Featured image
Charter Schools, Sailing Clubs, Sailing Schools

Hobo Yachting

Hobo Yachting is a premier sailing company located in Southampton, England. They offer a wide range of services including charter schools, sailing clubs, and sailing schools. With a focus on jobs & education, as well as sports & hobbies, Hobo Yachting is the perfect destination for anyone looking to learn how to sail or improve their skills. Their experienced staff and top-of-the-line equipment ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all.

Introduction to Hobo Yachting

Hobo Yachting is a premier sailing club and school located in Southampton, England. Founded in 2005, the company has a rich history of providing top-notch sailing education and experiences to people of all skill levels. What sets Hobo Yachting apart from other sailing schools is their commitment to sustainability and community building. They believe that sailing is not just a sport, but a way of life, and aim to share that philosophy with their students.

Services & Products

Hobo Yachting offers a range of services and products for sailors of all levels. They offer sailing courses for beginners and advanced sailors alike, as well as private charters and corporate events. Their fleet of yachts is well-maintained and environmentally friendly, with a focus on sustainable sailing practices. Additionally, they offer membership options for those who want to make sailing a part of their regular routine.

Location

Hobo Yachting is located in the heart of Southampton, a bustling port city known for its maritime history. The area is home to many other sailing clubs and schools, as well as restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions. The closest public transportation options are the Southampton Central train station (0.6 miles away), the City Red bus stop (0.2 miles away), and the Ocean Village ferry terminal (0.4 miles away).

Benefits

Customers should choose Hobo Yachting because of their commitment to sustainability, community building, and top-notch sailing education. Their experienced instructors are passionate about teaching and helping students achieve their sailing goals. Additionally, the company's focus on sustainable sailing practices sets them apart from other sailing schools.

Good to Know

Customers should be aware that Hobo Yachting is committed to sustainable sailing practices, and may have different rules and expectations than other sailing schools. Additionally, the company is closed on Sundays.

Reviews

Customers rave about the quality of instruction at Hobo Yachting, with many praising the knowledgeable and patient instructors. They also appreciate the company's focus on sustainability and community building. Some customers have noted that the yachts are not the newest or fanciest, but that they are well-maintained and perfect for learning. Overall, Hobo Yachting has a reputation for providing a welcoming and inclusive sailing community.

Amenities

  • amenity
    yacht
  • amenity
    sailboat
  • amenity
    instructor
  • amenity
    lifejacket
  • amenity
    mooring
  • amenity
    marina
  • amenity
    launch ramp
  • amenity
    racing
  • amenity
    social events
  • amenity
    bar
  • amenity
    restaurant
  • amenity
    store
  • amenity
    shower
  • amenity
    locker
  • amenity
    wifi
  • amenity
    swimming pool
  • amenity
    jacuzzi
  • amenity
    sauna
  • amenity
    fitness room
  • amenity
    parking
  • amenity
    security

FAQ

What is your school's academic performance record compared to traditional public schools?

At Hobo Yachting, we are a sailing school and do not have an academic performance record to compare to traditional public schools.

What are the qualifications and experience levels of your instructors?

Our instructors at Hobo Yachting are highly qualified and experienced, with certifications from recognized sailing organizations. They have years of experience teaching a variety of sailing skills and techniques.

What type of boats do you use for instruction?

We use a range of boats for instruction at Hobo Yachting, including dinghies, keelboats and catamarans. Our equipment is regularly maintained to ensure safety and optimal performance.

What safety protocols do you have in place?

At Hobo Yachting, safety is our top priority. We have strict safety protocols in place, including mandatory lifejacket use, safety briefings before every lesson, and constant monitoring of weather and sea conditions. We also have a rescue boat on standby during lessons.

What is your cancellation policy for classes and what happens in case of bad weather?

Our cancellation policy at Hobo Yachting varies depending on the type of class and the notice given. In case of bad weather, we will make every effort to reschedule the class for a later date. If this is not possible, we will provide a refund or credit for the missed lesson.

