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Check out the testimonials and see what our students have to say about their experience.
Hi Offshore, I’ve passed and beaming with a sense of achievement and accomplishment after one of the biggest moments of my life.
I’m in Langebaan having just passed my Yachtmaster Offshore. The initial 90 days spent at Offshore with your ethos of training excellence, professional, friendly, nurturing environment made my task that much easier. So many memories, loads of hard work and incredible fun.
I owe the entire Offshore team a huge debt of gratitude for contributing towards my successful sailing endeavors. And certainly one of the best times of my life.
Though I never had the honor of meeting Chris before he sadly passed on, shortly before the start of my course, I felt his legacy and love continued through the hard work and dedication of all the school staff.
Drikus D – Yachtmaster course
I recently completed my Yacht Skipper’s combo course with Offshore Sailing Academy – what a fantastic experience! Although I have been sailing for many years, I realized it was important to take a formal course to further my knowledge and achieve a recognized certification. I found the combo course was a great mix of practical and theoretical content.
Perhaps my fondest memory of my course (among many great ones) was our night sail –the lights of Durban are absolutely beautiful when seen from the ocean. –
Neil S – Combo Course
I started my Spice course with Offshore Sailing Academy in October 2005, and I will start by saying it was the best career move I ever made choosing Offshore. With the fantastic instructors and Chris and Libby Bonnet ,and some interesting experiences, the course was over and done in no time! and I had fun every step of the way. I finished my course and chose to head overseas.
With Offshore advising and helping me every step of the way, I headed off to the Caribbean to start my new career. I ended up in Barbados for three months, working as a deckhand/hostess on a small day charter catamaran, having the time of my life.
I then made my way to Antigua to do day work, finding permanent employment after some interesting jobs, on Sir Richard Branson’s luxury Catamaran. So began my amazing charters around the Caribbean, my introduction to the rich and famous, and the best job in the world. It was hard work with long hours but the rewards and the experience were incredible! A decision was made to re-fit the yacht in Australia and we set off on a three month trip which took me to some of the most remote and beautiful places i had ever seen, Galapagos, Bora Bora to name a few. It was an experience of a life time, one that I owe to Offshore.
Do what I did, nothing else compares. Thank you Offshore my dreams became a reality.
Genene F – SPICE course
Thank you for a great course, excellent instructors, diligent and helpful admin staff and a sailing experience that exceeded my expectations.
It is my hope that you go from strength to yet greater strength and I am looking forward to my next experience with you.
Kevin M
What a blast! Choosing to do my entry level SPICE course at Offshore also did my STCW’95 ! Read on… The SY Enterprise (145ft Perini Navi) pulls into Durban harbor and I land the deckie job onboard for six months! Flew to Antigua – awesome racing on a classic schooner.
Next came the Eastern coast of the USA all the way to Boston on Heidenskip an 80ft sloop. More of the Caribbean after New Port and the Elizabeth Islands and a whole season of fun in the sun. Next stop the med as delivery crew seeing the Azores, Portugal, Gibraltar, Spain, Palma and the Greek Islands. Two years of the best times of my life – with enough money saved to start my own business upon reaching home. You too can follow your dream!
Marc H – SPICE course
I successfully completed my Yachtmaster course with the Bonnets in November 2006 and since then have been working in the Super Yacht industry. It was the time of my life, not just the course itself but the location of the school. The instructors and equipment were all of a high standard. The whole process from booking to passing my exam was done with professionalism and ease allowing me to concentrate on the task at hand
“Hi Libby!
I hope all is well and the courses are flourishing like always! I just wanted to send you an email to say thanks for your support and the level head I adopted from the SPICE course.
It took me about 5 months of dock walking and day work to secure a permanent job on my first yacht M/Y Dyna R (see picture below). It was a tough ad challenging journey but the course taught me how much I loved the water and that pushed me through those times. I’m now working on a new yacht M/Y Harle (another picture attached), about to do a crossing from Barcelona to the Caribbean and it’s been great! I have met some really lovely celebrities, and our next charter guest is Dusten Hoffman! So there’s plenty of fun, beautiful traveling and the open sea is my new home.”