Making Waves

2018

Months of sunshine! We accidentally go viral on the interweb with a basking shark video (6 million views!) More Instructor courses.  A pod of over 100 dolphins spend an afternoon in the bay.  Ffinlo, our first ever customer joins the instructing team.  Ffinlo, Alex and Greg Kelly qualify as Senior Instructors. Izzy returns for another This Girl Can weekend.  Nick Ellis wins Silver Fleet, Teddy Dunn wins a race and finishes 9th in Gold Fleet at RS Tera Worlds.  Jen passes-out as an RNLI Coxswain for the Trent Lifeboat and has a brief encounter with a boat called Maiden. We make it to page 7 of the RYA Magazine!


2017

We hold an RYA Powerboat Instructor course and another Dinghy Instructor course.  Former students Tim, Alex and Ben are thrown in at the deep end running Youth Sailing Weeks. Izzy Sharpe returns to run a This Girl Can weekend. Luke Crowe joins us for Work Experience and never leaves!  We add Topper Vibes to the fleet.  Alec Cope wins Port Erin Regatta.  Jen skippers a boat across the Atlantic, teaches herself celestial navigation and passes the Yachtmaster Ocean exam in Antigua. 


2016

We are 10 years old!!!  Alan Jones and Geoff Stones run another Dinghy Instructor course.  Hannah Howitt finishes 2nd lady in the British Triathlon Championship!  Four sailors represent the Buchan at the IAPS regatta. Ben Batchelor receives an IOM Sport grant from the Cavendish Foundation.  Cav now follows Ben on Twitter! More former students, Connor, Emily and Summer join the instructing team.


2015

Staff members Chris Hill, Don Edwards and Jen Kneale represented the Island in the Laser class at the Island Games in Jersey.  Hannah Howitt competed in the Triathlon and Alison Hinds was selected for the British Keelboat Academy.  RYA Coach Assessor Alan Jones visited to run a Dinghy Instructor course, all six candidates passed with flying colours.  Manx Youth Sailing Squad member Ben Batchelor is ranked 1st in UK RS Tera rankings.  Our basking shark video had over 20K hits on YouTube! We say goodbye to our faithful friend Jack The Dog.


2014

Ben Batchelor wins a race and finishes 3rd at RS Tera Nationals.  Manxies qualify for gold fleet at RS Feva Worlds.  James Arnold wins Port Erin Regatta. 7th Wave Daysails to Fleshwick and Aldrick.  We started adopting Wayfarers!


2013

Hannah Howitt joins the instructing team.  Greg Kelly is shortlisted for Under 21 Boy and Jen Kneale for Coach of the Year at the IOM Sports Awards.  Chris Hill joins us as a Senior Instructor.  Ben Batchelor wins Port Erin Regatta.


2012

Greg Kelly wins the RS Tera World Championship, RS Tera Inland Championship, the RYA Northwest Sailor of the Year award.  All four Manx sailors at the Worlds finished in the top 10.  Izzy Sharpe carries the Olympic torch into Ballasalla. 7th Wave brings sailing back to Port Erin Regatta, hosting an RYA Sail for Gold Regatta in July.  We expand into the unit next door!


2011

MYSS are shortlisted for the Team Prize and Jen Kneale for Coach of the Year at the IOM Sports Awards.  James Kelly and Hannah Howitt were shortlisted for the Under 21 Boy and Girl categories.  Ffinlo. Wright and Matt Petts win the IAPS regatta, in Weymouth, representing the Buchan School.  Spinnakers and trapezes were put into action in Port Erin. It was another good year for sharks.  Tom Howitt joins the instructing team.


2010

We start the season with a new fleet, replacing our Teras with Topper Taz and Topaz. World Champions! James Kelly wins the RS Tera World Championship, Hannah Howitt and Izzy Sharpe finish 1st and 2nd girls respectively.  The Manx Youth Sailing Squad goes on to win the National Inland Team Trophy at Rutland Water. 7th Wave ventures out of the bay with our first Daysailing course on an epic voyage to Niarbyl.  Betty the tractor joins the fleet.


2009

Buchan Badge Nautical was launched at the Buchan School with 7th Wave providing a program of activities including rock pooling, beach safety, excursions, local maritime stories, classroom sessions, navigation and enviromental awareness, outdoor and on the water sessions for all juniors.  7th Wave hosts Sails and Tales, an evening of Manx maritime stories on Port Erin Beach for the Queenie Festival.  Manx Youth Sailing Squad win the RS Tera National Team Champions trophy. We gain RYA Recognition for shorebased courses.


2008

A good year for sharks!  7th Wave received Tourism Award for Best Coastal Experience. We founded the Manx Youth Sailing Squad, revived the Topper Challenge and took on our first Work Experience student. Sarah Butler wins the RYA Honda Youth RIB Challenge regional heat and  competes at the national final in Southampton.


2007

We made it through our first winter!  Jack goes kayaking. Many of our would-be stars of the future join us…  RYA Honda Youth RIB Challenge comes to the Isle of Man, Alex Sharpe, Kelvin Beck and Torin Costain represent 7th Wave.


2006

Through enormous efforts of family and friends, 7th Wave opens the doors on 27 May with a fleet of six Teras, four kayaks and a safety boat.  Ffinlo was our first ever sailing student (age 5!)  Our first boating competition was the Tin Bath World Championship, with Martin Critchley at the oars.

An aerial view of Port Erin Bay taken from a plane, looking towards an open clear sunny bay, with Port Erin's landmark "Milner's Tower" almost below the plane, in the distance is the nearby town of Port St Mary, and beyond that the horizon on the farther side of the island.