Join us for one of our popular ‘Round the Island’ weekend sailing experience cruises this summer.

Sailing from Lymington early on Saturday morning with favourable tide we head out through the Needles to transit Fresh Water Bay and St Catherine’s Point to the south of the Island. Passing Ventnor and Sandown and rounding Bembridge Ledge we will circumnavigate the beautiful and scenic Isle of Wight.

On re-entering the Solent we sail past Portsmouth and Ryde reaching Cowes where we moor for the evening.

At the heart of British Yachting, Cowes is a must visit and our Marina of choice offers great facilities and places to eat and have a drink ashore, a great place to celebrate your 12 hour circumnavigation.

Sunday morning and a lazy start, we cruise down the Solent bound for Lymington, anchoring in Newtown Creek (a National Trust Reserve) to have lunch before heading back home.

…call or email us for further details or see our Summer 2012 Sailing Programme

Jonathan Brier Yachting ‘the complete yachting experience’

www.solentsailingschool.co.uk

Jonathan Brier Yachting ‘the complete yachting experience’

www.solentsailingschool.co.uk

New 9 day combined Day Skipper courses now available in June & July… Our base at Lymington Yacht Haven is a great venue for this course with easy access to the Solent. B&B accommodation for the first 4 days theory is readily available locally and if a yacht is available then accommodation can be provided aboard…course dates to follow…call or email for further details…JB

Jonathan Brier Yachting ‘the complete yachting experience’

www.solentsailingschool.co.uk

These courses can give you the opportunity to progress from absolute beginner to learning the advanced techniques of sailing, navigation and of course, safety. A typical week, weather conditions permitting, may involve nights in Cowes, Yarmouth, Portsmouth, Hamble and if conditions allow Poole.

Our yachts offer comfort, fun, excitement and safety. The maximum number on board will be 5, however should you feel in need of more attention, or wish to sail with a smaller group, this can be arranged.

Our carefully selected Instructors are all qualified to RYA Cruising Instructor as a minimum. They will ensure that you are given every opportunity to achieve your goal.

RYA Competent Crew Course

The RYA Competent Crew course is designed to introduce the beginner to cruising. Teaching important personal safety together with seamanship and helmsmanship to the level required to be a useful member of crew onboard a cruising yacht. In developing your skills onboard, you will be required to undertake various tasks including rope work, sail handling & helming whilst visiting different harbours, ports and anchorages. You will learn valuable skills such as what to do in an emergency and how to take instruction from a yacht skipper, giving you a perfect insight in to what is required of taking command of a sailing yacht and progressing towards possible further qualifications.

• No previous experience is required to undertake this course although it is advisable to have basic knowledge of sea terms, parts of a boat including rigging and sails.
• The course can be completed either over five consecutive days or over a two and three day weekend.
• On successful completion of your RYA Competent Crew Course you will also receive an official RYA certificate.
• The cost of your RYA Competent Crew Course includes accommodation on board our yacht ‘Crews Control’, breakfasts, lunches and light refreshments (non alcoholic).
• Evening meals are usually taken ashore. There are a number of picturesque harbours in the Solent where there are some great places to eat. Your Skipper/Instructor will be familiar with all the best places!
• Wet weather clothing and can be arranged if you do not have your own…free of charge!
• Mooring Fees are not included and are shared by the students. (unless otherwise stated or arranged)

]]> http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/2012/04/16/rya-competent-crew-courses-in-the-solent/feed/ 0 http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/2012/04/16/rya-day-skipper-courses-in-the-solent/ http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/2012/04/16/rya-day-skipper-courses-in-the-solent/#comments Mon, 16 Apr 2012 17:06:03 +0000 Jonathan Brier Yachting http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/?p=416 Jonathan Brier Yachting is recognised by the RYA to run the full range of sailing courses which are designed for people with mixed experience and are usually run over 5 days although long weekends are a possibility. They include formal tuition and, we hope, a good degree of fun.

These courses can give you the opportunity to progress from absolute beginner to learning the advanced techniques of sailing, navigation and of course, safety. A typical week, weather conditions permitting, may involve nights in Cowes, Yarmouth, Portsmouth, Hamble and if conditions allow Poole.

Our yachts offer comfort, fun, excitement and safety. The maximum number on board will be 5, however should you feel in need of more attention, or wish to sail with a smaller group, this can be arranged.

Our carefully selected Instructors are all qualified to RYA Cruising Instructor as a minimum. They will ensure that you are given every opportunity to achieve your goal.

RYA Day Skipper Course

The RYA Day Skipper course teaches navigation, seamanship and boat handling up to the standard required to skipper a small cruising yacht safely in daylight hours within familiar waters. As a trainee skipper, you will be given the opportunity to ‘take charge’ as skipper of the yacht under instruction and you will receive a full debrief during or at the end of the course.

During your course you will visit different harbours, ports and anchorages and although the Day Skipper course qualifies you to skipper a yacht during daylight hours, you will complete at least 4 hours of night sailing to experience night pilotage and the ability to identify lights and shapes.

