Information
What do I need to bring on a course?
We provide high specification comfortable lifejackets (the same type our instructors use every day) for all those on our courses. We ask that you consider the weather when packing your kit, but please try to prepare for poor weather, as conditions can change quickly. The following items are essential:
- Layers of clothing to keep warm
- Sturdy trainers or boots (waterproof is good, but no flip flops or sandals)
- Pencil and paper
- Packed lunch (the nearest shop is a 5 minute drive down the road in Milford-on-Sea)
- A positive, can-do attitude!
These items are weather dependent:
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof trousers
- Sun hat/woolly hat
- Gloves
- Sunscreen
We can provide wet weather gear, but please let us know if you are outside the S-M-L-XL bracket!
Joining Instructions
If you are joining us for a course, please download the Joining Instructions. This will give you location, parking information, refreshments information and an idea of what to bring.
Weather & Tides
Weather:
- Apps and websites such as Windfinder, Windy, Windguru, Met Office are very good.
- The Shipping Forecast on BBC Radio 4 at 0048 and 0520 (long wave 198 and FM 92-95) and at 1201 and 1754 (normally LW only). The latest forecast is here, and an explanation can be found here.
- Marine Safety Information for the UK is available on VHF Ch16. Broadcasts are made every 3 hours beginning locally at 0710, with an announcement made on channel 16 prior to the broadcast being transmitted on another channel.
- TV and radio broadcasts
- Newspapers
- Harbour offices
- RNLI Noticeboards
Tides:
- Apps and websites such as My Tide Times, Hampshire Tides and BBC Tides are good.
- Harbour offices
- RNLI Noticeboards
Poor Weather
As Alfred Wainwright said, 'There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing'. If the weather is wet, the course will still go ahead - please bring appropriate warm, waterproof clothing. If the weather is extremely windy, we may need to cancel or postpone the course; if this happens, we will give you as much notice as possible, and make judgement calls early if the forecast is obviously poor.
Cancellations
If the course needs to be postponed due to adverse weather conditions, a mutually convenient time will be agreed to rearrange the course. Otherwise, cancellations will be handled as follows:
• More than 21 days prior to the training date: full refund, minus a £10 administrative fee
• 21 to 10 days prior to the training date: 50% refund
• Less than 10 days prior to training date: no refund
To cancel, please email info@westsolentseaschool.co.uk
Social Media
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