About Us

A few words from Paul Williams, our primary skipper and Director of Safe Hands Marine Ltd.

I started sailing dinghies on the UK East coast when I was six, and have never stopped boating since! By my mid teens I had begun small boat cruising, and have owned a number of different boats of varying styles, sizes, and construction during my life so far. I have regularly cruised the UK East and South coasts, the Netherlands, France, as well as other longer trips in Europe. Some of these have been on my own boats, but I have helped friends and colleagues with delivery trips on many occasions prior to considering doing it commercially.

As a practical owner often sailing shorthanded I have tended to carry out my own repairs and upgrades whenever possible, and have also been working in the marine industry for over thirty years. This has been as as a GRP specialist and laminator, general boat builder, and as a yard hand, so I am used to working on, lifting, launching, and moving a wide variety of craft. This has also helped me develop my reactive problem solving skills, aiding me to find work-arounds and solutions to allow passages to be made safely.

I now own and cruise a 46ft ketch, however, due to my own cruising plans changing, I have decided I would like to help others get the most out of their boating, and do more delivery work and general skippering for others. I feel my many years of practical experience maintaining and repairing a wide range of boats, combined with my cruising motorboat and sailing experience and qualifications, equip me well for this and I look forward to working with you in the future.

Qualifications

• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Ocean Certificate of Competence (with commercial endorsement)

• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate of Competence (with commercial endorsement)

• RYA/MCA Powerboat level 2 (with commercial endorsement)

• International Certificate for Operators of Pleasure Craft

• RYA/MCA Marine Radio Short Range Operators,

• Diesel Engine Maintenance

• Radar Course