Welcome aboard!
Sailing, on the Sunny Side…
Services
At Sunny Side Sailing, we offer unforgettable experiences on the water - whether you’re learning to sail,
building confidence, or just looking for a new adventure. Based on the beautiful Cornish coast, we deliver high-quality RYA training, skippered charters, race opportunities, and bespoke support for boat owners.
Sailing Courses
From absolute beginner to aspiring Yachtmaster, our RYA sail training courses help you build real skills and real confidence. Learn with experienced instructors aboard high-quality yachts in stunning Cornish waters. Whether you’re chasing qualifications or unforgettable adventures, we’ll help you get there - one tack at a time.
Skippered Charter / Racing
Step aboard for a hands-on sailing experience with a professional skipper at the helm. Whether you fancy a relaxed coastal cruise or the thrill of racing in local regattas, we’ve got you covered. Ideal for teams, families, or first-time adventurers. No experience needed, just a sense of adventure.
Skills Days / Own Boat Support
Sharpen your skills or get to know your own boat better - with expert guidance by your side. Whether you need mooring practice, sail trim advice, or an introduction to spinnaker work, we tailor each session to your needs. Our friendly instructors make complex skills feel simple, boosting your confidence and making every day on the water more rewarding.
News
Latest Updates
Stay informed about our upcoming events, special offers, and exciting news from Sunny Side Sailing. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced sailor, there's always something interesting happening in our vibrant sailing community.
RYA Courses: Autumn 2026
Join Sunny Side Sailing for unforgettable adventures from the beautiful harbour of Fowey.
Courses available:
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⛵ RYA Start Yachting / Competent Crew – Learn the basics, build confidence, and enjoy life on board.
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⚓ RYA Day Skipper / Coastal Skipper (Practical) – Take command, plan passages, and skipper with confidence.
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🌊 RYA Yachtmaster Preparation Weeks – Intensive coaching to refine skills and prepare for your exam.
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👨👩👧 Private and Family Courses – Learn together with flexible, tailored itineraries.
✨ Small groups, expert instruction, and no hidden costs – just great sailing.
📅 Now taking enquiries for Autumn 2026 weekday and weekend courses.
➡️ Contact us to register your interest: enquiries@sunnysidesailing.co.uk
Dates available by arrangement: we plan the majority of our courses in line with your needs so, if you can't find dates in our booking section that work, please call with something that works for you – for Competent Crew Courses, right through to Yachtmaster Preparation Weeks and Exams.
We currently have course availability on:
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5 - 9 October: Competent Crew / Day Skipper
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19 - 23 October: Any course or Skippered Charter
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26 - 30 October: Competent Crew / Coastal Skipper
Tour du Finistère à la Voile 2027
Join us aboard Sigma 35 Slipstream for the 41st Tour du Finistère à la Voile – six days of competitive coastal racing around the spectacular Breton coast, combining challenging tides, tactical navigation and close racing with the Tour’s famously sociable stopovers.
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Friday 23 July: Assemble in Fowey, prepare Slipstream and training
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23–25 July: Channel crossing to Brittany and registration
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26–31 July: Tour du Finistère à la Voile
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31 July: Final racing, prize-giving and celebrations
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1 August: Return passage to Fowey
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2 August: Weather reserve
✨ Aimed at more experienced sailors and those looking to get into club and coastal racing, this is a full racing campaign rather than a formal RYA course. Crew will be assigned positions – Helm 2/Mainsheet, Trim, Foredeck, Mast and/or Pit, with Alex taking on most of the navigation and tactics – as we work together to race Slipstream as competitively as we can.
We haven’t done this event before, and we’re up for the challenge!
£1,595 per person, including race entry, professional skipper/instruction/coaching, onboard food, fuel and normal berthing. 10% discount for returning clients or bookings of two or more places.
➡️ Maximum four crew places available. Register your interest now to join the 2027 Slipstream Tour du Finistère campaign.
Dates, route and stopover ports are provisional, pending publication of the 2027 event programme.
Coastal Racing in 2027
Experience the thrill of competitive sailing aboard Slipstream, our Sigma 35, with a full programme of racing around the South West throughout 2027. From the friendly Fowey Coastal Series, visiting St Mawes, Falmouth, Plymouth, Newton Ferrers, Helford and Mevagissey, to the more challenging Royal Western Yacht Club Triangle Race and Fowey Regatta Tri-Coastal, there are opportunities throughout the season to get aboard, develop your skills and experience some fantastic coastal racing.
