Chieftain Training Reviews 

416
•
TrustScore 5 out of 5

4.9

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Looking at 136 reviews, reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers frequently praise the instructors for their extensive knowledge, remarkable patience, and genuinely friendly approach during every session. Students feel fully supported while learning new skills, as staff members go the extra mile to ensure everyone succeeds. Consumers note that the training programs offer a wonderful balance of practical hands-on activities and clear theoretical instruction. People appreciate how complex concepts are explained simply, making the learning environment wonderfully relaxed, fun, and engaging for all participants. Many individuals leave feeling significantly more confident in their abilities and eager to return for future courses.

What people talk about most

Staff

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of staff, describing instructors as highly experienced, knowledgeable,... See more

User experience

People report positive experiences with user experience, highlighting engaging and professional instructors... See more

Service

Customers had positive experiences with service, noting well-planned courses with practical scenarios and... See more

Product

Clients share deep satisfaction regarding the product, highlighting well-planned course content, effective... See more

Instructions

Customers consistently note positive experiences with instructions, frequently praising the fantastic,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I attended the RYA First Aid course yesterday. The facilities are very good with plenty of parking. Our trainer (Alan) was very experienced with plenty of real life examples to enhance the material.... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I did the RYA Sea Survival and then the second day as well. The pool session is tough but rewarding and worthwhile - if nothing else it teaches you that you never want to be in a liferaft. Great instr... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The course instructor was excellent, there was a real balance of the practical time on the water, which was well supported, and the time in the classroom learning the theory. I was also very impressed... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Carl our instructor has a broad range of experience within the yachting industry as well as being a a very experienced marine electrician. The 2 days are packed with challenges getting your head a... See more


Company details

  1. Training Centre
  2. also in
  3. Boat Rental Service
  4. Boating Instructor
  5. Sailing School
  6. Training School
  7. Yacht Club

Written by the company

STCW & RYA Marine Training Centre based in Hamble, Southampton, Greenwich and Helensburgh. The company delivers a wide range of Sea Survival, First Aid, GMDSS, engineering, navigation, maritime security and powerboat courses for super-yacht, workboat and leisure boating crew and masters. Sailing and powerboat students will find we offer the widest range of shorebased, marine radio, yacht maintenance, engineering, first aid at sea and navigation courses of any RYA Training Centre. The centres are equipped with first class resources and training aids for GMDSS, marine engineering and survival training.


Contact info

4.9

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

416 reviews

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4.9

All reviews

(416)

139 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

RYA First Aid Course

I attended the RYA First Aid course yesterday. The facilities are very good with plenty of parking. Our trainer (Alan) was very experienced with plenty of real life examples to enhance the material. I would recommend this course.

Just one point to watch is to leave plenty of time to reach the facility. The road into Hamble gets pretty congested on weekday mornings/evenings, so leave extra time to arrive and get home.

14 May 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great training and instructors

I did the RYA Sea Survival and then the second day as well. The pool session is tough but rewarding and worthwhile - if nothing else it teaches you that you never want to be in a liferaft. Great instructors - skilled, experienced and personable.

17 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding

Excellent. Very experienced and knowledgeable staff. Great Teaching environment and facilities. The course itself was up to date, relevant, well presented, well instructed and provided more than enough information.

17 April 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent training centre

Excellent, experienced trainer in a great, modern facility...

17 April 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thanks Peter, glad you enjoyed your 2 days Survival Training

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Keelboat (and SRC) review

Having zero experience, but a long held interest in Keelboat sailing, I came across Chieftain/SWAC whilst searching for companies that could equp me with 'grounded' sailing competence upon which to build.

Pursuing levels 1,2&3; the team were were extremely warm, professional and supportive.

The equipment on which we trained was well maintained; adding to a sense of comfort and surety.

They taught the lessons in a way which enabled me to grasp the key skill sets and had an approachable manner which allowed a feel of demonstrative participation.

I learned not just sailing aspects in the tiller main and gib sheets, but also putting up and taking down sails, reefing whilst afloat, man overboard procedures, anchoring and so much more.

Huge Thanks to Kai, the Instructor, Alex John, Scott, Doug, and the wider team.

(Also a small shout out of thanks to Pete for his tutoring on my SRC qualification also undertaken with Chieftain.

I would highly recommend this company for these, and the other great courses they offer.

16 April 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thanks Colin, we all had a great time working with you, hire rot see you backl for Day Skipper shorebased next

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!

Great tutor, good facilities. Also the admin support was very helpful.

12 April 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thank you for your review!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Top Knotch!

Adam was my instructor for Yachtmaster Offshore Sail to Power conversion. Writing as an RYA Cruising Instructor (sail) myself who has taken numerous RYA courses in the last 20 yrs; I am happy to report that Adam was the best instructor I have had the pleasure to work with in any discipline.

Patient and professional, with an uncanny knack of conveying even the most complicated of concepts in a simple, accessible manner. Adam and Doug (Chieftain’s principal) go the extra mile; it is clear that they are both truly invested in the development and success of their students. A credit to the industry.

3 April 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thanks Ben. Well done to you for a solid pass of the Yachtmaster Exam

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Alex was amazing!

Alex was amazing! Very patient, informative, and clear with all instructions!

29 March 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thanks F, glad you enjoyed the Powerboat Level 2 Course

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

STCW PST course

Really knowledgeable, engaging instructor. Course felt well-paced. Good facilities. Only slight downside is the travel between classroom and pool sessions, but the two locations are closer together than for some other available courses.

21 March 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thank for the review Amanda. The journey to the survival pool rarely takes more than 15 minutes each way . There are closer pools to our Hamble centre but the one we use is purpose built for survival training and gives you a far better course than the alternatives.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

RYA first aid course was expertly…

RYA first aid course was expertly delivered by Joe, everything was discussed and well presented, definitely be back

23 March 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thank for the feedback BC and good to see you at the centre, by my count that is your 6th First Aid course with our team over the last couple of decades.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great instructor

Great instructor, delivered with confidence stemming from professional experience

12 March 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thanks Neil, glad you enjoyed the RYA Short Range Certificate (SRC) Course with Matt and Doug.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

5 out of 5 !

Challenging, enjoyable and technically interesting. And all questions were answered with experience and knowledge.

12 March 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thanks Henry, glad you enjoyed your training course

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Nigel has done an excellent job in ocean theory

Nigel has done an excellent job in balancing real life experience with keeping a focus on working through all the material.
I really enjoyed it.

11 March 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thanks Dirk, glad you enjoyed the RYA Yachtamsre Ocean Shorebased Course

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Recently completed an RYA Sea Survival…

Recently completed an RYA Sea Survival Course; thoroughly enjoyed the day. It was made fun, interesting, and interactive. The instructor was great; will be using Chieftain for my future training needs.

7 March 2026
Unprompted review
Chieftain Training logo

Reply from Chieftain Training

Thank Neil, we look forward to seeing you again.

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