About us
Meet the Cardigan Bay Watersports Team
All our instructors have at least the minimum qualification required for the discipline they are teaching.
They will also hold their Powerboating 2 Certificate and a current First Aid certificate, so you can be confident they know what they are doing. See for yourself below...
We sponsor our instructors and volunteers to get further qualified or improve their skills:
- In 2014 we funded 3 new Dinghy instructors and a Powerboat instructor.
- In 2015 we sent 4 members of the team to do their "Multi-hull" endorsement.
- In 2016 we sponsored 2 new Windsurf instructors, 2 Paddle board instructors, a Senior instructor and a Powerboat instructor.
- In 2017 we funded First aid courses for 6 of the team. We also donated kayaks and paddleboards to use for the inshore races run by Cardigan Bay Regatta which we have continued since.
- In 2018 we sponsored one of the team for their Safety boat course and one Senior dinghy instructor, 6 of the team their First Aid course.
- In 2019 we sponsored a Dinghy instructor, a Keelboat instructor and a Windsurf instructor and 7 team members their VHF certificate as well as 14 of the team First Aid courses. We also provided a power boat team to support Hel's Belles women's rowing team on the Celtic Challenge.
- In 2020 with Covid 19 protection we had 12 of the team complete First Aid courses. We sponsored 10 of the team for their BCU Foundation Safety & Rescue certificate and BCU Paddlesport instructor qualification. We also sponsored 4 of the team to complete the RYA Powerboat 2 .
- To date in 2021 we have sponsored 4 of the team's First Aid courses, 2 RYA Powerboat 2, 1 Surf instructor, 2 Dinghy instructors and 2 Senior instructors, 5 Sea Survival courses, 3 VHF places, ongoiing CPD both internally and externally despite the Covid restrictions!
We recognise we are not able to offer work all year round, but we are proud of the successes of our staff who go on to full time work in this and related industries. Not bad going for a little centre in West Wales!
Do you want to be involved? Contact us
Work experience places are limited so if it is time for you to do your work experience, we may be able to help but don't leave it too late.
updated 2/11/2021
Crawford Mcleary
Centre Manager, Chief Watersports Instructor, Keelboats, Dinghies, Multihulls, Powerboats, Paddle board, Windsurf, 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.
Kat Dawes
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.
Mikey Roberts
Senior instructor Dinghy, Windsurf & Power boat instructor
Mikey is a dinghy and windsurf instructor who has spent a lot of time abroad teaching now back in the UK.
He also loves surfing and pizza.
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 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.
Amanda Bainbridge
Paddleboard instructor
Amanda demonstrating one way to enter the water !
In 2016 with the help of a Community Chest grant has completed a 4 day paddle boarding instructors course.
A volunteer meeting and greeting customers or out on the water.
Amanda is also the centre's Child Protection Officer. email
Her "real" job is a Senior nurse for Health visiting for NHS Wales.
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
Admin & Paddle board instructor
Laura pictured displaying one of her many talents as a windsurfer.
You will see her mostly on a paddleboard.
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 windsurf instructor and bare foot ski coach ! So if anyone can get you skiing John can.
Now retired from full time work John has time to spend on his yacht moored in New Quay.
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 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 You tube.
Or you will find him in the SUP Shack in New Quay, which is where we go for our SUP spares.
Simon Ellis
Intermediate Windsurf instructor
Simon is new to teaching but not windsurfing.
If he was on Mastermind his specialist subject would be .......... Windsurfing.
Go on, ask him anything about boards and rigs.
Rhys Jones
Dinghy instructor
Rhys has graduated from the Regional Topper squad onto the Laser radial and regularly races around Wales.
He completed his dinghy instructor course in 2016 after studying for his A-levels and has just completed his Degree in Physics, Astrophysics and Cosmology.
Now having completed his Masters what next ?
We would like to keep him but we may just have to remember him as one that got away !
Ian Jennings
Windsurf instructor
Windsurfer, dinghy sailor, powerboater, water-skier, wake-boarder.
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.
Jessica Bainbridge
Dinghy, Paddle board, Kayak instructor and administrator
Jessica has grown up with us, initially one of our watersports assistants, now qualified in her own right to teach kayaks and paddleboards.
She passed out as a Dinghy instructor in July 2021.
Jess is also an RNLI volunteer and junior football coach.
Hannah Schafer
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.
Lauren Walsh
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.
Rusty Finch
Paddle board and Kayak instructor
Rusty is obviously cool, but all Paddle board instructors cool.
Max Godsell
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.
We hope he will be back with us in 2022 when he is not building up his sailing miles delivering yachts.
Llew Griffiths
Power boat and Paddle sport 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 Power boat instructor.
Currently a university in Aberystwyth back to work with us in the holidays.
Ethan Walsh
Watersport assistant
One of the younger members of the team Ethan enjoys outdoor activities including watersports, cycling and plays rugby for Aberaeron.
Claire Barnes
Centre Administrator & Paddle sport instructor
Claire enjoys kayaking, crewing yachts and paddle boarding. She has also has completed dinghy sailing, safety at sea & power boat courses.
At home she enjoys working with her alpacas & spinning their fleeces & gardening, whilst running her B&B
James Dobson
Kayak instructor
James is a keen kayaker and power boater.
Works at the centre most Sundays.
Kim Hudson
Administrator & Paddle sport instructor
Kim lives in New Quay in her home which is more of building site ! So escapes to the water on her kayak whenever she can.
Will Best
Paddle sport instructor
Will now making his home (literally) in New Quay.
Will's "proper" job is a big boat sailor and navigator, but also a pretty competent paddle boarder, dinghy sailor and power boater.
David Viney
Senior instructor Dinghy, Windsurf & Power boat instructor
David likes to teach windsurfing, dinghies and powerboating. He spent every summer between 2016 and 2019 in Greece and Sardinia teaching in beach clubs.
During the lockdown he found time to learn to surf and become a Scout leader.
Jake Howells
Watersport assistant
Jake has aspirations to become a windsurf instructor, so working at this centre will improve his skills.
Cameron Hogg
Paddle sport instructor & Watersport assistant
.Cameron while still at school, has been working at the centre for a few years and recently completed the BCU Paddlesport instructor course.
"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.
Tiegan Pearce
Dinghy instructor
Tiegan is our youngest dinghy instructor but a very competent sailor as regular crew on the high performance 29er.
Pictured here about to start a coaching session with some young sailors.
Jennifer Davies
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.
Fiona Best
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.
