expectations? “Yes”
January 2017
Andrew
“Thorough and endlessly patient! I have learnt a great deal and I am clear on how much I have yet to learn. A most enjoyable experience.” Did we meet Andrew’s expectations? “Yes”
January 2017
Kirstin
“Pippa is a fantastic captain – very calm, instructive and caring. I feel I’ve learnt a lot and would love to go out sailing again immediately! I’ve got the bug which is a result of fantastic tutoring. Highly recommend this course to anyone wanting to learn to sail.” Did we meet Kirstin’s expectations? “Yes”
December 2016
Vincy
“Tanya explained things very clearly and always made sure everyone understood what they were doing. She kept reminding us of safety comes first. She is a great instructor. I’ve gained experience of what to do when we go sailing.” Did we meet Vincy’s expectations? “Yes, it was great”
December 2016
Heather
“Excellent! Very knowledgeable, very patient (very patient). Really took the tine to ensure we understood and continuously reinforced our learnings. Very intuitive to the student’s needs. Thank you-thank you-thank you! Would recommend!” Did we meet Heather’s expectations? “Yes”
December 2016
Lorne
“Excellent and very patient, could relate very well to new sailors. Very helpful.”
December 2016
David
“The 5 day experience was full of instruction and experiences that gave me confidence to continue cruising.” Did we meet David’s expectations? “Yes”
December 2016
Peter
“Great 5 days of learning, good instructing; an experience I would recommend to family & friends.” Did we meet Peter’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Annette
“Clear, calm and precise. Lea has fantastic people skills and outstanding sailing skills Everyone worked as a team and he insured that everybody did everything required of their course while having fun. Fabulous course, fabulous instructor”. Did we meet Annette’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Brian
“Lea was a first rate instructor. He instilled confidence, took time to go over things I found hard to pick up the first time. He pushed us to show what we were capable of”.
November 2016
Hannah
“All instructions were clear and repeated if necessary. All questions were welcomed and answered in detail. As the course progressed less and less instruction was needed as we got the hang of it”. Did we meet Hannah’s expectations? “Yep!”
November 2016
Jim
“Always patient no matter how many questions we asked and how many times we needed shown something again. Very thorough with safety procedures and very informative. Also good fun and great company”. Did we meet Jim’s expectations? “Easily”
November 2016
Nora
“Pippa’s instruction was always precise and informative but above all she was happy to repeat as many times as asked or needed”. Did we meet Nora’s expectations? “and more!”
November 2016
Mary
“Lots of instruction!!! Pippa was kind and patient and we learned a lot. I would now feel confident to sail with friends. Thanks everyone for a great week”. Did we meet Mary’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Kevin
“Tanya was fantastic! Great instruction with real-world stories and experience. Allowed us to make mistakes and learn effectively”. Did we meet Kevin’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Paul
“Tanya is fantastic, competent and made us feel safe at all times. Thoroughly enjoyed her teaching methods and her company at all times. I would love to sail with Tanya again one day but only after she’s had her morning coffee”. Did we meet Paul’s expectations? “Yes and some”
November 2016
Philippa
“Fantastic. Tanya taught us brilliantly. She is warm, kind, open, human, great fun to be around while still having the authority needed to teach all of us and keep us safe. She is great in sticky situations too, both boating related and crew related”. Did we meet Philippa’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Paul
“Fantastic. Tanya was able to give us instruction on every part of sailing and plenty of stories. She was also supportive, caring and persistent in her tuition and had fun while ensuring we did too! Top marks”. Did we meet Paul’s expectations? “Yes”
October 2016
Jennifer
“Lee is a fantastic teacher, very precise, calm and fun! Full of extra knowledge and passionate for what he does. I feel I have truly learnt the ways of sailing and will never forget!”. Did we meet Jennifer’s expectations? “Yes”
October 2016
Sally
“Very comprehensive and learnt so much more than expected with regard to navigation and buoys and yacht rights of way etc. An awesome experience !! We had a fantastic 5 days despite the weather”. Did we meet Sally’s expectations? “Yes”
DAY SKIPPER
January 2017
David
“Pippa’s instruction was excellent – steady and constructive, while giving enough leeway for me to draw the right conclusions on my own. While following all the RYA syllabus, her experience provided useful tips”. Did we meet David’s expectations? “Yes”
January 2017
Victoria
