Fast Track Case Studies
On this page, you can read what some of our students have thought about Allabroad Fast Track courses, their experiences with us, and how the course has affected their lives. The case studies on this page have been written by the students—apart from correcting the odd typo here and there, we have changed nothing.
We’ll be adding more case studies in the future, and we’d like to say thank you to those that have been kind enough to provide their feedback. If you have taken a Fast Track course with us and would like us to publish your story here, we’d love to hear from you. Just send us answers to the three questions below, in your own words, and include a photo of you in action.
It’s always good to catch up with students, and to hear of their adventures. Seeing them glide gracefully into Marina Bay after a voyage, and joining them for a cup of coffee or pint of beer, is the icing on the cake that makes it all worthwhile.
Fast Track Yachtmasters
Marko
- Course
- Fast Track to MCA RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail)
- Date
- January 2010
Feedback after the course
If you have never sailed before this course will surprise you very positively. You will learn how far you can get in just three months. And you might just end up being a seasoned delivery skipper or charter skipper before the season is done. Really, the only thing limiting you will be your own weaknesses. The truth is, the course is not a holiday at all. You will be challenged mentally, physically, your social skills will be put on trial, you will learn management, how to deal with stress, different types of people and their weaknesses, and all of this while being at the helm of a yacht worth some £100,000. No big deal right? Try it.
“I have turned into a professional sailor
and that’s where I always wanted to be”
If you have sailed before, and you have a clue about what sailing is, well all I can say, every skill you have will come in handy, but these guys will put your knowledge at a test, make you learn more and they will make you a serious player in this game. Just come open minded.
And what I’ve learnt in the end is that the whole experience on this course will depend not on your instructors, but it will rather depend on yourself. These guys will give you all the tools needed, all the knowledge, the instructors are top of the line, it’s just up to you to be hard working, patient and willing to learn. If YOU don’t give up, you WILL become a Yachtmaster.
One thing that helps when it’s toughest is: HAVE FUN and enjoy every minute of it.
What have you done since achieving your Yachtmaster award?
Well, I have sailed a lot. I have crewed on one delivery then I skippered a delivery from UK to Malta, passed my cruising instructor, then worked as RYA instructor in Spain, then did charter work back home in Croatia. I have turned into a professional sailor and that’s where I always wanted to be. Allabroad was a major step.
What is your top tip for future Fast Track students?
Come open minded, leave your ego on the shore, respect others as you would want to be respected, and remember, a Skipper is only good as his crew will allow him. Sometimes you will be crew, and that’s where you need to work hardest. If you want to lead, you first need to know how to listen.
Charlie
- Courses
- Fast Track to MCA RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail)
- Four week Motor conversion to RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Power)
- Date
- May 2010 sail September 2010 power
Feedback after the course
Hi. I guess if you are reading this it is because you are interested in the fastrack course. Let me start by repeating what I read when I was thinking of doing the course and visited their website as you are now. You have arrived; yes the course does what it says on the label, more in fact, much more. Do it, you will not be disappointed. No, it is not a holiday and yes you will get tired and frustrated but the experience and the end results really are worth the journey!
“Do it, you will not be disappointed”
I made more mistakes and learned more than I thought was possible. What does the course offer? What more can I say than when I arrived at the Academy I had really only very basic sail experience but have just returned from sailing from Spain to Barbados. It struck me mid-Atlantic as I was on watch alone through the night…I know what to do. I can read the charts, use the plotter and radar. I can, and do, plot and check our position, work the radio, set and trim the sails. It was a moment when I realized that all the training I had received at the Academy was real and what worked “out there” in the real world, I am in charge of this yacht!
So the Academy and course nitty-gritty: The instructors are varied and not scripted, they all bring their own experience, great for picking up more than one way of doing things. They were firm but very fair, it is no holiday but it is no boot camp either. The pace was full-on, I would have loved a few extra days off to be honest. Having the on-shore classroom is a god send. I just cannot imagine trying to really learn the theory sitting on a yacht. The fastrack lounge is handy and the computer useful. If the TV appeared again that would be brill. The yachts are in great condition. The mix of yachts and number of students creates a great environment and the weather is great. Actually very important when you are trying to learn, a lot easier to concentrate when you are not freezing cold! Living on board is a great way to find the sea legs and really rounds the whole experience off.
Lastly, something I feel is very important is that the course really does suit all. If you have sailed for years, you will learn new skills and really round off what you already know. If you are just starting out and looking at this course as a stand-alone experience or the first step on the sailing “ladder” you will not be disappointed.
What have you done since achieving your double Yachtmaster award?
Since leaving the Academy I have worked on a number of private yachts, work in part found through the Academy. I have sailed from Palma to Barbados, yes the work is out there.
What is your top tip for future Fast Track students?
My top tip would have to be, bring a good jacket, sunnies and sail gloves then look at the rest of the clothes you have packed and half them, do this again and just bring the one pair of shorts left in the pile…that is all you will wear!
Paul
- Course
- Fast Track to MCA RYA Yachtmaster Offshore (Sail)—completed in 3 sections
- Date
- March 2010 until January 2011
Feedback after the course
Those who know me probably won’t be surprised at this but I did as much research as I could before signing up with Allabroad. Having worked in IT for nearly 20 years I could tell from the website that here was a group of people who’s passion is sailing and their students rather than marketing. But the information was all there, reviews were all good and the rapid, clear and concise response to my enquiries told me I was dealing with the right school.
“I think the school puts as much as it is
humanly possible into the course”
Difficult to have a clear set of expectations when taking 14 weeks+ out of your life to do something completely new but I’d gathered from past-students comments that it was an intensive experience and they weren’t wrong. Right from day-one you live and breath becoming a Yachtmaster and it’s clear from the school and the instructors that just a pass grade is not enough and they want to get the absolute best from you. I really appreciated the drive from the instructors and the pride they took in the quality of graduates from the school. In particular the shore-based theory instruction from Dave was top-notch. So glad Allabroad have a proper classroom rather than attempting that level of intensive study on a yacht as some schools do.
When I embarked on the course I hadn’t planned to break the course into three sections but it’s a fact of life that things don’t always run as you’d expect and I’m extremely grateful to the school, and Clare and Georgina in particular, for their patience and flexibility in rearranging things for me. I must have been a scheduling nightmare but they took in all in their stride.
Only suggestions I would have for change is to add something on boat buying, financing, surveys, etc. and if possible include some instruction on spinnakers or a cruising-chute. But to be completely honest I think the school puts as much as it is humanly possible into the course to prepare someone for working in the industry and all the add-on training is amazing.
What have you done since achieving your Yachtmaster?
Well, I’ve signed up for the Cruising Instructor course and together with my girlfriend, who has also done her Day-skipper with the school, I’m looking at setting up a yacht charter business. Even after running my own IT business for the last 10 years this is a big change for me and I’m very appreciative to the school for all their help and advice in getting this new venture off the ground.
What is your top-tip for future Fast Track students?
I was lucky in having the previous class of Fast Track’ers around and having instructors who also came through the Allabroad Fast Track route, so I’d recommend taking the opportunity of speaking to previous students, as I found their insight into the experience invaluable.
