SailQuest Sailing School Thailand
SailQuest Sailing School Thailand
4.5
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Monday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Tuesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Wednesday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Thursday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Friday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Saturday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Sunday
12:00 AM - 11:59 PM
Full view
About
"Learn to Sail" Adventure Starts with SailQuest Sailing School in Pattaya Thailand. Looking for fast-paced, fun & effective Crew & Captain "Learn to Sail" yacht training courses? Then the SailQuest Sailing School in Pattaya, Thailand is the right sailing program for YOU! Personal sailing instruction, modern training yachts and our popular Fast Track 10 Day IYT Bareboat Skipper's Certificate Course create the SailQuest Sailing School difference. As an International Yacht Training (I.Y.T.) partner sailing school, SailQuest students receive the internationally recognized IYT Bareboat Skipper's certificate and are qualified for the IYT VHF Radio Operators license and the EU recognized International Certificate of Competency (I.C.C.) Owner/Instructor Captain Tim takes a personal & professional interest in every student, family or group as he passes along a lifetime of experience in sailing, yacht charter, bluewater world-cruising & yacht ownership. See details: www.SailingSchoolAsia.com
Similar Experiences
SailQuest Sailing School Thailand
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
40 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
5
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
1
Danielle J
Philippines19 contributions
Sep 2020
My partner and I just completed the 10 day course and had a great time! We were super happy to find an affordable sailing course to begin our adventures on the sea.
The instructors (Joe & Howard) are fantastic and really know their stuff. They're very good teachers and went through the theory material as many times as needed for us to understand.
The course is hands on from the beginning which was a great way to learn. We spent most of our time on the Jeanneau 43 (Paprika), but we did get an afternoon on the smaller racer X-99 (Hi Jinks). As expected the training boats are not brand new but learning on an older boat gave us valuable experience and we always felt safe with Howard and Joe. Unfortunately the Catamaran was out of the water for repairs but we were told about this before the course started and it didn't matter for us.
We feel prepared to charter a boat for ourselves and we can't wait to get back in the water :)
The instructors (Joe & Howard) are fantastic and really know their stuff. They're very good teachers and went through the theory material as many times as needed for us to understand.
The course is hands on from the beginning which was a great way to learn. We spent most of our time on the Jeanneau 43 (Paprika), but we did get an afternoon on the smaller racer X-99 (Hi Jinks). As expected the training boats are not brand new but learning on an older boat gave us valuable experience and we always felt safe with Howard and Joe. Unfortunately the Catamaran was out of the water for repairs but we were told about this before the course started and it didn't matter for us.
We feel prepared to charter a boat for ourselves and we can't wait to get back in the water :)
Written October 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
baobabs
6 contributions
Apr 2022
Given this review is being written some time since the last flood, do note there have been some changes to the course (change in instructors, boat situation). However the boat situation is temporary and we believe the course is still an excellent option for aspiring sailors. Also note that for our round of classes, Tim led the class alone which turns out to be a blessing as he is a great instructor with tons of experience to share! Glad to be taught directly by Captain Tim.
This course is designed to teach you what you need to know to skipper a boat (with a focus on liveaboard cruising), so besides the rules of the road which are heavily emphasised and should be, there is a good level of detail into the realistic experience and mechanics of the boat, such as what could go wrong and how to fix things when they go wrong. Lesson materials, manuals, and tests/exams are well and extensively written and provided in hard copy to students. Though not everything in the notes is covered verbally in class, reading these should supplement your learning well. In terms of hands-on experience, we did have ample opportunities to perform different roles on the boat when setting off, returning, docking, trimming, steering, etc. There wasn't an emphasis on racing and going for maximum speed, if that was what you're looking for, but I'm sure if you ask you'll be able to learn something. Tim is also a great storyteller and I found his stories and anecdotes fun to listen to. Chilled water was provided which was a nice touch.
Nonetheless, there were definitely some areas for improvement with regards to punctuality and sometimes the lack of training yachts which is a temporary situation as explained by Tim, hence the missing "star". Still, the design of the lesson materials and the class, together with Tim's experience and sharing of information, makes this an excellent choice. Glad to have done the course with SailQuest under Tim!
