ABOUT APOGEE
Apogee Marine Services is a small maritime training outfit based in Cowes, Isle of Wight set up and operated by Group Captain (RAF Rtd) Clive Blount. It was set up to provide quality, affordable training for mariners, in both the professional and leisure markets, in a way that is hard to find elsewhere. We pride ourselves on only using proven specialists in their field who are also excellent teachers; we all been frustrated turning up for a course or training to find a poor instructor - and that feeling that the centre just wants your money. We have a smart purpose-designed classroom, and have invested in modern training aids.
In addition to the highly regarded RYA courses that we are proud to offer, Apogee specialises in offering Bespoke courses and services for people that don't have the time or need to do the full traditional courses that are offered by most training schools. Apogee was set up with the idea that we could make courses for you; courses that fit around your life and not the other way around.
Apogee also offers lectures and training days for yacht clubs and other organisations; the ones delivered so far have been very well received - see our Bespoke courses page for some more information... but just ask if you need something specific and we will make every effort to accommodate you.
OUR TEAM
CLIVE BLOUNT
Clive is the Principal/Chief Instructor at Apogee Marine Services.
Clive retired from the RAF in 2017 as a Group Captain having spent his career as a Fast-Jet Navigator before specialising in Strategy and Defence Policy. He was rated as an A1(Exceptional) Instructor by both the Central Flying School and the RAF School of Education and Training. Clive was granted a defence fellowship to study at Cambridge University and also taught at the United States Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. He served overseas in Germany and Gibraltar and had operational tours in the Balkans and Afghanistan. While based in Gibraltar as the Station Commander, Clive rediscovered his love of sailing and developed his passion for small powerboats, something that is a large part of his life still today.
Clive is a commercially endorsed skipper for sail and small powerboat, and a qualified Powerboat Instructor for courses up to and including RYA Advanced Powerboat. He is also qualified to teach various RYA shore-based courses. Clive has a diploma in Yacht and Small Craft Surveying and is a Fellow of the Royal Institute of Navigation. He is a Non-Executive Director on the board of Cowes Harbour
With his many years flying experience in the RAF, Clive is also a keen amateur meteorologist and has already given many lectures on this subject to yacht clubs in the area.
Will teaches Powerboat and Radio for Apogee. Will has spent a deal of his life in and around small boats. He was a Sea Scout, a Sea Cadet and a watchleader with the Ocean Youth Trust, and has a deal of experience on Sail and Motor vessels from dinghies to Tall Ships. He has also been an RNLI volunteer for nearly nine years. Will is an experienced adventure training instructor and has experience teaching and volunteering with diverse groups - including blind sailing. He is an RYA Powerboat Instructor, Dinghy Instructor, VHF SRC assessor and a British Canoeing Paddlesports instructor.
WILL MATTHEWS
Voirrey is the commercial shipping instructor at Apogee Marine Services.
Voirrey holds her Chief Mates Unlimited Certificate of Competency from the MCA and, until recently has worked as a Chief Officer for Red Funnel ferries on both car and high speed ferries. Prior to this she worked deep-sea for 7 years, the last 2 years of which she was the Navigation Officer on the MS Koningsdam, a Holland America Line cruise ship of 100,000gt. She has just started a new role as admiralty manager at Reed Smith in London, and is training to be a solicitor specialising in marine law.
During her time deep-sea she was a mentor for various cadets along with her junior team members. All of her cadets graduated on time and achieved their OOW Unlimited certificates. She will soon be offering orals prep for various certification levels (see our STCW page for more information).
In her time off work Voirrey enjoys being out on the water in a RIB or in the water swimming