We are a friendly Sea 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 an immaculate 2006 Fairline Phantom 40 (Motor). Our Powerboat courses are conducted in a 7.8 metre Ribcraft with a 300hp Suzuki 4 stroke outboard or a Ribcraft 4.8m with a 50hp Suzuki 4 stroke outboard. PWC Courses are conducted on your own ski or our Seadoo GTX155.
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. His final appointments in the navy were Chief Sail Instructor at the Royal Navy's Seamanship Training School near Plymouth and finally RYA Chief Instructor at 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 Ocean, Yachtmaster Examiner in both Sail and Power and a Powerboat and PWC Trainer.
Neil has recently returned from a 3 month trip skippering a Challenge 67 through the Southern Ocean and around Australia and New Zealand.
We are privileged to have trained many commercial skippers and crew and continue to work closely with Torbay Harbour Authority, Brixham & Falmouth Pilots, several Super-yachts and local ferry operators who favour us for their training.