• It is recommended that you have previous experience of 5 days sailing, 100 nautical miles and 4 night hours before undertaking this course. It is not necessary to be in possession of a Day Skipper Theory certificate to take the Day Skipper Practical although it is an advantage to have a working knowledge and understanding of sea terms, parts of a boat including rigging and sails & navigation.
• The course can be completed either over five consecutive days or over a two and three day weekend.
• On successful completion of your RYA Day Skipper Course you will also receive an official RYA Course Completion Certificate.
• The cost of your RYA Day Skipper Course at JBY includes accommodation on board one of our yachts, breakfasts, lunches and light refreshments (non alcoholic).
• Evening meals are usually taken ashore. There are a number of picturesque harbours in the Solent where there are some great places to eat. Your Skipper/Instructor will be familiar with all the best places!
• Wet weather clothing and can be arranged if you do not have your own…free of charge!
• Mooring Fees are not included and are shared by the students. (unless otherwise stated or arranged)

]]> http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/2012/04/16/rya-day-skipper-courses-in-the-solent/feed/ 0 http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/2012/03/31/solent-yacht-charter-lymington-jonathan-brier-yachting/ http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/2012/03/31/solent-yacht-charter-lymington-jonathan-brier-yachting/#comments Sat, 31 Mar 2012 21:37:51 +0000 Jonathan Brier Yachting http://www.solentsailingschool.co.uk/blog/?p=411 Why Choose Jonathan Brier Yachting…

• We operate a fleet of modern Bavaria and Beneteau yachts.
• Each yacht is equipped and prepared to a very high standard with many additional comfort features.
• The utmost attention is paid to our maintenance schedules so as to avoid problems whilst you are on charter .
• We take great pride on the way we present our yachts.
• Our yachts conform to the MCA Code for charter yachts and are equipped to the highest of standards. Safety equipment on board is supplied by Ocean Safety Ltd and Baltic Safety. Products Ltd.

Chartering a yacht from JBY will give you the freedom to enjoy the sheltered waters of the Solent, sail across the Channel to France or the Channel Islands, enjoy the scenery of the Jurassic Coast and cruise to the West Country.

A minimum of a Day Skipper practical or equivalent experience (subject to the production of a Cruising Log Book and/or sailing CV) is required to charter a yacht from JBY in the sheltered waters of the Solent. For the less less experienced we offer a Skippered Charter package giving you the opportunity to improve your skills with an experienced skipper on board. All our skippers are RYA Instructors so you will benefit from professional tuition during your charter. We offer the option to combine your Solent Yacht Charter with the opportunity to gain an RYA qualification, call JBY or email for more information. Yachtmaster Coastal or Yachtmaster Offshore certificates of competence or relevant experience will be required if you plan to venture further down the coast or across the Channel to France or the Channel Islands.

Sailing can be a perfect activity for team building, corporate entertainment, birthdays and celebrations. Chartering a boat or two for a Hen or Stag party is great fun, we can offer some fantastic packages for whatever event you are planning call us or email for further details…

As well as offering a great range of yachts, we pride ourselves on our personal and flexible service. We have a wealth of experience in all areas of the yacht charter industry so whatever type of event or charter you are looking to put together we will always do our best to help you get the most out of your time on the water with us. Whilst we recognise price is an important factor when choosing your charter we also believe that at the same time our clients do not want to compromise on the quality of the yacht they take out…

‘Our aim is to offer top quality yachts at fair prices with a great level of service’

www.yachtcharterssolent.co.uk

Jonathan Brier Yachting ‘the complete yachting experience’

www.solentsailingschool.co.uk

Your questions answered on the recent HMRC red diesel announcement.

RYA advice to boaters following the announcement by HMRC on  21 February 2012. The Ministerial statement indicated that, from 1 April 2012, the use of marked ‘red’ diesel to propel private pleasure craft will be allowed only within UK territorial waters.

So can I still cruise to France, for instance, this summer using marked ‘red’ diesel?

In practice, the proposed legislation would make no difference to your ability to cruise to France using duty-paid marked ‘red’ diesel. The Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979, which regulates the use of marked “red” diesel in the UK, only applies within UK territorial waters. As such, the 1979 Act does not currently have any impact on the use of marked “red” diesel for propelling private pleasure craft outside UK territorial waters.

The draft amendment to the 1979 Act published by HMRC on 20 February 2012 for consultation does not propose to extend the territorial scope of the 1979 Act and this Act would therefore still neither prohibit nor authorise the use of marked “red” diesel for propelling private pleasure craft outside UK territorial waters.

Accordingly, the proposed amendments to the Hydrocarbon Oil Duties Act 1979 would not of themselves have any impact on the ability of UK vessels to visit the waters of France or any other country.

It remains the case, however, that other coastal states may apply their own legislation to vessels navigating in their territorial waters and, as set out in the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, such legislation includes the customs and fiscal laws of the coastal state.

As a result of this proposed change in legislation will I be fined if I go to Europe with marked ‘red’ diesel in my tanks?

