Dominic Brown Watersports Instructor

20/04/2019

Well folks 2019 sees me taking up the role of Centre Manager at a Powerboat centre in North Wales. Its an interesting opportunity and there will be many a challenge ahead. Already since the start on the 1st of April I have seen drastically varied weather conditions, happy satisfied customers, collapsed classroom sealing , witnessed proper groundings, and happy RIB ride customers aplenty. But in my heart I remain a sailor and a sailing instructor, already I feel a massive part of me is empty right now, I enjoy teaching power boating but power boating as an activity it does nothing for me at all. Oh yes its a great opportunity for a management position in a developing organisation, but I still feel like an atheist running a church !!

21/10/2018

Back to North Wales today to deliver day 2 of a PB2 course. Also an RYA inspection in full swing so a busy day up there one way or another. A mixed bag of weather with lots of rain and some serious gusts of wind that just seemed to come up out of nowhere like a Mistral. Yet at times the weather cleared up nicely and it was a lovely place to be on a Sunday afternoon. Anyway Students got a lot out of the day and it was for me just nice to be out on the water period, there are far worse places to call your office, even on a day like this ;-)

17/10/2018

As the kids head back to school in September its a quiet time for most within the industry and for many centres to get there breath back as they pack up for the winter or enjoy the breather before the October half term. For my part its been a quiet period in which I start sending out feelers for the 2019 season. But its not all over yet, some Power boat training coming up and Off to New quay tomorrow to deliver some Catamaran coaching, Hope there is some wind :-) .

26/09/2018

Plenty of Power boat training of late and some bumpy seas to go with it. I am always a fan of a bit of a lumpy seas during a PB2 course, it makes students work a bit and see how tricky things can be in a bit of a swell. Anyway just had word the new boat we were testing in North Wales a few weeks back is now fully coded and already in service so be interesting to see how that develops.

29/08/2018

After a number of days in North Wales delivering power boat training, I am pleased to be near home once more. Yes I am back in New Quay for a couple of days delivering the RYA Seamanship skills course. Not a great start to the day with rain and a good old lumpy sea which made life very interesting, but things improved as the day went on. Back tomorrow for day two and I am sure much better sea conditions. :-)

19/08/2018

Poor Weather and some lumpy seas brought a challenging weekend in North Wales for my PB2 students but still a successful one. Despite power boat issues which saw us confined to the classroom a little longer than we would have hoped for on day one while the boat was taken away to be fixed, but we were able to get back on track and students had a worthwhile learning experience as feedback indicates.

11/08/2018

Well still in North Wales for day one of another PB2. The good weather has brought all the would-be boaters out of the woodwork. Don't be fooled here we are hiding behind the spit on the entrance to Pwllheli harbour just to get some shelter from the sea that's building outside. By the end there was a good old sea running and a big spring tide on the edd but I tend to take the view that if a PB2 student can deal with tricky conditions then smoother seas are a cake walk ;-)

10/08/2018

Back to North Wales today to deliver day 2 of an RYA PB2, afterwards we took the opportunity to take the New centre RIB out to see what it goes like. Blooming quick that's for sure, pic or two and a link to a video from when we were getting the boat up to 48kts or over 55mph
https://youtu.be/e917TJqONTo

08/08/2018

Day 2 of RYA PB2 up in North Wales and some very different conditions. While the day started dull it did improve drastically but as the wind freshened the seas built quite well. This gave students a new challenge especially while dealing with MOB scenarios. But despite all they all did well achieving the PB2 certifications and still managing to look happy while riding the bouncy castle getting quite wet in the bargain, but "hey, its a watersport" :-) A good course and some great feedback ;-) Tomorrow work brings me closer to home for a day then back once more to North Wales for the remainder of the week until Sunday.

07/08/2018

Back to north Wales again today to deliver more Power Boat training. Bit of a grey start but on the whole a great day on the water.

06/08/2018

Day 2 of PB2 completed and a positive result all around. Weather was very much on side over the weekend but as a result it was manic with all sorts of craft. And just for good measure the Oppie British Nationals were in full swing as well, never seen so many oppies in my life, truly massive fleet! Anyway another three happy students completing there PB2 and a nice bottle of Red wine as a thank you, what more can you ask for :-)

04/08/2018

Back up in Pwllheli this weekend delivering PB2. Great weather students couldn't ask for better.

03/08/2018

Day 2 of PB2 Delivery today. So that's 4 days done in New Quay and off up to Pwllheli tomorrow to deliver another PB2. By the way, look who I spotted out in the bay today!

02/08/2018

Back to New Quay today for delivering day 1 of a PB2. Students seem happy enough and some great views down the Cardigan bay.

01/08/2018

Short Vid from today.
https://youtu.be/kioLNQEwSU0

Rounding off their course, Students have some fun in some challenging and shifty winds in the New Quay Bay.

01/08/2018

Spent a couple of days down in New Quay delivering an adult Level 1 sailing course. Challenging conditions for the sailors with the wind more or less all over the place today. So they did well fair play. Back at New Quay tomorrow to deliver a PB2.. busy week

25/07/2018

Always nice to get some good positive feedback from a student. Good news for me and great news for the centre.

22/07/2018

Pleased to be back up in Pwllheli this weekend delivering a PB2. A full course and the weather was very kind. Luckily we had neap tides so this meant at lunch time we could get alongside the wall, this made life much easier. Anyway three new PB2 now ready to take on the world and no doubt at this very moment happily shopping for kill-cords and booking on a VHF course.