“Pippa is an excellent instructor – explanations are thorough & clear. Very patient! I learnt so much & am significantly more confident handling the boat. As well as being very instructive, it was also lots of fun. Really enjoyed sailing around the island”. Did we meet Victoria’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Tara
“Fantastic, very knowledgeable, extremely patient and engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed the course and will, without a doubt, utilize the skills I’ve learned. Thank you Lea and Miramar”. Did we meet Tara’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Ben
“Instruction has been given in a clear and concise manner, comprehensively covering all aspects required. Lea has also been happy to answer all questions in a patient and informed way. Has been a pleasure and I feel a lot happier with sailing as a result – Thank you!”. Did we meet Ben’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Bradley
“Pippa walked us through the Practical with patience second to none. She made sure each of us understood every aspect and taught us more than expected from the syllabus – Thanks Pippa!!”. Did we meet Bradley’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Jim
“Excellent instruction from a very knowledgeable instructor. Time and patience in abundance. A pleasure to have attended the course. Would recommend highly”. Did we meet Jim’s expectations? “Absolutely”
November 2016
Kevin
“Lea was a fantastic instructor and I thoroughly enjoyed learning from him and his teaching experiences and methods. I felt completely confident to extract the best of my ability. It was a pleasure and an honour”. Did we meet Kevin’s expectations? “Yes, exceeded”
November 2016
Paul
“Superb. Highest level of training I’ve ever received. Professional, knowledgeable and highly competent instructor who put our safety first at all times. Would love to sail with Lea again someday”. Did we meet Paul’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
Bradley
“Pippa walked us through the practical second to none. She made sure each of us understood every aspect and taught us more than expected from the syllabus – thanks Pippa!”. Did we meet Bradley’s expectations? “Yes”
November 2016
James
“Excellent. Firm but fair. Very knowledgeable. Always happy to help. I love advice on any sailing topic. Very impressed. Will return!” Did we meet James’s expectations? “Yes”
October 2016
Kimberly
“The content instruction on the boat was very helpful. It seemed to be group orientated and positive (i.e. everyone can learn from the points made). I felt that Pippa was very considerate to what every individual needed to focus on and we all could learn it” Did we meet Kimberley’s expectations? “Yes”
COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL
December 2016
Sandy
“Lea was prepared, organized, experienced, articulate and was a hard driver. As I was the only student, I expect he had to work very hard. He was awesome and I learned a lot and I feel competent now to charter a yacht! His demonstrations and guidance were very helpful.” Did we meet Sandy’s expectations? “Yes and exceeded”
August 2016
Jack
“Very good teaching style and expert local knowledge. Only complaint is about the wind!!. Good easy to use vessel, perfect for training.” Did we meet Jack’s expectations? “Yes!”
April 2016
Stephen
“Very good. Instructor had deep knowledge, not just of the subject matter but also of learning techniques / struggles / challenges of students tackling the subject matter. Clear and consistent and OMG patient.” Did we meet Stephen’s expectations? “Oh ya!”
April 2016
Andrew
“Good / patient / open to requests of learning areas we wanted to spend more time on. Approachable and relaxed.” Did we meet Andrew’s expectations? “Yes”
April 2016
Azat
“Amazing instructor! I learned a lot this week. Will come back for my Yachtmaster to this school.” Did we meet Azat’s expectations? “Yes”
April 2016
Adam
“Very good course. Lots of valuable information. Creative and very useful exercises. More freedom to choose our execution of exercises and sailing which I feel I need to get prepared for the yachtmaster exam.” Did we meet Adam’s expectations? “Yes”
April 2016
Andrew
“Good. Patient. Open to requests of learning areas we wanted to spend more time on. Approachable and relaxed.” Did we meet Andrew’s expectations? “Yes”
YACHTMASTER PREPARATION
October 2016
Marco
“Professional, very interesting, good skills. Thanks to both Pippa and Lea!!.” (Marco achieved his Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate)
October 2016
David
“A lot to learn in one week! Well done Lea for fitting it all in, but it was challenging. Could have used more time on Radar and engine detail, beyond WOBBLE.” (David achieved his Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate)
Principal’s Note: Our Yachtmaster Preparation Week is exactly that. It is not a Yachtmaster Training course, and we expect our candidates to be potential Yachtmasters before they join us. What we do is prepare them for the examination.
