Torbay Sea School LLP is an established and professional RYA training centre based in the picturesque South Devon fishing port of Brixham specialising in providing customers with a high standard of training, making sure they gain their qualifications with confidence, whilst having fun as they learn. We offer a large variety of courses ranging from basic introduction to sailing and powerboat, up to the full RYA Yachtmaster qualification.
Torbay Sea School is owned and managed by Duncan Bridgnell who has a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Duncan spent a long career in the Royal Navy building his skills and expertise and concluded his career as an instructor at the Royal Naval Officer Training College at Dartmouth. He entered civilian life in 2011 and continued his passion for encouraging others into the joy of boating by becoming an RYA Chief Instructor. He enjoyed it so much that in 2014 he bought the company!! He is a fabulous instructor, knowledgeable, skilled and patient and loves watching his students develop their skills.
These are our instructors and skippers;
Tim has been yacht sailing since he was a teenager, firstly as part of a racing crew for his friends at a local sailing club. He has been a Yachtmaster Offshore for many years and a has spent many miles delivering yachts around the UK and across the Channel. He became an RYA instructor some eighteen years ago and has also run his own sea school, which he gave up when he purchased a part of maritime history, in the guise of ‘Our Daddy’ a Looe built fishing boat. Tim has worked with us for a number of years, he has a huge passion for sailing and helping people achieve their goals and dreams aboard yachts and his enthusiasm is infectious. He also has a passion for great food.
Lucy followed her passion for sailing to the South West, first to university then on to instructing, and has worked with us since 2017. Having worked on a variety of modern and traditional sail and power craft she enjoys being on the water aboard any and all vessels. With a calm and confident style, she finds the best way of explaining things.
Neil started sailing very early in life with his father on the family yacht. From then on his love of the sea took him to the Royal Navy for 33 years. During this time he spread his skill base to include all power and sailing disciplines. Was part of the team at Britannia Royal Naval College undertaking training for officer cadets. First qualified as a powerboat instructor in 1992 and has progressed through to become a yachtmaster instructor power and sail along with the award of examiner.
Tim spent a full career in the army, when he left, he re- trained and now teaches Maritime studies as well as being a Powerboat instructor. He loves being out on the water and spends as much time as possible out there. He is passionate about safety on the water and enjoys passing on knowledge to new boaters.
Mark caught the sailing bug after a passage from Cornwall up the Bristol channel and shortly after started pursuing a career on the water. After moving closer to the water he racked up experience on boats new and old around the South West, and continues to follow his passion. He is an instructor of Powerboating and one of the skippers for our experiences days new for 2024!
Jerome spent his youth living by the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of France where he enjoyed a wide variety of water sports. Having moved to South Devon to follow his passion for sailing and the sea, Jerome joined Torbay Sea School in 2023 and gained his commercial endorsements there. He spent the summer season working on local power boats as both crew and skipper, as well as sailing in regattas and doing boat deliveries along the Devon and Cornwall coast.