John Corden is a highly experienced yachtsman, RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Instructor, Short-Range Radio (VHF) Certificate Assessor and Radar Instructor. Now 58, John has been sailing since he was 12 and competed in the Fastnet Race in 1973 at the age of only 17. He has owned and raced dinghies including: a Cadet, a 420,  an OK, 2 International Moths, 2 Lasers and a Dart Catamaran. His first boat with a cabin was an 18′ Gem Micro-Tonner. He has since moved on to own 2 J24s, a Tripp 26, a Contessa 32 and now our sailing school boat “Kipper of London”, a classic Victoria 34 Cutter and a classic 1970s Scampi half-ton racing yacht for fun.

John has competed in more Cowes Weeks than he cares to remember, 4 Cork Weeks, numerous RORC races, single-handed and double-handed racing and the ARC. He has extensively cruised The Channel and The Channel Islands. In 2010 John competed in the 2-Handed Round Britain & Ireland Race.

Before setting up Kipper Sailing, John worked as a freelance instructor for Lagoon Watersports; OnDeck and Four Winds Sailing.

Prior to embarking on his second career, John spent 27 years in the software industry.

John is married to Annie and between them they have: 5 children, with ages ranging from 25-30; 3 grandchildren; Fizzy  – a Springer Spaniel, and 2 cats.

John’s Favourites: Places -India, The Serengeti, Guatemala, The Alps, Pennington Marshes, The New Forest, Devon & Cornwall (in Winter), Newtown Creek. Food – Rib-eye steak, curry, lemon-meringue pie. Drink – Full-bodied Aussie Reds. Film – Top Gun. Books – The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon, anything by Wilbur Smith, Bryce Courtney or Frederick Forsythe. Music – Dire Straights, Mark Knofler, REM, Dido, Nora Jones, Katie Melua, Dolly Parton.