February 2016
Max
“Thanks again for the excellent training. I hope I can bother you again when aiming for the YM Ocean in a year or two :-)” (Max achieved his Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate)
December 2015
Hanno
“With Ian & Pippa we met the most patient instructors we have ever met. Nice sailing around the Leeward & Windward islands.” (Hanno achieved his Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate after 4 weeks of Mile Building)
December 2015
Laura
“It was a good week! Pippa handled the group very well given we had a major crew crisis! I am happy I chose Miramar!.” (Laura achieved her Yachtmaster Coastal Certificate having been with us for 7 weeks starting at Day Skipper Practical level)
POWER BOAT
Our short courses create the perfect adjunct to one of our 5 Day Courses or Course Packages, and maximise the value of your visit to Antigua.
January 2017
Frank
“Comprehensive & complete. Two eight hour days. Classroom & on water practical. With good humour & common sense.” Did we meet Frank’s expectations? “Yes”
January 2017
Jon
“Good knowledge and very patient. Thoroughly enjoyed the 2 days! Thank you! Highly recommended!” Did we meet Jon’s expectations? “Yes 100%”
August 2016
Jack
“Good clear instruction for theory and practical. Powerpoint was nice. Perfect area for all practical skills” Did we meet Jack’s expectations? “Yes”
March 2016
Adam
“Ian is an excellent instructor. Patient and easy to understand. Does not interfere unless it is absolutely necessary. It is very good in practical courses because the student can make mistakes and has to correct them (extra experience) and can test different approaches. I was doing the course alone so I had plenty of time to practice. I really enjoyed the course.” Did we meet Adam’s expectations? “Yes”
COURSE PACKAGES
Many of our students realise that, if the time is available, a multiple course package is far more economic than visiting Antigua for a single course. Add to that the wealth of training you receive and the additional qualifications, and it makes sense!.
DAY SKIPPER THEORY & PRACTICAL
December 2016
Toby
“Excellent. Tanya was amazing as was Lea the week before, very patient, clear instructions made for a very happy learning experience. Would recommend to anyone.”
December 2016
Katie
“Tanya is very, very patient and explains the methodology very clearly prior to doing the exercise with constructive feedback allowed. I cannot fault Tanya. Lea is also a fantastic instructor. What a team!”
November 2016
John
“All good. Learning in a small group was very beneficial with the opportunity to ask many questions which Lea encouraged. I feel I got a good practical and theoretical grounding in all aspects.”
November 2016
Ben
“The information was put across in a clear and concise way and all my questions were swiftly answered. Overall I would say the level and approach of the instructor has been excellent.”
October 2016
Nicholas
“Firm but fair. Very professional, always calm. Forever patient! Approachable, without worry, friendly.”
July 2015
Emma
“I have never been out on a boat and felt so confident, even in F6 winds and 3m waves! The syllabus was taught at a great pace. Pippa was extremely knowledgeable and patient with practical skills and theoretical knowledge. She taught the course at an outstanding level, which I doubt could be replicated at any RYA Sailing School. I can’t wait to go back to Dubai and practice all the skills I have learnt and come back next year for the Coastal Skipper Practical course! Thank you very much for enriching my knowledge exponentially and giving me such confidence in one of my greatest passions. I will always have fond memories of our time on the water together this summer.”
June 2015
Jason
“Overall a great experience. The fact that I was able to do the courses I wanted in the time frame I wanted was ideal. Ian is a good instructor! I also appreciate the fact that Brian got back to me so quickly. That was the reason in the end that made my choice to come to Miramar”
COASTAL SKIPPER XPRESS
November 2015
Alistair
“Hi Brian and Pippa
I have returned safely to the UK and packed away my shorts and flip flops for another year!
I just wanted to thank you both for making the whole experience of starting to learn to sail – and I anticipate this will be a long but rewarding journey – so enjoyable.
To go from being a complete novice to undertaking a 230 nm sail to Nevis, St Kitts and Statia in 6 weeks gave me a real sense of achievement.
Again heart felt thanks for your help and hospitality. I will write reviews for Trip Advisor and Facebook, and ask Maria who is a member to post them.
Alistair”