This course is designed to teach you what you need to know to skipper a boat (with a focus on liveaboard cruising), so besides the rules of the road which are heavily emphasised and should be, there is a good level of detail into the realistic experience and mechanics of the boat, such as what could go wrong and how to fix things when they go wrong. Lesson materials, manuals, and tests/exams are well and extensively written and provided in hard copy to students. Though not everything in the notes is covered verbally in class, reading these should supplement your learning well. In terms of hands-on experience, we did have ample opportunities to perform different roles on the boat when setting off, returning, docking, trimming, steering, etc. There wasn't an emphasis on racing and going for maximum speed, if that was what you're looking for, but I'm sure if you ask you'll be able to learn something. Tim is also a great storyteller and I found his stories and anecdotes fun to listen to. Chilled water was provided which was a nice touch.
Nonetheless, there were definitely some areas for improvement with regards to punctuality and sometimes the lack of training yachts which is a temporary situation as explained by Tim, hence the missing "star". Still, the design of the lesson materials and the class, together with Tim's experience and sharing of information, makes this an excellent choice. Glad to have done the course with SailQuest under Tim!
Written June 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joe Carrier
Busan, South Korea61 contributions
Feb 2020
I didn't want this course to end. That is how fun it was. Sailing every day on one of three really cool boats. Playing with charts and tide tables and compasses. Eating great food and joking with my classmates and teachers. Learning about diesel engines and pumping systems and anchoring techniques and going on boat tours with brokers and learning to park a boat in a marina full of superyachts...my inner 12-year-old was in HEAVEN. If you are a sailor, or even if you aren't, this course is a BLAST. The teachers are hilarious. The atmosphere is chill. The information is interesting and everything is taught hands-on. Plus it is an incredible value. If you look at comparable programs elsewhere you will see: this is VERY affordable. In a word: Excellent.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello 286joec, that's a great review! Much appreciated. Even though many SailQuest students are complete beginners, some, like yourself, have a good amount of previous experience. If I recall correctly, you've been an active sailor for many years, with ocean passages and yacht racing experience in your logbook.
So it is good to know you found our 10 day IYT Crew/Skipper course to be informative and worthwhile. Even sailors who have a lot of experience will benefit from this program and fill in any gaps they have in their sailing and on-the-water knowledge, particularly regarding the "Rules of the Road" and our coastal navigation sessions.
Of course learning to sail is a lifetime study. And even the most experienced sailors have new lessons to learn. By attending our IYT course, you have increased your sailing skills and knowledge, obtained internationally recognized yachting qualifications and had some fun along the way. Good job!
Thank you so much.
Happy Sailing,
Capt. Tim
Written March 1, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Taylor Starr
5 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
The standing 5 stars is enabling Tim to continue scamming people. The School is no longer able to certify anyone.
Captain Tim is a fraud and a junkie. 2 hours late every single day clearly strung out off yaba. We covered maybe 50% of the website listed course itinerary. On day 9/10 the worst educational experiences I’ve ever had in my life, November 2023: I found out the hard way that his credentials were pulled and no longer valid via the CEO of IYT. The guy doesn’t even have a sailboat, we operated on a borrowed sub par vessel.
I got lucky. I learned more about sailing theory from the commercial airline pilot who unfortunately found himself in my same situation. Miss you Jason.
As of this post: Do not. DO NOT pay a deposit. The Ocean Marina school is now abandoned but the website is up and running, continuing to accept payments.
People continue to travel across the world to come to learn how to sail and waste their time. I’m still in Thailand, checking up every now and then.
If you have been bamboozled the same way I was and have found your self empty handed in ocean marina: “Simpson, Sampson sailing academy” 5-6 units to the east. They’re not IYT certified yet BUT they will be soon.
Make an official complaint to the marina, Email IYT.
Raise hell.
