About us

Crawford Mcleary

Centre Manager, Chief Watersports Instructor, Keelboats, Dinghies, Multihulls, Powerboats, Paddle board, PWC.

Crawford is a 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.

His main job now is to make sure the team have a mug of tea and there are enough biscuits to last the day out.

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

Then if there is any time / energy left at the end of the day he will take his Laser / Windsurf board out for a blast.

Steve Wood

Centre Principal, Dinghy, Keelboat and Powerboat Instructor

Steve has been sailing for more than 20 years and still loves sharing that knowledge out on the water.

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

As well as instructing he is also the centre's Principal. 

When opportunity presents Steve will get out and sail his own boat.

Jennifer Davies

Dinghy Instructor

Jennifer has been teaching dinghy sailing so long that some of her early sailors are now bringing their grandchildren to learn how to sail.  

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

Jennifer has been a volunteer with the project since its inception. 

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

Gemma Gill

Dinghy & multihull instructor

Gemma's enthusiasm for sailing is unrivalled.  She had her own Mirror dinghy at age 8, now graduated to a Laser 4000 and still never misses a chance to go sailing.

Gemma works part time for the centre, her courses are well received and often challenge our stocks of hot chocolate !

A helm on the Aberystwyth lifeboat, a tractor operator, Lifeboat Training Co-ordinator and member of the West Division Flood Team (we rarely see her at weekends). 

A keen horse woman, up early to go riding or mucking out.

In her "other" life she is a Teacher / Key Worker for Ceredigion County Council.

Hannah Schafer

Senior instructor / Paddleboard 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. This spring progressed to Senior instructor (sailing)

When not working at the centre Hannah is a Ju Jitsu instructor, so we find her students are all very well behaved !

Kester Laver

Dinghy instructor

Kester has years of sailing experience to share, now retired he volunteers for us on a part-time basis.

A hard working instructor who is also pretty nifty at fixing the things the rest of us break, which is why he is also Bosun for New Quay Yacht club.

As a member of the RNLI Sea Safety team Kester does a lot of work promoting safety at sea as well as individual boat safety inspections.

Ed Wilson

Powerboat & dinghy instructor

With years of owning his own yachts Ed knows more about navigation than you can shake a stick at.

Ed volunteers for us on a part-time basis. 

Sheila Morgan

Centre administration

Sheila works as a volunteer in the centre but when she gets a chance will be out in her own dinghy flying the spinaker.  Off the water Sheila spins, weaves and make great woollen clothes.

Amanda Bainbridge

Centre administration / paddleboarder

Amanda's daughter is into sailing so as Amanda was hanging around on Saturday mornings, we persuaded her to join in. 

Amanda is now very at home on and in the water ! 

In 2016 with the help of a Community Chest grant has completed a 4 day paddle boarding instructors course.

A volunteer at weekends meeting and greeting customers, then getting out onto the water at any opportunity.

Amanda is also the centre's Child Protection Officer.

Her "real" job is a nurse and health visitor.

Pauline Bett

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.

Leanne Bird

Paddleboard Instructor

Her love of the water and nature she has found a way to be part of both in water sports.

Leanne is also a qualified beach lifeguard, surf instructor, yoga teacher and personal trainer.

Laura Mears

Administrator & Paddle board instructor

Laura pictured displaying one of her many talents as a windsurfer gets plenty of time on the water despite having an "office" job.

You will see her mostly on a paddleboard as she recently completed her 4 day paddleboard instructor course.

Laura is also a dive instructor, marine biologist and crewmember on the RNLI inshore and all-weather lifeboats.

John Simpson

Ski and Wakeboard instructor

In his previous life John was a bare foot ski coach !  So if anyone can get you skiing John can.

Catherine Gray

Assistant watersports instructor

Catherine helps out during the school holidays both on and off the water, that is when she is not sailing the family's Feva or Stratos. 

Pictured here sailing one of the centres 4.7 rig Lasers.

Matthew Webster

VHF radio instructor, Navigation instructor

Matt teaches VHF radio and navigation courses for CBW. 

He is one of the Senior Helms for Aberystwyth RNLI a role which he has held for the last 22 years.  So he should have some stories to share.

Andy Campbell

Paddleboard instructor

Andy has recently qualified as a Paddleboard instructor so is keen to pass on some skills.

Andy is the paddleboarder you might see paddling from Aberaeron to New Quay or out on the reef !  Or posing for the camera in New Quay, follow the link to You tube.

Andy video

Simon Ellis

Windsurf instructor

Simon is new to teaching but not windsurfing. 

Go on, ask him anything about boards and rigs.  

Phil Dickinson

Powerboat instructor, Dinghy Instructor, Windsurf instructor.

Phil has been instructing for years and during his career has managed a number of Watersports centres.

Now living the "Good Life" in West Wales with a small holding and stock he is an experienced member of the team.

Steve Bean

Kayak and Canoe instructor

Steve is a paddler. 

He has worked all over the UK in a variety of roles most recently as manager of an outdoor pursuits centre, now working for himself we are happy to have him on board.

Check him out, Steve's business is Bean Boating.

Ian Jennings

Windsurf instructor

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.

Megan Dugdale

Watersports assistant

A competent sailor Megan has aspirations to become a dinghy instructor, we will do all we can to help.

When not at school Megan helps with both the administration and on the water.

She also is camera shy, but I managed to snap her, just!

Jessica Bainbridge

Watersports assistant

Jessica is currently our youngest watersports assistant so still at school but keen to spend time with us on and off the water. 

A stage 4 sailor she can also windsurf, paddleboard and kayak.

When work permits we are coaching her on her powerboating so by the time she is old enough to operate the boat on her own she should be very capable.

Ruben Adams

Watersports assistant

Ruben is our "saturday boy".  He did his Sailing courses with us so knows his way around the fleet at Cardigan Bay Watersports.  This was an ideal place for him to get in his volunteer time for his Duke of Edinburgh award.

As he is a useful and helpful young man he now works for us on Saturdays, and some other days too.

Max Godsell

Windsurf & Dinghy instructor

Max spent the winter of 2016 becoming an instructor.  The summer of 2017 we let him loose on students.  He is now resting, picking grapes in France.

Back in the summer of 2018.