Team

Centre Principal

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. He ‘retired’ in 2025 and now acts as bosun and occasional instructor.

“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 HR and Bar Manager – very fitting.

If there is any time / energy left at the end of the day he will take his Laser 4000 / Hawk 20 / Windsurf / Laser or paddleboard out, or pop up to his allotment.

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, swimming or sailing her Laser Byte.

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

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 everything SUP. He is also a lifeboat skipper.

Assistant

Ffion joined the team as a volunteer in 2022; she’s a local girl who loves paddleboarding and has become a great windsurfer. She’s moved on from dunking wetsuits to safety boating, helping with Splash and many other sessions, and will soon be getting some more qualifications.

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 paddlesport instructor.

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

Hannah was awarded the RYA Impact award in 2024 in recognition of her sailing teaching; she was nominated by some of her Women Only sailing session students (most of whom are now starting to race with the Yacht Club!).

Centre Admin

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.

Powerboat and Paddlesport instructor

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

Currently at university in Aberystwyth, Llew can often be found back in New Quay running RYA Powerboat courses for us, and providing safety cover for rowing events or the Yacht Club. If you need to know about any of the rules of the road (sea), he’s the one to ask!

Windsurf instructor

Ethan enjoys outdoor activities including watersports, cycling and rugby. Ethan drives the safety boat and teaches windsurfing. He’s currently working on commercial transport ships.

Paddleboard Instructor

Michelle is crazy into paddleboarding, so spending time on the water with customers isn’t really like work! She runs paddleboard lessons and is also a qualified windsurf instructor.

Michelle does a lot of volunteer work with She Paddles Cymru to get people on the water. In her downtime she can be found camping wherever the best conditions for water-time are.

Paddle sport instructor

Cameron is at university studying music, but returns to lead our popular Kids’ Splash sessions as well as taking a turn on the safety boat.

“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 8 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 in Southampton studying maritime engineering. She used to compete as crew on the high performance 29er sailing dinghy. She is great at getting the younger kids through Stage 1 Sailing courses, but can also teach to a very high standard for those more experienced sailors.

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

Child Protection Officer

Fiona 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.

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.

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 just as soon as possible! Steffan turns up most days whether he’s on the rota or not, eats a lot of biscuits and is always smiling.

Steff used to race Toppers, but this year graduated to the ILCA (formerly Laser) and is still beating everyone in sight. He was the top Welsh sailor at the 2024 Nationals.

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

Dinghy Instructor

In 2024, the mother of the two Pearces we already employ joined us as well! Emma is now a Senior Instructor and has become an invaluable Saturday Sailing and RYA course instructor. She loves racing with Tiegan.

Emma has a PhD in physics, and taught physics and IT at a local high school. She now spends her off-water time coding and helping her husband with his handmade furniture business.

Wingsurf Instructor

Part of the Campbell family of water-lovers, Evie loves wingsurfing, and loves introducing others to the sport. She also provides safety boat cover and supports Cam with Splash sessions.

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.