Captain Tim is a fraud and a junkie. 2 hours late every single day clearly strung out off yaba. We covered maybe 50% of the website listed course itinerary. On day 9/10 the worst educational experiences I’ve ever had in my life, November 2023: I found out the hard way that his credentials were pulled and no longer valid via the CEO of IYT. The guy doesn’t even have a sailboat, we operated on a borrowed sub par vessel.
I got lucky. I learned more about sailing theory from the commercial airline pilot who unfortunately found himself in my same situation. Miss you Jason.
As of this post: Do not. DO NOT pay a deposit. The Ocean Marina school is now abandoned but the website is up and running, continuing to accept payments.
People continue to travel across the world to come to learn how to sail and waste their time. I’m still in Thailand, checking up every now and then.
If you have been bamboozled the same way I was and have found your self empty handed in ocean marina: “Simpson, Sampson sailing academy” 5-6 units to the east. They’re not IYT certified yet BUT they will be soon.
Make an official complaint to the marina, Email IYT.
Raise hell.
Written February 20, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TrailBlazer546586
1 contribution
Aug 2016 • Solo
Just finished the bareboat skipper course, learned a lot and laughed a lot, high energy captain Tim is a great storyteller and makes sure you'll stay alert at the same time. Captain James is much more mellow yet not less capable of getting the right message across. They make a great teachers combo and you just want to give it your all as not to dissapoint anyone! Great learning experience as well as great fun. Also got to meet folks from all different walks of life. A big thumbs up !
Arno
Arno
Written August 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, thanks again for attending our 10 day IYT Bareboat Skipper's course and for your generous review. keep us posted on your future sailing experiences... we always love to hear about your continuing sailing successes. See you out on the water!
Written August 6, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DucatiMartin
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia70 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
I attended the 10 day IYT sailing course at SailQuest between 21st and 31st July 2016. This was a fantastic course and the two instructors, Captain James and Captain Tim, gave first class tuition for both the practical and theory side of the course. I was also lucky to have 6 very good fellow student sailors on the course with me, which added greatly to the overall experience and learning process.
The training sail boat, Paprika, makes an ideal vessel on which to learn and with the experience, skill and guidance of Tim and James, we all quickly gained the knowledge and confidence to be able to sail and handle her ourselves.
The overnight trip to Ko Si Chang island and the seafood dinner was quite a highlight of the course, as was the night sailing exercise.
The bunk house and bar is basic, but clean and a perfect place to stay during the course.
I left the course with a lot of new skills, confidence to go and charter a sailing boat and some new friends - highly recommended!
The training sail boat, Paprika, makes an ideal vessel on which to learn and with the experience, skill and guidance of Tim and James, we all quickly gained the knowledge and confidence to be able to sail and handle her ourselves.
The overnight trip to Ko Si Chang island and the seafood dinner was quite a highlight of the course, as was the night sailing exercise.
The bunk house and bar is basic, but clean and a perfect place to stay during the course.
I left the course with a lot of new skills, confidence to go and charter a sailing boat and some new friends - highly recommended!
Written August 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Martin, thanks for the kind words & looking forward to sailing with you and your wife aboard the SailQuest Join-in Voyage at the end of August. Until then, Happy Sailing!
Written August 4, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
DAVID G
16 contributions
Aug 2017 • Couples
The course content and instructors far exceeded our expectations. Having done a lot of sailing my wife and I did the course to get the paper qualification for future bareboat charters. We were more than pleased with the new learning. The only criticism we have was the maintenance standard on the two boats we sailed on. They were not good examples to set for novice sailors due to instruments that did not work, engine problems and general boat maintenance. Thanks to Captains Tim, Paul, James and Brendon for your excellent advice and guidance.
Written August 15, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello David & Susan, thank you for the positive review and for attending our 10 day IYT Skippers course in August 2017. I hope you will take lessons learned here with you as you continue to develop your sailing skills and experience. Please keep us posted on your upcoming sailing adventures.
