Torbay Sea School - RYA Sailing School

We are a small Sailing School and Motor Cruising School with a lot of experience behind
us. We specialise in the personal touch that some of the bigger schools don't have. Our
practical courses are normally conducted on our own Bavaria 37(Sail) and a brand new
2006 Fairline Phantom 40 (Motor). Our Powerboat courses are conducted in a 7.8 metre
Ribcraft with a 300hp Suzuki 4 stroke outboard.

The Principal of Torbay Sea School is Neil Penman who has lived and worked in Torbay all
his life. He started crewing motor cruisers and small yachts in the River Dart over 30
years ago. Consequently we have extensive knowledge of these cruising grounds and
aim to share the beauty of the area with you.

Neil continued sailing as a hobby whilst serving in the Royal Navy and this and his
previous experience with all types of boating allowed hime to start instructing full-time
within the service. He gained his Powerboat Instructor certificate and Yachtmaster
Instructor certificates whilst instructing the RYA syllabi at the Royal Navy's Seamanship
Training School near Plymouth and The Royal Naval Officer Training College at
Dartmouth.

On leaving the Royal Navy, Neil has run commercial marine operations including boat
hire, speed boat trips and operating passenger ferries before founding Torbay Sea
School. He is now a Yachtmaster Examiner in both Sail and Power and a Powerboat and
PWC Trainer.

We are privileged to have trained many commercial skippers and crew and continue to
work closely with Torbay Harbour Authority, Brixham & Falmouth Pilots and several ferry
operators who favour us for their training.