Welcome to Bisham Abbey Sailing and Navigation School where our aim is to make learning a pleasant experience whether you are eight or eighty!
Our RYA courses range from beginners dinghy sailing for children and adults to shore-based Dayskipper, Yachtmaster and Yachtmaster Ocean; all the add-on courses that you would expect, i. e. VHF, GMDSS, First Aid, Diesel Engine and Radar plus boat handling courses including Inland Waters Helmsman’s Certificate (IWHC), Powerboat Lev 1 & 2, the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), CEVNI test and RYA / MCA Basic Sea Survival / Water Safety. We are also running the two day shore-based RYA Basic Navigation and Safety Course aimed at the complete novice. We also have examiners authorised to carry out Boat Safety Scheme inspections.
New for 2008 : our MCA Fire Safety one day course, this is a Marine Coastguard Boatmaster Licence ancillary course as are the RYA First Aid and RYA / MCA Basic Sea Survival / Water Safety courses. These courses are invaluable for the professional and non-professional helmsman.
We operate throughout the year specialising in dinghy sailing between May and September and shore based & navigation courses all year round. Boat handling takes place between February and November, weather permitting! Gift vouchers are available for all our courses or to any monetary value.
We are now offering Dutch Barge Experience Days – spend a day on our 17metre Luxe Motor Dutch Barge ‘Le Coq’. You will be able to try your hand at steering our barge and crewing (whilst under instruction) and also find out about buying and owning your own dutch barge.
Our fully equipped premises, based within the Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre, located by the River Thames, has close proximity to the M3, M4, M40 and M25 motorways, providing excellent road access from London and the Home Counties. Main line railway stations are located in nearby Maidenhead and High Wycombe and we are only 35 minutes from London/Heathrow Airport. Accommodation is available if required, within the National Sports Centre, for adults and accompanied children taking part in RYA courses.
Established in 1991 the School is an RYA recognised teaching centre run by Roy and Jan May. Roy, the Sailing School’s Principal is an RYA Senior Instructor and has been sailing for over 20 years.
Emails: Bisham Abbey Sailing and Navigation School isn’t a huge affair. We’re a relatively small independent business within Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre dedicated to offering a personal service. We find that given the sheer volume of emails that can be generated from a site and people’s perception that they should get a reply on the same day if not sooner, we have taken the decision not to include an email address on our site. We much prefer to have a friendly chat with prospective clients to discuss their requirements and ensure that they take the correct course for their particular needs
