Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive `joining instructions'?

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Yes. We send out joining instructions by email within 24 hours of you making a booking. You will also receive another email with the link both 14 days and then 7 days before your course starts. You can also download them here.

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Do I need to be able to swim?

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No you don’t. Everyone wears a fully automatic lifejacket when on deck. We do ask if you can swim just so your instructor is aware from a risk assessment perspective.

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How fit do I need to be?

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Pretty much anyone who can enjoy a walk in the countryside can participate in sailing courses. You do not have to be an athlete! We want sailing to be an inclusive activity and we have people of all ages including people in their seventies who enjoy sailing courses. You do need to be able to step up onto the yacht unaided but this does not require any great level of fitness. We can chat to you if you have any concerns about what is required.

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How `healthy' do I need to be?

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We ask everyone to fill in a health questionnaire in order to participate. As long as you have some very basic fitness (see above answer on fitness) then you should be fine. We will chat to you about any health issues should this be necessary.

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Can I smoke on board Academy Sailing yachts?

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For health and safety reasons as well as the comfort of all on board, sailing yacht Dream Odyssey operates under a strict no-smoking policy – both below and above deck. This includes vaping and e-cigarettes. If you are a smoker, then there may be occasional opportunities to step ashore to smoke but we cannot guarantee this and do not make special arrangements for this to happen.

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What time do the courses start?

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Your booking will provide you with the specifics linked to your particular course. Typically, for the first day of a course we ask you to arrive around 9.30am. Your instructor will meet you at 9.45am at our normal meeting point in the marina which is by the `Swallowtail’ restaurant.  If you are on a `split-weekend’ (two-part) course then the meeting time will be the same on the second half of your course.  And on subsequent days on board the start time varies according to the day’s plans but often this means getting up around 7am and starting by 8am.

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Where do we meet?

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The address for the marina is: Burnham Yacht Harbour, Foundry Lane, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, CM0 8BL.  For health and safety reasons we very politely ask that you do not take yourself down to the boat for the first time without the instructor. If you can make sure you are there in good time, your instructor will meet you at 9.45am outside the Swallowtail restaurant which is in the marina – you can’t miss it!

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Is there parking?

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Car parking is included free of charge to you - we have it covered! The car park is located on your left at the entrance to the marina. You will need to provide your vehicle registration details to the marina to avoid a parking charge. Just make sure you do this when you arrive. Your instructor can help you with this but make sure you ask.

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Is there public transport?

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Yes there is a train station for Burnham-on-Crouch very close by. It is a 10 minute walk but there are also local taxis available.

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Do we sleep on board?

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Yes. You will be allocated your own berth (bed) on a shared cabin basis (never mixed gender unless booked together as a couple/pair). We provide a pillow and ask you bring your own sleeping bag and pillow case.

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Is food included?

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All meals on board are provided and included in your course fee (so breakfast, lunch and dinner). This covers all courses and events that both start and finish at Burnham Yacht Harbour.

 

For our Summer 2025 south coast sailing holidays, we provide the usual breakfast and lunches, and then 4 evening meals, with crew eating ashore in a pub or restuarant at their own cost for two of the other evenings.

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We also provide a plentiful supply of tea, coffee and cakes and snacks for all courses and events on Dream Odyssey. We make sure you don't go hungry!!

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We can normally cater for any specific dietary requirements (vegetarian, vegan, GI) but you do need to let us know in advance. This is specifically asked about as part of the online registration process after you book with us. You can still bring any favourite snacks of your own with you of course.

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Can I bring alcoholic beverages with me for the evening?

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Absolutely. Whilst there is to be no alcohol consumed during the day, and we ask you to ensure you are not unfit in the mornings through any excessive consumption, we want people to relax and enjoy themselves on their course during social evening times.  So we advise you to bring your favourite tipples with you in a bag as there are no shops out on the water! You take home what you don’t drink and there is a fridge on board you can use.

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What clothing do I need to bring? What else?