I would like to comment on your comments concerning our training yachts. Both of the yachts in our fleet, the Jeanneau 43 Deck Salon & our hi-performance 33 foot X-99 are working boats, the Jeanneau will have been out more than 270 days in the past year, the X-99 somewhat less. Although both of these yachts are good examples of modern sailing yachts and ideal "learn to sail" vessels, neither of these boats are new and may appear to be a bit worn in when compared to a brand new yacht. And while both brand new and older yachts will always have issues to be improved or repaired, both of the SailQuest yachts are serviced on a regular and ongoing basis and are in-service condition close to 100% of the time.
You are correct concerning an instrument that is not working aboard the Jeanneau 43DS. In particular this is the wind direction instrument. In fact this is by choice as when we allow students to use the wind instrument, it typically becomes all they focus on. We prefer to train students to feel the wind physically, use the windex at the mast head and generally pay more attention to what is going on around the yacht. We feel this is a more effective way to train students in the art of sailing. Once a student has learned these basics, it will be no problem to learn the use of a wind instrument on other yachts they sail. All other electronic instruments aboard this yacht: auto pilot, depth sounder, speed log, GPS, are are in working condition.
Allow me to comment on "engine problems". Out Jeanneau 43 has a regularly serviced, nearly new Yanmar 4 cylinder diesel engine installed. This engine runs perfectly. It is very rare for us to have any issues with this engine, but as it happens, there was an issue during your course when the locking nut on the propeller shaft coupling backed off, causing the shaft to slide back and in the process, the gear box end of the coupling cracked and was damaged. I commend you, your fellow by-now-well-trained crew members and your certified IYT instructor, Captain Paul, for returning the yacht to the slip under sail only. Well done and most of the students learned some valuable, although un-planned lessons that day.
The fact is that even when various systems are properly maintained aboard a yacht, sometimes things do break. This should be at the forefront of any sailors mind when putting to sea. I have uploaded an image of the broken coupling, together with the replacement part which was ordered immediately and is now installed, the Jeanneau is back in service with new Yanmar coupling and locking nut, gearbox seals, etc. and sailing with students today.
So on day 8 of the 10 day course you attended, our primary training yacht was out of service, due the the issue mentioned above. Fortunately we were able to continue on by moving students to our sporty X-99 yacht, Hi Jinks. This opportunity was welcomed by most of your classmates as it gave them a chance to sail aboard another yacht, deal with a traditional mainsail system and increase their sailing experiences. This wonderful little yacht is powered by small outboard engine which was working perfectly when you left the marina. Unfortunately, later in the day when the wind dropped out and it was necessary to motor into the anchorage, it seems that the outboard caught a plastic bag in her propeller which caused some damage and made the engine un-useable. Again you were able to return the boat back into her slip under sail. This issues has also been sorted, the problem was that there was damage to the propeller hub which was fixed the next day. In addition, we have now purchased a brand new Tohatsu Sail Pro long shaft outboard and installed it on the X-99, see photo attached.
Due to these two unforeseen incidences both occurring during your course dates I can appreciate your comments about engine problems, but neither was due to poor engine maintenance but rather unexpected failure which is sometimes unavoidable. These issues were dealt with at once and both of our training yachts are now fully operational as usual. Again, it is very rare for us to have any significant problems with our yachts during a sailing course. When something does go wrong we can repair/replace immediately or make other arrangements to keep our sailing program running on schedule. Students in your class learned more of the realities of sailing and will be better off for these valuable (although admittedly untimely) experiences.
So thank you once again for your positive comments regarding our well thought out course material and first-class instructors, David, and for allowing me this long-winded response to your constructive criticism. I wish you all the best with a yacht of your own one day and in all your future sailing endeavors.
Happy Sailing,
Captain Tim
Written August 24, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ignazio S
2 contributions
Sep 2015 • Solo
I attended the 10 day IYT skipper course in April 2015, then also participated in the Samui regatta, including the passage from Pattaya to Samui.
The course is excellent and a great way to learn the ropes of yacht sailing. It is also a lot of fun. Captain Tim and James do a wonderful job as instructors.
