Our Team

Our Instructors

Ullswater Sailing School has a team of sailing instructors ready to run your course or taster session. They are all RYA-qualified and many of them are ‘home-grown.’ Many learned to sail at Ullswater Yacht Club as juniors, went through the club’s training scheme and became instructors themselves, happy to pass on their love of sailing on the lake to others. Meet some of them:

Edmund Clarke - Chief Instructor and Senior Sailing Manager

I have been sailing on Ullswater since I was young. I can remember getting my first boat, a yellow Topper called Broomstick. Now I race a Musto Skiff and a VX One.

As Ullswater Sailing School’s Chief Instructor:

I have day-to-day responsibility for the standards of training, equipment maintenance and wellbeing of our students and instructors;
I am available to deal with any issues relating to course delivery;
I oversee all processes relating to course booking and delivery; and
I work closely with Claire Neilson, Ullswater Sailing School’s Training Principal, who takes overall responsibility for ensuring that it meets or exceeds the requirements for RYA accreditation.

As Senior Sailing Manager for Ullswater Yacht Club I also:

am responsible for the management of all water based activities for both members and non-members at Ullswater Yacht Club; and

help all of our members enjoy our beautiful sailing club and assist our volunteers.

- Edmund Clarke, 01768 807450

Steve Sykes - Sailing Programme Manager

Steve started traveling at the age of 16, inspired by his father. Initially around Southern Africa and when apartheid fell, the world. He met his partner Sarah in Israel in 1996. They came to Ullswater in 2003 and learnt to sail in a GP14. Inspired by what sailing can offer, he dedicated all his time gaining the necessary qualifications in order to teach and then run a successful sailing school. Sarah continued her travelling, exploring the South China seas in a 40ft steel ketch.

Covid-19 led to Steve's redundancy but Ullswater Yacht Club stepped in and allowed him to continue to do what he loves doing best - working with and inspiring other people with what has got to be one of the finest ways of maintaining both physical and mental equilibrium …….. sailing.

Sarah and Steve now have two boys and live in a village on the shores of Ullswater.
- Steve Sykes, 01768 807450

James Watts - Sail Training Officer

James started work in June 2022 as the new Sail Training Officer at Ullswater Sailing School.

James has been sailing for around ten years and is a passionate sailor and windsurfer. He grew up in Hull and moved to Cumbria to start his new job, delighted by the warm welcome from Ullswater Yacht Club members and thrilled to be working in such a beautiful location. He is responsible for the day-to-day running of Ullswater Sailing School which is an RYA Training Centre and arrived just in time for the busy summer season.

James Watts, 01768 807450

Claire Neilson - Sailing Instructor

Name: Claire Neilson, Principal of Ullswater Sailing School

Where did you learn to sail? - I learnt to sail on Edgbaston Reservoir in Birmingham on a course offered to sixth formers at the city’s schools. I got the bug and have been involved in sailing, in various ways, ever since. I started sailing on Ullswater when I moved to Cumbria with my family in 2004.

Sailing qualifications – I am an RYA dinghy instructor

What do you sail now? – I currently sail a Laser and sometimes crew in a Flying Fifteen

What is the best thing about sailing on Ullswater? - The stunning scenery. You get a totally different perspective from the water, which changes with the weather and the seasons.

Your most memorable UYC moment ?- I have numerous fond memories of UYC. These are made up from: seeing others develop new skills, personal satisfaction when I have achieved something myself and all of the friends that I have made at the club. One image that really sticks in my mind is from a summer Sail Camp for club juniors a few years ago. There were around 30 Toppers sailing in a ‘follow my leader’ formation, zig-zagging in a long snake back to the club after the end-of-week picnic. It was an amazing sight.

What advice would you give to someone interested in learning to sail? – Join a course run by RYA qualified instructors, like those on offer at Ullswater Sailing School. That way you will learn the basic skills in a structured way. The Sailing School’s RYA taster sessions are also a great place to start if you just want to see if you like it.

Where did you learn to sail? - On holiday in Greece

Sailing qualifications - Senior Instructor and Day Skipper

What do you sail now? – RS400

What is the best thing about sailing on Ullswater? – The best inland sailing club on the most beautiful lake in England.

Your most memorable UYC moment - My first Birkett Trophy - a weekend of two races around the entire length of Ullswater

What advice would you give to someone interested in learning to sail? – Time in the boat

Chris Mulholland

Where did you learn to sail? - Ullswater Yacht Club

Sailing qualifications - RYA Competent Crew, RYA Intermediate Racing, RYA Dinghy Instructor

What do you sail now? - RS200

What is the best thing about sailing on Ullswater? - The scenery!

Your most memorable UYC moment? - Too many to choose from! Playing games on the lake, becoming an instructor, racing with friends...

What advice would you give to someone interested in learning to sail? - GO FOR IT! It’s okay to make mistakes, I sail to have fun, it’s not always a competition!

Olivia Simpson

Where did you learn to sail? - I learnt to sail here at Ullswater Yacht Club

Sailing qualifications - I am a qualified RYA Dinghy Instructor

What do you sail now? - Laser

What is the best thing about sailing on Ullswater? - Beautiful scenery and very friendly members

Your most memorable UYC moment? - When I was younger, I walked to the top of the nearby hill to watch the start of the Birkett Race, there was a huge army of boats and it was spectacular to watch.

What advice would you give to someone interested in learning to sail? - Don’t be afraid to take risks. Failure is the greatest teacher and the Sailing School has designed its courses to be very safe so there’s nothing to worry about.

Alex Potter

Where did you learn to sail? - Ullswater Yacht Club

Sailing qualifications - Dinghy Instructor