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We cover this as part of your `joining instructions but we advise you to bring the following:-
 

• Sleeping bag and pillow case (we provide pillows);

• Enough suitable clothing to suit varied weather conditions including quick drying trousers (not jeans). You do not need to bring sailing waterproofs with you as we provide state of the art breathable GoreTex sailing jackets and salopettes for your use on the course;

• Optional change of clothing for going ashore (not too many needed);

• Footwear – soft non-marking trainers or deck shoes;

• Sailing boots - available online and locally not expensive for starter options - if you are confident the weather is going to be dry then you will likely get away with not buying sailing boots;

• Woolly hat;

• Sailing gloves – very important! (available online and locally not expensive);

• If you have a red head torch then you may find it useful on the course but we do have these on board;

• Towel & wash kit / toiletries;

• Earplugs if you are a light sleeper (although we normally have a supply);

• Sun cream & sun block;

• Refillable water bottle;

• All clothing must be in a soft-bags – no suitcases;

• Any personal medication you need;

• Passport size photo for RYA Certificate for those doing Day Skipper/Coastal Skipper, or 2 photos for Yachtmaster Coastal & Yachtmaster Offshore.

Can I bring my own lifejacket?

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For health and safety reasons we only allow students to use Academy Sailing lifejackets on our courses. This is because we provide high quality automatic lifejackets that are in perfect condition and under a certificated servicing regime.

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Can I bring my own sailing waterproofs?

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Yes. If you have your own or wish to buy your own and bring them then of course you can. But we also provide state of the art breathable GoreTex sailing jackets and salopettes for your use on the course.

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Do I need to have done any theory first?

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All courses on board Dream Odyssey are practical courses. You do not need any theory knowledge for courses such as RYA Start Yachting or RYA Competent Crew.

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If doing an RYA Day Skipper course, RYA Coastal Skipper, or RYA Yachtmaster prep, then you do need to have undertaken theory learning ahead of your practical course. We will help you put theory into practice especially where you have never had the chance to do so beroe and we are very much there to help. Get in touch if you are want more advice on the level of theory.

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Is there an exam?

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There is no exam for any practical course below RYA Yachtmaster level. RYA Day Skipper and RYA Coastal Skipper courses involve continual assessment by your Academy Sailing instructor. This means no exam so you can relax. Your instructor is there to help you and will do so. We want to pass you and most people have no trouble in reaching the level required to pass Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper as we explain what pre-course knowledge and experience is needed for each course on our website, and we discuss any individual needs with you before confirming you on the course.  We do this as soon as you have booked and completed the short online course registration form. We are always happy to chat through any questions ahead of your booking.

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Seasickness?

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Most people have absolutely no issues with seasickness on our courses. Anyone concerned about seasickness can take anti-seasickness tablets (such as Stugeron, Dramamine, Quells etc.) but consult your GP about medication ahead of your course if in any doubt.  

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What happens if we get bad weather?

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We don’t take you out in any storms!! We have plenty of calm places to sail given the variety of our coastline. If the weather is unsuitable then we reschedule to new dates that work for you. And if we can’t do that then we will give you a refund.

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Do I get an RYA certificate?

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Yes, with the exception of the '1-Day-Taster' which is a sailing taster experience day as opposed to a full-blown course.

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I have paid a deposit – when do I pay the rest of the course fee?

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The full course fee is due 7 weeks before the start of your course (8 weeks for sailing holidays) and so we will send you an invoice for the balance around about 8 weeks before the start of your course. If you book a course that starts less than 7 weeks after the booking then you will be asked to pay the balance as soon as you receive your invoice from our office who process your booking. We normally process your course booking within 24 hours of you paying your deposit and completing your short online course registration form.

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What if I have a severe allergy?

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When you complete the online registration form, we ask you to let us know about allergies. We can cater for dietary needs but what we cannot guarentee if that you won't come into contact with trace amounts of things that you are allergic to. For example, if you have an allergy to peanuts, there may still be peanuts on board - either in our cupboards, or on surfaces, or someone else brings them on board. If your allergy is so severe that you would suffer serious complications when coming into contact with the substance, then being on the boat is probably unsafe for you.

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Are the any extra fees or costs?

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No – none at all.