Southampton Water Activities Centre - SWAC - Chieftain Training

19/04/2026

Night pilotage this week for the Coastal Skipper candidates with Adam.

18/04/2026

🌊 Try Stand Up Paddleboarding in Southampton! 🌊
Looking for something fun, active, and a little different to do on the water? Our SUP Taster Sessions at SWAC are the perfect way to get started!

Whether you’re a complete beginner or just fancy giving paddle-boarding a go, we’ll get you afloat, confident, and smiling in no time.

✅ 1 hour on the water
✅ All equipment included
✅ Friendly, qualified instructors
✅ Ages 12+ (great for adults & families!)

Arrive, get kitted up, learn the basics… then enjoy your time out on the water!

👉 Book your session here:
https://chieftain.training/standup-paddle-board-sup-taster/

📍 Southampton Water Activities Centre (SWAC)

Try paddleboarding in Southampton with SWAC. Beginner-friendly SUP sessions on the River Itchen. 1 hour on the water. Book your SUP Southampton experience today.

14/04/2026

🚨 BIG NEWS FOR SWAC 🚨
Today marks a huge milestone for Southampton Water Activities Centre…

We are now officially Adventure Activities Licensed!

This is a major step forward in our journey to bring high-quality, safe and accessible water-sports back to the heart of Southampton. The Adventure Activities Licence recognises that our systems, staff, and operations meet the highest standards required to deliver activities to young people and allows us to legally deliver these activities to schools and youth groups.

✅ Schools and youth groups can now book with confidence
✅ Parents can trust in the safety and professionalism of our sessions
✅ And we can continue building SWAC into a true centre of excellence for marine training.

We are the one and only training centre in Southampton and Hampshire that holds the triple approval;

Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA) and
Adventure Activity Licensing Authority (AALA).

From sailing and windsurfing to canoeing and paddle boarding, this opens the door for even more young people to get out on the water, learn new skills, and build confidence.

This has been a big team effort—thank you to everyone involved in getting us to this point. Plenty more to come…
SWAC is well and truly back.

11/04/2026

This weekend’s RYA Powerboat Tender Operator Course, taught by Pete

11/04/2026

This weekend at SWAC… ⛵

Our RYA Keelboat Level 1 course is in full swing, expertly delivered by Kai 👏

This course marks the first step in our new strategy to make keelboat sailing more accessible to more people, opening the door for complete beginners to get afloat, build confidence, and discover just how enjoyable sailing on the River Itchen and Southampton Water can be.

With stable, forgiving boats and a supportive learning environment, Keelboat Level 1 is a fantastic introduction to the sport of sailing. There is no need to wear a wetsuit as these boats do not capsize!

This is just the beginning… ⛵
👉 Keelboat level 2 runs on Monday and Tuesday this week, followed by Keelboat level 3 on Wednesday /Thursday. There are plenty more dates for all of these courses mid week and over weekends through the year.

10/04/2026

Today's RYA Yachtmaster Exam- MOB drills- both candidates passed- well done lads and well done to their Instructor Andrew

06/04/2026

A few images from last week's Yachtmaster Offshore Power Course (both candidates passed by the way) at SWAC. Taught by Adam.

06/04/2026

🎉 COMPETITION TIME AT SWAC! 🎉

We’ve got an exciting new youth 5-day summer holiday course coming soon… but we need YOUR help to name it!

This course is designed for youth sailors who are ready to step up (i.e. stage 3 or above), taking them from single-handed sailing into the world of double-handed boats 🤝⛵

https://chieftain.training/youth-double-handed-helm-crew-week/

Think teamwork, communication, and next-level sailing skills… but what should we call it? 🤔

💡 Your challenge: Drop your best course name in the comments below!

🏆 Prize: The winning name will be used for the course AND the winner will receive a FREE £100 Chieftain Training voucher to use on any course at SWAC.

📅 Winner announced: By the end of April

Get creative… keep it punchy… and make it something young sailors will be excited to sign up for!

👇 Comment your ideas below!

https://chieftain.training/youth-double-handed-helm-crew-week/

The prize is non transferable and must be redeemed within 6 months, there is no cash alternative, prizes can not be redeemed against discounted courses. The judge's decision is final!

Youth Double handed sailing week onboard crewed dinghies. A 5 day summer holiday course. For 9-15 year olds at SWAC, Southampton

05/04/2026

☀️ Easter Weekend on the Water at SWAC! 🐣🚤

What a fantastic Easter Saturday & Sunday it’s been down at Southampton Water Activities Centre!

Alan has been out on the water delivering the Powerboat Intermediate course to three very lucky students — and what a weekend they’ve had for it! Great conditions, plenty of smiles, and some serious skills development along the way.

From close-quarters handling to higher-speed navigation to Cowes and Wootton Creek, it’s been a brilliant couple of days watching confidence grow and techniques sharpen.

Huge thanks to Alan for another top-notch course delivery — and well done to our three candidates 👏

Who’s next to take their powerboating to the next level? 🚤💨

02/04/2026

Yachtmaster Exam Prep today, taught by Adam and some dinghy training delivered by Kai.

02/04/2026

Today the Team have been preparing one of our two Sonar Keelboats ready for the upcoming season!

29/03/2026