James Kell

Corte-Madera, California USA

Level V Bareboat Charter Master Rank Chief Sailing Instructor / Assessor

Rated 4.96/5 by 10 students
I am the Chief instructor here at Sailing Virgins. We concentrate on making your sailing training vacation experience here in the Virgin Islands one that will last a lifetime. Come join us - you'll have fun.

Credentials

NauticEd Credentials

  • Level V Bareboat Charter Master Rank Chief Instructor/Assessor
  • RYA Instructor/Assessor

Other Credentials

RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, STCW Qualified.

Associated practical schools

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Feedback from previous students

Tom M., USA, MN, Minneapolis at 2018, Sep 07
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
james was first class. Great person and great instructor!
Jeff N., USA, VA, Vienna at 2018, Oct 11
Practical Competence of Qualified Crew Member Rank
Both Jack and James are incredible instructors. They both possess elevated levels of knowledge, competency, and patience to facilitate the learning process around sailing. The energy they bring to the courses they offer is something that I had never experienced before and I truly believe that it single handedly convinced me that sailing is something I want to invest both my time and money into for many years to come. It was an honor to spend 7 day on Libertas and learn how to sail her around Martinique. I would recommend Sailing Virgins and their instructors to anyone.
Sarah M., at 2018, Jul 25
Practical Competence of Skipper Rank
James was one of the best instructors I have had for any field. His enthusiasm and coaching rather than telling are some of the reasons I found him to be such an outstanding teacher on the boat. I always trusted his judgement and learned not only by his instructions but also by watching him. I would recommend James to anyone who wants to learn how to sail, no matter what level they are at.
Jason C., at 2018, May 17
Practical Competence of Skipper Rank
While I feel that I am competent to skipper a sailboat I think it is important to have at least one additional skipper present as sometimes situations can arise that require the help of another skilled skipper. I believe that skippering a sail boat is like driving a car after getting your driver's license. You learn the inns and outs of driving and gain invaluable experience as you continue to drive more consistently after you get the license. So I will continue to sail and gather the experience necessary to become better and better at it. I would definitely recommend this course to persons that are agile. I hold Mr. James Kell in high regards and would certainly recommend him as an instructor who is professional and possesses a vast wealth of knowledge in the industry.
Michael M., USA, VA, Arlington at 2018, May 31
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Sailing Virgins earns 5 out of 5 stars for me. I booked a week of the Island Adventure course with the expectation of formalizing the NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master Cert and got so much more out of it. To begin, James was excited to have me on board and made it easy for me to sign up, get all the information I needed and kept in contact with me when I had questions. Jack, as captain, made the trip awesome. He has tons of experience and all the tips i can never seem to remember. He keeps it easy-going and casual while still making sure people get any education and experience they're looking for. Some highlights from the week were a picture-perfect night sail into Dominica, handing off hurricane relief supplies, checking out a mamma whale and her cub, and screaming into Les Saints at top speed. I couldn't have asked for more! These guys' genuine good nature and passion to get sailing into the hands of more people was an impression that rounded out the whole trip; I will defi
Michael L., USA, GA, Atlanta at 2018, Mar 14
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
Jack was an incredible coach. His passion for the sport was obvious from day 1 and bleeds through into every lesson he imparted upon his crew each day. Being able to so rapidly turn our NauticEd theory into practice through Jack`s instruction was the most rewarding part of the course. It's also worth mentioning the aspect of the course that is likely unique to Sailing Virgins which is Jacks preference for sailing to new adventures. The course was not just about sailing, but also coupled with epic snorkeling, swimming with sea turtles, cliff jumping, exploring volcanic ruins, and plenty of local French dining. Enjoying everything each days new locaiton has to offer is what sailing is all about! I would not hesitate recommending to anyone to join the Sailing Virgins family on their next adventure.
John Q., USA, CO, Vail at 2017, Dec 23
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
James is the best!
Sarah G., at 2017, Dec 20
Practical Competence of Skipper Rank
James is as knowledgable about sailing and easy going as they come. I started my course a little intimidated and overwhelmed by the amount of information there was to learn. James quickly dissolved any of those worries by making everything about sailing fun. He tailored the course to our needs and helped us learn all of the technicals in a practical way in the exact right pace!
Jordan A., at 2017, Dec 22
Practical Competence of Skipper Rank
James is a great skipper, instructor, and person. I learned a ton during my week on board and had an awesome time!
John Q., USA, CO, Vail at 2017, Dec 03
Practical Competence of Bareboat Charter Master Rank
James is nothing short of amazing, both as an instructor and as a person. He offers a great mix of education and adventure at sea.
Showing last 10 reviews.