The proposed legislation does not change the current situation if you go to Europe. Generally UK boaters cruise and race to France and other countries regularly throughout the year and do not incur fines for using marked ‘red’ diesel.

As far as the RYA is aware, Belgium is the only country in which fines may be imposed on UK boaters (and indeed Belgian boaters) for the mere presence of marked red diesel in their yachts’ fuel tanks.

The RYA is challenging the Belgian authorities’ actions in this regard both directly and through the UK Government and the European Commission.  

More information on using red diesel abroad. 

Why has HMRC put forward this proposed amendment for consultation?

According to the Tax Information and Impact Note published by HMRC, the purpose of this proposed amendment is to satisfy the European Commission’s concerns over the availability of duty-paid marked diesel in the UK for use in private pleasure craft, which issue is currently subject to infraction proceedings against the UK.

More information on EC infringment proceedings against the UK. 

What was the amendment intended to achieve?

Since 2008 it has been prohibited to use red diesel in the UK for propelling a private pleasure craft unless the person purchasing the fuel made a declaration in the prescribed form and paid the requisite additional duty at the time of purchase.

As explained in the Tax Information and Impact Note published by HMRC, this amendment was intended to take account of the European Commission’s concerns and minimise the risk of a successful legal challenge by making users aware that if such fuel is used in the territorial waters of another EU Member State they will be subject to any prohibitions and restrictions that may be imposed by that Member State.    

What does the amendment to the declaration mean?

As it stands, the proposed revised content of the declaration does not accurately reflect the position under either UK or international law and thus would effectively require signatories falsely to acknowledge that they are aware of restrictions on fuel usage that do not in fact exist.

If, on the other hand, the amended declaration were drafted such that it simply reminded recreational boaters that other coastal states may apply their own legislation to vessels navigating in their territorial waters then it would be consistent with the UK and international legal position.

What is HMRC doing now?

The RYA understands that HMRC is currently reviewing the proposed declaration with its solicitors and that it hopes that it will be in a position to come back to us in the next few days.

Why doesn’t the UK just change to white diesel?

Availability of fuel around the UK is a key concern. If you are cruising on the south or east coasts then, in general you have a many places in which you can refuel. However, for boaters cruising in the more remote parts of the country, such as Scotland, Northern Ireland and the West Country, fuel supply is more of an issue.

For many of the fuel suppliers in these more remote areas fishing vessels, rather than recreational craft, are their main customers. Commercial vessels still use red diesel at the rebated rate of duty and so it makes no sense for suppliers in these areas to switch to white diesel.

The costs of installing two pumps, one for white and one for red are prohibitive and so availability of fuel in these areas would be compromised.

In addition, land supplies of white road fuel are not necessarily a short walk or even a short drive away from the port or marina.

Research conducted by the RYA and the BMF in 2005 indicated that, had suppliers been obliged to supply only unmarked diesel to private pleasure craft, approximately one third of the suppliers then supplying diesel to leisure boaters would have ceased to do so and would have limited their supplies to marked diesel for commercial operators.  

The converse was the case for the inland waterways. Nearly half of the suppliers supplying diesel to leisure boaters in 2005 indicated that they would have ceased supplying marked diesel. This would have had a significant impact on the availability of marked diesel for those narrowboats and barges (many of which are people’s homes) that rely on such fuel for providing heating and lighting.

For many of our members, the significance of the marked diesel issue depends on the type of boating they do.

However, the RYA represents the interests of all types of boating, whether under power or sail, inland or offshore, and the RYA is therefore working hard to secure a solution to this issue that is to the benefit of as wide a range of boating interests as possible.

JBY Visits Solent Coastguard

Solent Coast Guard, this is yacht ‘Crews Control’ call sign MDVA9 request a visit to MRSC/MRCC Solent… not a radio check or a weather report this time but we wanted to see for ourselves what happens behind the scenes at one of the UK’s busiest Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres.
Following a conversation with the Coastguard at the Southampton Boat show back in September it was suggested that a visit could be arranged for us, our student’s family and friends. A fantastic opportunity, it would add interest and value to our programme in the New Year.
We were met on arrival (all seven of us) by Solent Coastguard’s visits co-ordinator Watch Officer Gary Hall. The presentation that followed was very comprehensive and covered the history of the Coastguard Service, the structure and management of the MRCC Centre and centres nationwide, operational areas, incident co-ordination, technical systems and assets, the way forward for the future of the Coastguard Service and more.
After the presentation we took a look around the Operations Room. We had been asked to leave our AIS (Automatic Identification System) turned on (on our yacht) so we could see how it appears on their tracking systems….now that was something else…!
Everyone who attended really enjoyed the visit, most informative and interesting. We thank the Watch Officers and Staff at Solent Coastguard for opening their doors to us on Monday and a special thank you to Gary Hall for suggesting the visit and arranging it for JBY.

Jonathan Brier Yachting ‘the complete yachting experience’

Jonathan Brier Yachting ‘the complete yachting experience’

www.solentsailingschool.co.uk