About SA Sailing Academy

Accredited sail training in the Western Cape since 2012

Our story

SA Sailing Academy launched in January 2012 and earned international recognition and local accreditation, with dinghy, multihull and keelboat endorsements in 2016.

SA Sailing Academy is run by it’s founder Neil Ashton, a Sailing Instructor Developer with over 50 years of sailing and coaching experience, together with a team of enthusiastic and knowledgeable sailing instructors.

At the time of writing SA Sailing Academy has trained over 5000 students at it’s two venues and as an Sailing Instructor Developer Neil has trained over 300 Safety boat operators, Instructors, Senior Instructors and Race Coaches at all of the major sailing venues across South Africa. In 2024 Neil was selected by an International consortium to produce and present the online training content for Sailmaster Academy.

SA Sailing Academy teaches youth, adults and families on dinghies, Hobies and keelboats at our two host clubs: Theewater Sports Club on Theewaterskloof Dam and Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club on False Bay. Over the years, numerous SA Sailing Academy students and instructors have gon on to make a career of sailing, either skippering yachts at sailing venues around the world or working as instructors at sailing centers locally and abroad.

SA Sailing Academy students sailing in Gordon's Bay harbour

Dinghies sailing in False Bay off Gordon's Bay

Sailing is a way of life, not just a sport

A good sailing academy is a lot of fun, often thrilling, educational and empowering. It goes beyond teaching the basics: the real value lies in the skills, confidence, inspiration and community that set you up for a lifetime of sailing.

Sailing keeps you active, gets you out into nature and brings people together. Many sailors say it becomes a lifestyle rather than a sport. This is a philosophy that SA Sailing Academy shares and instills in our instructors.

There is something uniquely rewarding about learning to work with the wind, the water and your crew. Every day on the water presents a new challenge and an opportunity to learn, whether it is mastering a new skill, navigating changing conditions or simply becoming more comfortable and confident on a boat. Over time, these experiences build independence, problem-solving skills and a sense of achievement that extends well beyond the sailing environment.

Affiliations

Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club

SA Sailing Academy Gordon’s Bay is proudly affiliated to the premier hub for water sports enthusiasts in the picturesque Helderberg region, Gordon’s bay Yacht Club.

Theewater Sports Club

Situated near Villiersdorp, the Theewater Sports Club is the largest water sports club in South Africa and SA Sailing Academy Theewater is honoured to be affiliated.