What our past Students have said
Just checked out your website with the Youtube blurb...very racy and
up beat! Things seem to be moving on for you. My time with "the
Spirit' ever remains one of the highlights of my life...truly in
everyway unforgetable. Ne'er a day passes and I wish myself back on
board to have the experience all over again...even the dratted
dinghy!!! Let me wish you all the best. . Your patience and skills as an
instructor are next to none. Along with your ability to work hard and
to make the best out of an awkward situation, you have a winning
formula for success. Not to mention (as you say in the clip) one of
the greatest classrooms in the world! I would love another spin around
the Whitsundays... just don't know when that will be....but I do tell
all and sundry about the Marine Academy and the amazing 6 day
Competent Crew course to be had off Airlie Beach!
Hope this finds you and the family well and enjoying life to the
full...Best wishes
Kathy Koutelieris, Greece
Fantastic week! Both Skippers had such patience with us and I really felt I understood so much at the end fo the 6 days training. I have always been scared of sailing and ffeel I have gone a long way forconquering that fear. How exciting! I have left some photos on your facebook site. Thanks Matt and thanks Willo - a great week
Laura Gill, Bank Employee, UK
I am incredibly satisfied with the awesome training I received at the Whitsunday Marine Academy. Staff went above and beyond in all aspects; not just sail training, but hospitality as well.
Alyra Halyn, Student, Canada
Hello Matt and Andrea
Well I am back at work but the memories of my time on board Spirit will keep me content for some time yet.
I have nothing but good things to say about the course and how it was conducted. I learnt more than I expected and thoroughly enjoyed the experience
The training program was well planned and conducted with a good balance between theory and practical. It’s not often the opportunity to participate in a training program also offers the opportunity to spend quality time on a 43 foot yacht in such a beautiful relaxing environment, in great company and with meals provided.
Thanks Matt and Andrea
Jo Graham, Project Manager, Canberra
Hi Matt,
Well, we are back home in Bendigo, with frost on our windscreen each morning, pouring coffees and thinking of ‘cats paws, weather helm bowlines’. A huge thank you to you for what was by far the best 3 we have had. I don’t even think we realized just how much we had learnt until we got home and started going through everything in our heads.
Some people are born teachers and you being so passionate about something you clearly love doing was contagious. Craig I loved the three days and could not fault your training, the accommodation or the meals! Not to mention some pretty amazing scenery along the way! As soon as we are able to leave the shop for 6 days we will be up to do the competent crew course and probably a few more once we relocate to Airlie, even if it’s a while before we manage to get our own boat.
Special mention to Ian & Steve for their patience and help as well, they were great. I have attached a few ‘action’ shots of your good self here too. Unfortunately no time to take pics of ourselves, while swinging of the mainsail halyard!For me also it was liberating to get back on a yacht after 16yrs and finally being a useful crew & knowing what to do! I even got the old hundreds of ‘Wild Thing’ ‘Drumbeat’ photos out and started naming halyards, side stays, back stays etc, it was hilarious!
Thanks heaps & we hope to see you again sooner than later.
Melissa Hutson, Real Estate Agent, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
Hi Andrea and Matt,
Just wanted again to say Thank you for that wonderful time spend on "Spirit" in the beautiful Whitsundays. Having a group of fun loving "students" and dedicated to deliver quality training Skipper just made that perfect mixture. Like the "first solo" in flying training I'll always remember my first sailing.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to the whole team.
Ziggy Wenderlich, Australia
What a great way to see the Whitsunday Islands and learn or improve sailing skills. A great bunch of people who bend over backwards to make the trip both informative and enjoyable. Brilliant! Many thanks to all at Whitsunday Marime Academy. Cheers,
Steve Burbidge, Australia
Matt and Andrea
I have just completed the int crew course - excellent week so thank you very much. May I offer a little customer feedback so that you can continue to provide a high standard of service. I would suggest a teapot be added to the galley inventory so that customers can enjoy their tea freshly brewed. Nothing to extravagant, maybe a litre or so capacity to ensure 5 full cups can be served per round. Many thanks ...in all seriousness (though you should never joke about tea)...could you let me know when you get your Tshirts done so I can order one from you guys.
Thanks again
Hi Matt and Andrea
I had a brilliant time with you, very hard to leave to come back to cold england! hope all is going well and new boat working out all right.
For feed back: good having few student : teacher ratio, good food!, great place to sail, great instructors!, great banter with tie boy!, good teaching methods, negative was having to leave! wasn't anything bad at all! Thanks for sending the disc and certificate. I will hopefully be coming back soon - would be great to see you and sail with Matty again.
Cheers
James Caffyn, England
Hi WMA Team
I d like to thank you for the amazing two weeks of sailing training in the Whitsundays Islands. It s definately one of the best spots on the planet to get a grip on some ropes. I really appreciate the professional and easy going way how you treated us students and I must admit I probably learnt more than I had expected before signing in, having lots of fun by the way. If you want to learn sailing and see some aquatic australian wonders, why not do it in a paradise like whitsundays:)!!!. Special thanks to Matt, Andrea, Willo and Allegra;).
Cheers
Bart from Poland