The marina is very nice and there are a lot of interesting attractions nearby. I recommend renting a motorbike to drive around.
The Samui regatta is another event that I would recommend to anyone: a week of sailing and partying on the beautiful island. Great atmosphere!
The course is excellent and a great way to learn the ropes of yacht sailing. It is also a lot of fun. Captain Tim and James do a wonderful job as instructors.
The marina is very nice and there are a lot of interesting attractions nearby. I recommend renting a motorbike to drive around.
The Samui regatta is another event that I would recommend to anyone: a week of sailing and partying on the beautiful island. Great atmosphere!
Written August 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hey Ignazio S, great to hear from you and thank you for your positive comments. Great to hear you are continuing with your on the water adventures and we are happy you will carry the lessons learned at SailQuest with you as you continue to gain sailing experience and fulfill your cruising dreams! looking forward to setting sail with you agian soon... Maybe Samui Regatta 1017? See you on the water!
Written August 6, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Redtatt
3 contributions
Oct 2015 • Solo
Captain Tim and Captain James are very knowledgeable and patient teachers. When they teache you the 'rules of the road', you will get a solid sense of the depth of their experience. Captain Tim's aim is to ensure that you have the confidence to be able to go and charter a yacht (or buy one) and to be competent.
One thing that has never left me is the experience of putting the theory of the rules of the road into practice in one of the busiest shipping areas in Thailand, which included the traffic separation scheme, dealing with tug boats pulling multiple and long barges. Brilliant experience and unforgettable.
Captain Tim will regale you with engaging stories from his past which includes his 7 years touring the Pacific while you eat magnificent Thai cuisine loaded with freshly caught seafood on the overnight training sessions.
I certainly wasn't disappointed, and neither will you.
One thing that has never left me is the experience of putting the theory of the rules of the road into practice in one of the busiest shipping areas in Thailand, which included the traffic separation scheme, dealing with tug boats pulling multiple and long barges. Brilliant experience and unforgettable.
Captain Tim will regale you with engaging stories from his past which includes his 7 years touring the Pacific while you eat magnificent Thai cuisine loaded with freshly caught seafood on the overnight training sessions.
I certainly wasn't disappointed, and neither will you.
Written July 31, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ahoy Redtatt, thanks for your positive review. we are proud to have been a part of your sailing endeavors and look forward to hearing about your upcoming sailing experiences. looking forward to setting sail with you again when you can get back over this way! Fair winds and followings seas!
Written August 6, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Travel A
Helsinki, Finland58 contributions
Jul 2016 • Solo
I completed the 10 day skippers course with Captain Tim and James, and it was great. A good mix of practical and theory meant I left feeling confident I could actually charter my own boat. The days are full, but fun, and the teaching methods are very good.
The guest house is basic but clean. The teachers are knowledgeable and experienced (and quite a laugh).
The guest house is basic but clean. The teachers are knowledgeable and experienced (and quite a laugh).
Written July 30, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Travel A, thanks for your kind review. I hope you are getting a chance to do some sailing since the course, keep your new sailing skills in practice! Keep us posted on your sailing adventures. Until the Happy Sailing!
Written August 4, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Can I go one day with you? Price?
Written December 3, 2019
Hello Martin, I am sure we can work something out! Please contact me by email tim@sailquest.asia and I will provide any details.
Thank you,
Capt. Tim
Written December 4, 2019
Hello this is Martin
Please Call me Back
I stay in your office and like to ask for charter sailing boat. I am Skipper and like go out for many days... the number i Call
Written December 3, 2019
Hello Martin, we do not have boats for bareboat charter, only day trip with our skipper.
I recommend that you look for charter in beautiful Ko Chang, they have some charter company there.
Best wishes and happy sailing.
Written December 3, 2019
Guerrero
Baja California Sur, Mexico
5 contributions
Are you arranging a charter sailing vacation? The process is very simple. Gobaja Charters lets you choose your desired boat which is suitable for your goal and destination in order to make your vacation memorable.
Written July 1, 2019
Showing results 1-3 of 3
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.