RYA Instructors and Skippers
Bruno Brown
Cruising Instructor, Commercial Skipper, Sea Survival, First Aid, VHF Operator
Following 22 years in the RAF as a Technician, Bruno has combined his love of flying with his love of the sea to become a senior gliding instructor as well as a sailing instructor. His enthusiasm for teaching shines through, giving his students the confidence to progress quickly towards their aims.
Dhara Thompson
Yachtmaster Instructor, Commercial Skipper, Sea Survival, First Aid, VHF Operator, Company Director
Before training as a sailing instructor, Dhara lived on and maintained boats for over 20 years. In that time he has been a community development worker supporting numerous projects and is keen to make learning accessible to everyone. He is a co-founder of Sail Boat Project. As well as instructing he finds and engages with groups interested in our activities. Dhara is RYA Chief Instructor of our Chichester base.
Geoff Sheridan
Commercial Skipper, Sea Survival, First aid, VHF Operator, Company Director
Geoff has always loved boats. He grew up sailing dinghies and steering canal boats, then discovered yachts later in life. A whole new world of knowledge and adventure opened up, along with an ambition to share his passion and excitement for coastal sailing with others. He loves racing dinghies in Seaford bay and sailing with his small children. In his spare time, he runs a graphic design company, plays jazz trumpet, reads books about sailing and dreams of adventure on the high seas.
Jacquie Dowding
RYA Principle
Commercial Skipper, Sea Survival, First aid, VHF Operator, Company Director
Jacquie has been around boats and boating most of her life. She loves the idea that sailing gives you a sense of freedom and peace, even in stormy weather – what can you do, anyway, but go with it? She has raced, sailed from Scandinavia, the Atlantic and coastal Pacific Ocean and along Central America. She has a passion for the environment and skippering allows her to mix her passions in one boat! Also a part time English teacher, she lives aboard her own sailing boat in Brighton. Jacquie is RYA Principal of our Chichester base.
Jim Wright
Chief Instructor
Yachtmaster Instructor, Commercial Skipper, Sea Survival, First aid, VHF Operator
Born in New Jersey, I’ve lived and worked on boats all my life, clocking up two Atlantic crossings before the age of 20. After a stint with the Ocean Youth Trust, I became involved in Sail Training, specialising in Youth at Risk, which brought great satisfaction. I believe there is nothing that cannot be resolved by experiencing the freedom, the self-reliance and increased confidence and self-esteem that the ocean and sailing can bring. Working for Sail Boat Project with its ethics and crew is a pleasure
Simon Lambert
Cruising Instructor, Commercial Skipper, Sea Survival, First Aid, VHF Operator
Professional, supportive and relaxed skipper who loves the ocean environment & wildlife. I enjoy helping people believe in themselves so they can achieve great results.
Shorebased team and Directors
Ariadne Bechthold
Day Skipper, Sea Survival, First Aid, Company Director
An accomplished broadcaster and film maker, Ariadne is the co-founder of Afghan Voice CIC, a community media organisation based in London that works with minority ethnic community groups. She has used her skills to capture many of our events on camera. She has a background in event management and catering.
Anton Pruden
Company Director
Anton started sailing early with his father racing Mirror dinghies form Brighton beach. The family upgrade to cruising was mostly in Holland: “Riddle of the Sands” type sailing in the Waddenzee as well as the Baltic & the Med. With his wife Sue, who also volunteers with Sail Boat, they have a Bavaria 30 in Gosport. When time allows from his goldsmith’s business in Ditchling he sails on her off the South Coast, Channel Isles and France, and with friends in Greece and the Baltic.