Safety is the foremost consideration of every aspect of our programme design. Since Sail Camps and our other youth programmes all about hands-on learning, our staff place high emphasis on safety and risk awareness, passing these critical elements on to their team at all times.

Throughout the voyage, crew members learn safety procedures and take responsibility for themselves and their actions. There will be a daily briefing from the leading skipper, and one before the start of each activity by the member of staff conducting it.

This learning is reinforced through practical application, as crew members demonstrate safe practices during every day activities. Through repetition, simple precautions to mitigate risk will become second nature.

The quality and experience of our staff plays a vital role in our safety policy. These full-time professionals ensure the highest level of safety and instruction.

We take great pride in the knowledge that our staff are amongst some of the best qualified and sought after professionals in yachting, diving and the outdoor education industries. All our senior staff undertake an active role in delivering the programmes we offer, including our Director, Ben Swain. Ben is an experienced sail trainer, with over 20 years sail training experience. He sails with one of our fleets every summer, preferring to keep a hands-on active role within the programme delivery.

In addition, all our seasonal instructors are specially selected for their professionalism, ability to work with young people and their enthusiasm to deliver to the high standards we set ourselves at Quaystage Training.  Many of these instructors will have come through our own internship training programme; some of them are even former crew from one of our camps.

TEAMS

Whether aboard our larger sailing vessels or our smaller dinghies, wearing a life jacket is a requirement when underway. Safety preparedness is as critical in times of blue skies and calm seas as it is in rough weather. The RYA, the national governing body for sailing, requires all crew to wear life jackets whenever training for youth groups is being undertaken. At Quaystage Training, we ensure that all persons on board our vessels, including our staff, adhere to this when at sea.

Quaystage Training’s skippers, staff and instructors live full-time with their young crew members. Much of the success of the programmes we deliver comes from the strong working friendships and mentorships that form as a result. All of Sail Camp and Dive Camp’s staff are DBS checked for working with young people.

While at certain times and locations deemed appropriate and safe by the Lead Skipper, crew members will be granted free time to explore ashore in small groups of no fewer than 3, for the most part of the programme our staff are with their teams. This forms part of our Child Welfare Policy.

Safeguarding Support:
Quaystage Training is a member of ThirtyOne:Eight, a national Safeguarding Agency that provides us with 24/7 safeguarding advice and support for all our programmes.

We are still part of a global Covid-19 pandemic and whilst we live again in a society enjoying social freedoms, the last few years have highlighted the need to have a robust policy of medical response and prevention.

Prevention and containment of infectious diseases

• • All our vessels are cleaned prior to charter to a high professional standard.
  • All participants including young people and staff must be clear of symptoms of infectious diseases when boarding.
  • All food preparation areas and equipment will be wiped down prior to being used.
  • Cleaning and sanitation of the vessels and equipment are part of the daily routine on board.
  • Should any person on board develop symptoms of a serious infectious disease, we will seek immediate medical advice and return back to an agreed port. Arrangements regarding collection of participants and self-isolation will be made in accordance with medical and government advice.

Medical – First Aid 

All our professional staff are first aid trained, and briefed in action to follow should a medical condition occur. Our Skippers are also proficient in medical care onboard ships.

Our programmes take place in coastal waters in the UK and the EU, where professional medical assistance is within reasonable distance. Please make sure that your travel insurance covers medical treatment in the respective countries.

While we put every possible measure in place to provide the safest experience possible for our participants, effective risk management and accident prevention requires active involvement from all parties, including the participant. We therefore expect the following from all participants:

• Contribution to a safe learning environment through appropriate and responsible behaviour, even when not directly supervised (learn more about our Code of Conduct in the next paragraph)
• Ability to focus and follow instructions over an extended period of time
• Ability to understand and recognise hazards previously explained by instructors
• Ability to identify obvious hazards posed by the environment, equipment or other people, and act appropriately around them, including effectively alerting others
• Ability to take prescribed medication without assistance, unless discussed otherwise
• Ability to communicate distress, injury, need for assistance or other concern to staff members or other participants (where appropriate) effectively

If you are unsure if our sailing programmes are a good fit for your child, please check our Sail Camps page or get in touch with us directly!

ARE SAIL CAMPS THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU?

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Participants arrive with the understanding that they will be part of the crew in training, ready to share the work of the vessel, from maintenance to food preparation to navigation, and everything in between.

The young people alternate positions of responsibility each day for diversity of skills and learning. Evenings are largely devoted to programme material aboard. Our vessels are dry ships – no alcohol or illegal drugs, and no smoking.

We expect all crew members to maintain an atmosphere of respect and consideration.

We will not tolerate actions or attitudes detrimental to group cohesion or to the healthy and pleasant environment aboard. Additionally, we are a co-ed program. Girls and boys live in separate cabins. Privacy is thus maintained even with up to twelve students all living within 50 feet of each other.

In accordance with the  Protection of Young Persons act, no sexual activities between participants are allowed for the duration of the programmes.

Much is gained simply from living closely and in cooperation. In short, we are proud of our good reputation and maintain the tone of the programme as one of positive, highly experiential, healthy, active and fun.

Any person breaking this code of conduct will be sent home immediately!