The Fowey Coastal Series provides a great introduction to racing, combining competitive sailing with longer coastal passages and sociable stopovers around some of the best harbours in Devon and Cornwall. For those looking for a bigger challenge, we’ll also take on the Royal Western Triangle Race over the May Bank Holiday weekend, followed in August by the Fowey Regatta Tri-Coastal, where we’ll be defending the trophy we won outright in 2026.
You don’t need to arrive as an experienced racing sailor. We’ll use training and practice time to familiarise you with Slipstream, develop sail handling and spinnaker skills, and build an effective crew. Whether you’re new to racing or already have experience and want to sharpen your skills, you’ll be fully involved in sailing the boat and working as part of the team.
With races from April through to October, you can join us for an individual event or build your experience across the season. Spaces aboard Slipstream are limited, so get in touch to discuss which races would suit you and come racing with us in 2027.
Meet the Team
Sunny Side Sailing is run by Alex and Andrew — experienced yachtmen that live on the Fowey Estuary (Andrew on the ‘money’ side (Fowey), and Alex on the ‘sunny’ side (Polruan)). You can decide which side's best...
Principal / Chief Instructor
Alex McKay
Commercially Endorsed Yachtmaster (Offshore), RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, and keen Coastal / Offshore Racer.
Director / COO
Andrew Dellow
Experienced Offshore and Coastal Cruiser / Racer with a Fastnet and Caribbean 600 under his belt.
About Slipstream...
Slipstream, our Sigma 35, is a classic yacht renowned for its exceptional balance of performance, comfort, and versatility.
Designed by David Thomas, the Sigma 35 has a strong pedigree as a capable cruiser and a competitive racer, making it the perfect choice for both leisure sailing and exhilarating challenges on the water.
With a spacious interior offering six comfortable berths, Slipstream is ideal for extended cruising adventures or accommodating a team during instructional sessions. Her sleek design and responsive handling ensure an engaging experience for sailors of all skill levels, whether learning the fundamentals, refining advanced techniques, or competing in regattas.
Equipped with modern navigational aids and a full suite of safety equipment, Slipstream provides a secure and reliable platform for all your sailing activities. Whether you’re joining us for a training course, a relaxed coastal cruise, or a thrilling race, Slipstream promises to deliver a memorable experience.
Step aboard and discover why the Sigma 35 remains a popular choice among sailing enthusiasts worldwide.
About Dwynwen
Dwynwen, our Rustler 36 available in association with D3A Sail, is a beautifully balanced offshore cruising yacht, renowned for her seakeeping ability, comfort, and timeless design.
Designed by Kim Holman, the Rustler 36 has earned an enviable reputation as one of the finest bluewater cruising yachts ever built. Equally at home exploring the Cornish coast or undertaking extended offshore passages, Dwynwen offers a reassuring combination of strength, stability, and rewarding sailing performance.
With comfortable accommodation and a spacious, traditional interior, Dwynwen provides an ideal platform for RYA Yachtmaster training, private tuition, family cruising, remote working, and offshore experience building. Her forgiving handling inspires confidence in new sailors while offering experienced skippers a yacht capable of serious passage making.
Recently upgraded for the 2026 season, Dwynwen is equipped with a full suite of Raymarine electronics, including radar, chartplotter, AIS, autopilot, multifunction displays and modern navigation systems, together with a completely renewed offshore sail wardrobe comprising:
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Tri-Radial Pro Radial genoa with WeatherMAX UV protection
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Hydranet fully battened mainsail with three reefs
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Furling J3 with a Karver KF3 halyard lock and torsion line
Combined with comprehensive safety equipment and meticulous maintenance, these upgrades ensure Dwynwen is fully equipped for everything from local cruising and RYA courses to challenging offshore passages and extended adventures at sea. She is also StarLink enabled — perfect for remote working.
Step aboard and discover why the Rustler 36 is regarded as one of the world’s great cruising yachts — a vessel that inspires confidence, rewards good seamanship, and makes every mile a pleasure.
Uta S, UK
“A fabulous learning experience provided by exceptionally knowledgeable sailors."
Olly T, UK
"...an excellent weekend, sailing with great company. Hopefully see you all again..."
Jenny I, UK
“We have had a brilliant time, thanks so much everyone! Hope to join you on another sailing trip in the future.”