Team

Centre Manager, Chief Watersports Instructor, Keelboats, Dinghies, Multihulls, Powerboats, Paddle board, Windsurf, Wing surf and Kayak.

Crawford is well-known in the sailing scene in both New Quay and in the Midlands. He joined the project full time in 2013 following years as a volunteer trainer.

“The satisfaction of my job is developing the team and watching them grow their skills and confidence.”

As an ex-Commodore of New Quay Yacht club he is still involved as a committee member and is currently Sailing Secretary.

Then if there is any time / energy left at the end of the day he will take his Laser 4000 / Hawk / Windsurf / Laser or paddle board out.

Is the centre’s Covid 19 officer.

Centre administration

Kat works in the Centre’s office meeting and greeting customers and generally trying to keep everything organised…

Kat has been surfing for over 25 years and calls Llangrannog her home break.

If there are no waves, she will be found paddleboarding or swimming. She is also keen to re-learn old sailing and windsurfing skills – anything on or in the water!

Off the water Kat makes jewellery using silver, seaglass and shells. She also loves yoga, Corgis and writing.

Senior instructor Dinghy, Windsurf, Wingsurf & Power boat instructor

Mikey is a dinghy, windsurf and Wingsurf instructor who has spent a lot of time abroad teaching now back in the UK.

He also loves surfing.

When he’s not on the water he will be tending his vegetable plot.

Centre Principal.

He helped establish the centre in New Quay and has been tireless in securing funding for the centre.  His contribution recognised when he received Radio Ceredigion’s “Volunteer of the Year” award.

When opportunity presents Steve will be out sailing.

First Aid instructor

Pauline lists her passions, First Aid, Kayaking and wildlife.

An Auxiliary Nurse with over sixteen years’ service. She has worked with the Ambulance service as a Community First Responder, and as a medic covering sporting events.

A keen kayaker for over twenty years, and coached for over fifteen years.

When not teaching enjoys being in a kayak hoping to see dolphins and seals or on a walk watching Red Kites.

VHF radio instructor, Navigation instructor, Power boat instructor

Matt was one of the Senior Helms for Aberystwyth RNLI a role which he has held for 22 years.  A keen yachtsman he is also a day skipper instructor as well as a Power boat instructor.

Paddleboard & Wing surf instructor

Andy is the paddleboarder you might see paddling from Aberaeron to New Quay or out on the reef when everyone else is on the beach !

Or posing for the camera in New Quay, follow the link to Youtube.

Andy video

Or you will find him in the SUP Shack in New Quay, which is where we go for our SUP spares.

Windsurf & Wingsurf instructor

Windsurfer, dinghy sailor, powerboater, water-skier, wake-boarder and most recently Winging.

Ian’s mum bought him his first board when he was a young teenager.

That was a little while ago and he has been windsurfer ever since.

Time for him to pass on some knowledge.

Assistant

Ffion is a new member of the team for 2022, a local girl who loves paddleboarding.

Ffion will be helping with all aspects of the Centre from dunking wetsuits to assisting with sessions on the water.

Senior instructor dinghy, keelboat, Paddleboard and kayak instructor

Hannah comes to dinghy sailing via yachts and yacht racing so now appreciates why dinghy sailors are sought after to crew on the bigger boats.  Qualified with WSA as a Paddleboard instructor and BCU as a paddle sport instructor.

Shown here winning at the Cardigan Bay Regatta in August 2022.

Dinghy instructor

Already a competent sailor Lauren gained her Dinghy instructor qualification in July 2021.

Away at university but back in the holidays to help with the sailing instructor team.

Office and Meet & Greet

Louise is a mad-keen Celtic Longboat rower. She is British Rowing Coach who rows and coxes for Llangrannog and Sion Cwilt, New Quay rowing clubs.

Senior instructor Windsurf & Dinghy

Max spent the winter of 2016 becoming an instructor.  The summer of 2017 we let him loose on students.

He passed his Senior instructor in March 2021, his Day Skipper in September.

When he is not building up his sailing miles delivering yachts he is up for teaching dinghy sailing and wind surfing.

Powerboat and Paddlesport instructor

Llew is an experienced powerboater and kayaker who started at CBW in the Summer of 2019.

He has been developing his sailing skills but in the mean time qualified as a Powerboat instructor.

Currently a university in Aberystwyth back to work with us in the holidays.

Windsurf instructor

Ethan enjoys outdoor activities including watersports, cycling and plays rugby for Aberaeron. Ethan drives the safety boat and teaches windsurfing.

Paddle Board Instructor & Tour Leader

Michelle is into paddleboarding so spending time on the water with customers isn’t really like work !

Helps out in the centre too meeting and greeting making sure customers are looked after on and off the water.

Paddle sport instructor

Cameron is at college during the week.  He has been working at the centre for a few years and completed the BCU Paddlesport instructor course. Now getting into windsurfing.

“I’ve lived in New Quay all my life and loved the sea for most of it, and have been kayaking and paddle boarding for almost 6 years, I’m constantly looking to improve my skills and make sure everyone else can experience the things I have.”

Pictured here doing his Paddlesport instructor course on a cold, wet day in December 2020.

Dinghy instructor

Tiegan works for us as a dinghy instructor when she is not at university.  She used to compete as crew on the high performance 29er sailing dinghy.

Pictured here about to start a coaching session with some young sailors.

Kayak Instructor

As a volunteer with the project since its inception in 2002 Jen now is mostly helping customers gain some confidence in kayaks.

When the weather is right Jen is still keen to get out on the water in her own sailing boat or kayak.

When not at the centre Jen is a swimming instructor and lifeguard at Aberaeron pool.

Child Protection Officer

She lives in New Quay and can be found on or near the water most days making the most of all that the bay has to offer.

Fiona is married to Will who also volunteers at the centre.

She enjoys beach bbqs, swimming all year round, boat trips, ‘skurfing’, surfing, water skiing, paddle boarding, power boating, dinghy sailing and walking the dog on the beach.

Fiona ran the Ski Club of Great Britain’s marketing department for 10 years before a couple of years at the RYA in Hamble where she was Sponsorship Manager for the Skandia Team GBR at the Beijing Olympics. She currently works as a freelance Snowsports PR and journalist.

Dinghy Instructor

Ciara is a keen sailor, newly-qualified dinghy instructor and administration assistant.

Dinghy & Windsurf instructor

Cadan following in his big sister’s footsteps qualified as a dinghy instructor so will be on the water teaching in 2022. Cadan  gained his windsurfing instructor in 2023 so now able to teach others.

Volunteer Assistant

Steffan is a water baby.  He has a natural ability on a board or boat so we will be training him up for an instructor role when he is a bit older.

Steffan will be helping with all aspects of the Centre from dunking wetsuits, rigging boats and board to assisting with sessions on the water.

Pictured here collecting his winnings for sailing in the Cardigan Bay Regatta 2022.

Mascot

Centre mascot, biscuit fiend, loves licking legs, wuffing and snoozing under the desk.

Not really built for watersports, she is nonetheless becoming an ace paddleboarder. Surfing next.

Siani is a Cardigan Welsh Corgi from just up the road in Talgarreg.