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RYA training centre in London running Inland Waterways Helmsman courses and other bespoke canal boat training.
Reviews 52
Salaam Freeland
Sep 19,2021A thoroughly enjoyable and informative course. Great mix of practical and theory. I felt a lot more knowledgeable about boating at the end, and for anyone without previous experience you will definitely feel confident enough to take to the canals by yourself.
Ken
Sep 17,2021This was an excellent 2 day helm's course, which I undertook prior to hiring and possibly buying a boat in the future Getting to and from the boat was easy and both days were an ideal mix of activity. Kirsten covered everything clearly and at our pace. Having not helmed a narrowboat before, I would now feel confident in taking a boat out on the canals, so for me the course was a great success.
Windy Investments Ltd
Jul 15,2021We completed the Inland Waterways Helmsman course. Kirsten was excellent. Everything was explained fully and instructions were clear. Everything was taken slowly to allow time for practice and learning. We all managed to laugh off our errors and had a most enjoyable 2 days. Lunch and refreshments were provided. We would highly recommend Willum Boat Training whether you need the course for insurance purposes like us, or just for personal interest. So much to be learnt and enjoyed!
Rebecca Clarkson
Jul 04,2021Utterly fantastic training - I feel equipped to deal with anything and more importantly, I'm enjoying boating rather than stressing about it. It's like a new door has opened and I would like to both thank and recommend Kerstin, who is the best teacher.
Rebecca Clarke
May 25,2021Our two day training course with Kerstin was highly informative and left us feeling much more confident in moving the boat and all elements of boat handling. Kerstin was a great teacher and I had plenty of personal experience from her own boat and give us lots of helpful tricks which we are putting to use. I would urge anyone who is wanting who is still finding their feet on the water to book in with Kerstin, we started as complete beginners and finished the second day feeling fully confident. Thank you.
Nadine Azizollah
May 14,2021I can highly recommend the RYA helmsman training course with Kerstin. As a very new boater I feel that the two days of training made all the difference in terms of confidence, and have given me a good solid foundation to start my boating adventures. The course is really thorough and covered all the things I would have hoped, plus plenty of skills and tips that I wouldn't even have known that I needed to know! If anyone is considering booking with Willum Boat Training, my recommendation is definitely do it - you'll learn so much, and in a fun and relaxed way!
A Lyons
Apr 15,2021Kerstin recently taught my 12 year old daughter to skipper our 65 foot narrow boat. My daughter was delighted with her new skills and obtaining her RYA Helmsman Certificate! My daughter loved the course and Kerstin was an excellent instructor. It now means that I feel confident taking the boat out with my daughter for our summer holidays!
Charlotte Everett
Apr 10,2021I'm a new boater, and although a couple of people have tried to give me "driving lessons", I still found it all very overwhelming. This course changed everything for me, and I now feel fully confident to handle my boat on my own, moor up on my own, reverse, turn around, and go through locks etc. Also some fail-safe knots. Kerstin is an excellent instructor, and she even stuck around to help pull my boat back to the mooring when the engine failed! Highly, highly recommend.
Yello
Mar 26,2021I'm so glad I did this course! I'm new to boating and a solo boater, and doing the 2-day course with Kerstin really gave me the confidence I needed to feel safe and in control of the boat at all times. Experienced boaters have commented how calm and controlled my boating skills are (like when pulling up to the bank to moor) - these are all the techniques I learned on the course! The lock training was a key part of what I learned, and I'm now confident to do locks with a crew and on my own too - something that seemed so daunting before! Thanks Kerstin for the great course structure and teaching! I'd highly recommend this course for boat beginners and also people with some experience who have never done a proper course. :O)))
Andy Cole
Mar 26,2021Kerstin is highly knowledgeable, curious and thoughtful. She took me through everything I needed to learn about how to enjoy my narrowboat and opened my eyes to the potential of canals for leisure across GB.
Jason Walton
Mar 25,2021Kerstin spent the two days of the helmsman course with me on my own boat, and I went from a complete novice to a much more confident novice! She was very professional, covered the course syllabus fully, checked my understand and enabled me to gain the skills I needed, many thanks
Kirsty Eaton
Nov 16,2021Truly an amazing experience. Something everyone should treat themselves to whether you're looking into boatlife like me, have been cruising for years or just fancy some time out on the water learning some new skills. Kerstin's teaching method was friendly, easy to understand and follow (I'm neuro-diverse) and thoroughly enjoyable. I never knew I could do half the things I managed to do this weekend. What an unforgettable experience.