Tankerton Bay Sailing Club - Kent

TBSC Principal and Trainers

 

 

BRETT BIRCHAM

Brett took on the role of Training Principle in 2022. He only recently returned to sailing after taking the RYA Level 1 course at the club and becoming a Club Boat member in 2020. Having first learned to sail on Hobie Cats with his family on the lakes of British Columbia, Brett is now voraciously relearning the ropes. His experience as a learner, improver and progressing to a competent sailor is testament to the training available at the club. His own experience puts him in a great position to help new sailors get the most of their experience of learning at TBSC. When he's not part of the training beach crew, you'll likely find Brett on his vintage Hobie Cat 16 (with the rainbow sails) cruising around the bay and beyond. 

HELEN NORTH

Helen is our centre's RYA Chief Instructor. She has been teaching dinghy sailing for the past 24 years, working as a Senior Instructor in Britain and Europe in both commercial centres and the charitable sector. Helen is also a Powerboat Instructor and has run courses for both private individuals and professional users including the Fire and Rescue Service. With husband Ted she helped to head up the ‘Morning Star Trust’ for the past 10 years - a sail training charity taking young people to sea on a 62' Gaff Ketch. Helen also regularly skippers a classic Norfolk Broads cruiser, races in the local Kent Barge matches and is fully involved in our club activities. As well as teaching sailing Helen is a qualified teacher and a professional folk singer. So if you want to learn any sea shanties on your course just ask!

 

TED NORTH

Ted began sailing, aged 8, on a 'Hornet’ and has worked for the past 40 years teaching a whole range of adventure sports to young people and adults. For many years he ran a commercial waterfront on the French coast with over 100 people afloat at any one time. More recently he has worked as a powerboat trainer, activities developer to Centre Parks and as CEO for the ‘Morning Star Trust’; a Christian sail training charity taking young people to sea on a 62' Gaff Ketch. Ted has recently retired as an RYA Senior Sailing instructor holding keel boat, multi-hull and performance endorsements, although he occasionally comes out of retirement as an assistant instructor for our Centre and is the Club's Chief Powerboat Instructor, bringing his many years of experience to our team.

HANNAH RICHARDS

Hannah joined Tankerton Bay Sailing Club in 2018, after having been awarded the Alex Holliday Scholarship.  She took this opportunity, unsure of where it would lead, and has progressed through a variety of Royal Yachting Associating qualifications – having most recently completed her Dinghy Instructor course. Hannah loves teaching others to sail, passing on knowledge and meeting new people.  She also has a very competitive spirit and regularly enjoys competing in races – especially in challenging conditions, either on the trapeze or leaning out the side of the boat. 

JAMES HILLS

James joined TBSC in 1999 as a family member at the tender age of eight and over the years he enjoyed taking out the family's Swallow, Topper and Pico dinghies throughout the summer holidays. After moving away and then eventually returning to Tankerton in 2015 with a PB2 ticket gained elsewhere he took the helm of the Support Boat while helping out his father Colin carry out a volunteer duty. Once ashore, then Vice Commodore Mike Coleman intimated a need for more RIB Helms at TBSC, and James gladly committed to provide fleet support until the end of the month; five years later he's still here, operating as Senior RIB Helm whenever he can. He gained a Safety Boat qualification from our RTC in 2018 and became one of four Powerboat Instructors in 2019. He has an interest in safety on and off the water, piqued in his career in the utilities industry. He is a member of IOSH, holding their 'Managing Safely' qualification, and in 2019 gained his NEBOSH National General Certificate, both of which are beneficial in maintaining a support service in a growing and ever-changing club. He finds looking after sailors of all abilities on the water very rewarding, particularly likes 'extracurricular' long cruises to further destinations, and loves being out in choppy and windy weather the most - with big enough waves to catch some air!

BARRY SHEFFIELD

A member of TBSC for more than 20 years Barry is one of our five RYA Powerboat Instructors. Having first learnt to sail in the early 90s on dinghies and crusing yachts he nowadays enjoys nothing more than a lazy afternoon cruise along the coast in company with friends from the club (invariably ending up at a favourite beachside watering hole!) and at weekends, when the conditions are right, you’ll more often than not find him careering round the bay on his ‘probably too quick for him’ and occasionally upright Formula 18 racing catamaran. Well, someone’s got to do it!

RYA Training Centre
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