From OnBoard to apprentice – the start of a career 

Having started sailing through OnBoard, Matt has now begun an apprenticeship at Camel Sailing and Powerboat Centre

Matt Chaplin (17) was one of the first youngsters to learn to sail through OnBoard with Camel Estuary Youth Sailing (CEYS). He took to sailing immediately and was soon into racing, taking part in the Cornwall Feva Travellers Series. Before long, he became an instructor, and has now been given an apprenticeship at Camel Sailing and Powerboat Centre – the first step in his sailing career.

Though not an academic lad, Matt has always been interested in the boats themselves, not just the sailing, and is keen to help with repair and maintenance. He is now attending Falmouth Marine School on day release from the Centre, studying Boat Maintenance whilst undertaking a number of RYA qualifications through the Sailing School with the intention of becoming a Senior Instructor and possibly moving into yacht delivery as well instructing.

Mark Stacey, Chief Instructor at Camel Sailing School, is very pleased to have Matt onboard: “When teaching Matt to sail, he was always one of the lively lads in the group, but over the years he has grown up into a very sensible young man. He has a very good sailing ability, but with the course at college and his RYA Dinghy Instructor qualification he is starting to become a very useful all-round player within the team. I hope his dedication continues and he meets the goals he has set.”