Course FAQ’s

• What's included in my course fee?

  - Personal protective and safety clothing and instruction by staff trained to national governing body standards
  - All in-course transport; Fuel and marina fees (for cruising courses)
  - Free use of the swimming pool during public sessions (Monday to Friday) and the fitness room on production of a valid gym membership card
  
  If you have added a Residential Package to your booking, also included in your fees are:-
  Accommodation in twin-bedded rooms with en-suite, or house accommodation
  Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner, tea and coffee

• What's not included in the course fee

  Personal Insurance
  Footwear for on the water
  Towels
  Friday evening meals

• Accommodation and Single Room Supplements

  Accommodation for your course is provided in twin-bedded rooms. During busy periods there is a possibility you may be required to share a room if booking as an individual. In this case, we only ever put customers who are of the same gender and where possible of similar age and course together. If you do not want to share please add the single room supplement to your booking.

• How fit do I need to be?

  To enjoy your course, you should be confident in water. We don't expect you to swim the Channel, but you will get more out of your course with a reasonable level of general fitness. If you suffer from any form of illness or medical disability, please advise us when booking. If you suffer from asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, giddy spells, angina, or other heart conditions, you should check with your doctor before making a booking and be in a position to produce a note from your doctor if required.

• Are there age limits?

  Most courses are for those aged 14yrs and over, however 13yr olds may be accepted onto non-youth courses if they're accompanied by an adult. Youth courses are for those between 8 to 17 years of age, or as specified. The minimum unaccompanied age for cruising courses is 16. For powerboat courses 12-14 year olds may attend if accompanied by a responsible adult on the course.

• Do I need insurance cover?

  Personal insurance is not included in the course fee. Whilst you are in the best hands at Plas Menai, we strongly advise that you take out additional cover for your own peace of mind and to cover you if you have to cancel your place on a course for reasons beyond your control.

Arrival FAQ’s

• Residential Bookings

  If you have booked a Residential package, please note your accommodation will be available from 4pm on the day before your course starts. IMPORTANT: If you will be arrivng at the centre after 11pm please call ahead to obtain the accommodation code from reception. Ph: 01248 670964
  
  Breakfast is served between 8.00-8.30 in the dining room. Please remember to pick up your packed lunch at breakfast. Please meet in reception for 9.15 on the first morning of your course where you will be given a short centre briefing before being introduced to your instructor.

• Non-Residential Bookings

  If you have booked as a non-resident, please arrive by 9.00am on the first morning of your course to allow time to register for your course. Please congregate in reception at 9.15 where you will be given a short centre briefing before being introduced to your instructor.
  
  Please remember to bring a packed lunch with you. If you have prepaid for a packed lunch, please go to the dining room and show your reciept to the catering staff, who will then provide you with a packed lunch.

• Youth Activity Holiday Bookings

  If you are resident at Plas Menai for your course, your house parent will be ready to meet you from 5pm on the evening of your arrival. You should check in to Reception on arrival where your house parent will show you your accommodation and run through the evening activities and general outline for the rest of your course.

• What should I bring?

  We recommend you bring plenty of warm clothing. 'Fibrepile' and thermals can also be a really good investment. Other items you'll need include:
  • Swimming costume
  • Towel
  • Trainers, wetsuit boots or other suitable footwear for on the water
  • Gloves or specialist sailing gloves
  • Hat
  • Flask / Water bottle
  • Sun block, sun glasses
  
  If you are cruising, please also bring your own sleeping bag, wellingtons (not black soled) and sea-sickness pills.
  Please see individual course details for specific information.

• Dates - When should I arrive?

  For most activities, the published course dates show your actual activity days. If you are resident at the centre, you should therefore arrive the evening before. For example, if you course date says April 19-23, you should arrive on the evening of the 18th.
  Cruising Courses Your course dates include your evening of arrival. Eg, if your course date is May 16-21, you should arrive on the evening of the 16th in time to meet your instructor at 8pm.

• Is there any Joining Information?

  General course outlines are published on the website. Arrival information will be sent with your confirmation email, which is also available on the website.

• Can I bring my own equipment?

  You are very welcome to bring and use your own equipment whilst you are at Plas Menai, but please note that you bring and use it at your own risk as we cannot accept any responsibility for any damage or loss to your equipment, howsoever caused. If you require space to store your equipment during your stay, please contact the centre in advance to confirm space available.

General FAQ’s

• I am not sure which course is the most suitable one for me. What should I do?

  If after reading the course descriptions, you are still unsure as to which course is the most suitable for you, please contact the Centre to talk to one of our instructors. Our instructors spend most of their time on the water so might not be available immediately, but if you leave a message and your daytime contact details, somebody will call you back to you to discuss it.

• I need to cancel my course – what should I do?

  Please ensure you are familiar with our cancellations policy outlined in our Terms and Conditions of Booking. You must contact the Centre direct to cancel your course and please be aware that cancellation fees do apply. As such we recommend all our customers hold personal insurance to cover them in the unfortunate event that they may not be able to attend the course.

• What are your safety procedures?

  In addition to enjoyment and learning new skills, safety is of paramount importance on all Plas Menai's courses. Watersports and adventure activities are hazardous by their nature and participants, parents or guardians must accept that there are risks and the inevitable bumps and scrapes which happen during the thrills and spills of fast moving activities.
  To manage the risks so far as we are able, Plas Menai has a 'safe system of work'; we only employ qualified experienced staff we provide a range of quality personal protective and safety equipment for participants' comfort and safety we provide up-to-date equipment for your course we teach to national governing body recommendations and guidelines, in small groups we have robust management and safety systems which have been inspected by approved bodies such as AALA, RYA and BCU we reserve the right to modify or cancel an activity if we feel that there are unmanageable risks