Reviews

  • Marie France Pruvost

    Really recommend Ken And Jenny for your RYA training course . They are both very experienced . If you want to learn the real deal of navigating and how to treat a sailing boat/ boat , go with them ! I am very happy of going with them , and the other 2 persons who were with me , really enjoyed the course too. Food was very generous and always on perfect timing . Matter of fact , Jenny knows exactly when we need to have a nice cuppa . This shows how caring they both are . Happy Hobo is really well maintained and this also really blew my mind , we can see how much love they both put into her . Also she is very comfortable and lovely to navigate . Do yourself a favor , learn to sail or go for a weekend sail with Happy Hobo , Jenny and Ken . You will thank me later .

    28-05-2022
  • Jacob Dart

    We had a wonderful time on our competent crew / day skipper course. Ken shared his passion and experience of sailing with us and taught us a great deal over the week. Plenty of food and snacks were provided and we felt very welcome aboard the happy hobo. I would heartily recommend taking a course with Hobo yachting.

    28-05-2022
  • Steven Johnson

    Ken is extremely knowledgeable about sailing and was always happy to share his knowledge and experience with us throughout the 5 days. I took the RYA competent crew course with Hobo Yachting and I believe the RYA’s advice that a pre requisite of no experience is not right for this company as the very very basics (securing to cleats/knots/parts of a yacht) were taught only briefly. The main issue I (and believe others on the course had) was with the lack of customer service. We were treated as though we were in the way being on their ‘baby’ instead of being treated as paying customers. I felt as though I was trespassing the whole 5 days. This lack of customer service was further echoed in the level of food offered. Advertised that cooked breakfast/lunches are included…… Breakfast consisted of basic toast, basic cereal and a tea/coffee. Lunch varied a little more. Pasty on one day. 3 slices of a small pizza on another. The rest of the days were sandwiches which were plain (slice of cheese or ham or corned beef or tomato between bread, nothing else). I had been speaking to other sailing schools before I decided to go with these, who were proud of the high level of food they provided their guests. I regret that the initial saving this company offered over competitors that I went for, turned out to be a false economy….. Have to pay for mooring fees (£240 from 4 people for 4 nights mooring…..), £30 for waterproofs that we did not use because of the calm weather (and looked as though they only cost £30 to buy). Then, having realised the level of food offered was not going to be nice and what I would expect/eat at home, I ended buying breakfast/lunch each day. Dinners are also not included so again a) this needs to be considered in addition to original saving, and b) expect to march to a very strict drum/timescales. You are told to be off and on the boat as and when Jenny wants….again, reinforcing the feeling felt of trespassing. If you are early or late on any of these breakfast/dinner slots forced on you, expect to have a dirty look from Jenny if you do not follow these timings and dare to come back to the boat a bit early or a bit late. Also do not dare to bring any rubbish back on board with you. We were all keeping our own rubbish bins after I dared to bring a coffee from a nice coffee shop back to the boat and put the cup in the galley bin. We all got a ‘lesson’ in carrying rubbish on boats. We all already understood this but we knew we were staying at marinas each night and not on a 3 week Atlantic crossing so I thought a coffee cup in the bin would have been acceptable. O no! My last point will be on the level of comfort the boat provides. It is a nice boat for sailing but as we even discussed, older boats are more designed for sailing, not comfort down below, and especially not for a total of 6 adults. I was given a berth which I measured to be 45cm wide, and not long enough for me to fully lay down on. I’m thankful of Ken’s teaching and I learnt the level of knowledge I needed to for this course but as above, If you are expecting to be treated like a paying customer/guest and have an expectation of decent food, I would look elsewhere.

    28-05-2022
  • Rob M

    Ken is a great instructor. He clearly has a wealth of experience and is very matter of fact. Jenny does all the cooking so all your time is spent learning to sail and focusing on the course.

    28-05-2019