WHY SAIL WITH WALTER
Master of Yachts 200GT · Alicante, since 2003
Professional skippered sailing and RYA training from Alicante, shaped by local knowledge, safe decisions, and more than two decades on the Costa Blanca.
THE SKIPPER
Professional qualifications matter. Local judgement is what turns a plan into the right day at sea.
Based in Alicante since 2003, Walter Henderson has spent more than two decades sailing the Costa Blanca in every season. That experience shows in the small decisions: when to leave, when to wait, where the sea is calmer, and how to shape the day around real conditions.
He holds a commercial Master of Yachts 200GT licence, RYA Yachtmaster qualification, and instructor credentials in first aid, VHF radio, radar, and diesel engines. The result is not just a list of certificates, but a calm standard of safety, briefing, and seamanship aboard.
For guests and students, the experience stays simple: a private yacht, clear decisions, and a route chosen for the weather, the group, and the purpose of the day. The aim is to give you the best sailing the sea can offer, without forcing a fixed script.
HOW HE SAILS
The plan begins with the sea state, the crew, and the purpose of the day. Some days are for learning, some for distance, and some for simply enjoying the water.
Wind, swell, visibility and crew comfort decide the rhythm before any fixed route does.
A sheltered bay, a later departure or a shorter leg can make the day safer and more enjoyable.
Courses stay structured. Charters can be hands-on, or completely relaxed, depending on the group.
The person planning the sail is aboard for the sail, so decisions stay coherent from start to finish.
QUALIFICATIONS
The qualifications matter because they explain the standard behind the calm. Walter holds a commercial Master of Yachts 200GT licence and RYA instructor qualifications across the practical systems that matter at sea.
AT THE HELM
MASTER OF YACHTS 200GT
A commercial qualification. Most private charter skippers hold the recreational RYA Coastal Skipper. Walter holds the commercial Master’s ticket — the equivalent of a captain’s licence for vessels up to 200 gross tonnes. It is not required for day charter. He holds it because he earned it.
RYA YACHTMASTER
Covers offshore and ocean sailing — passage planning, navigation, meteorology, collision avoidance, and seamanship at sea. The qualification examiners do not pass anyone easily. It is the standard that underpins every offshore passage Walter leads.
RYA FIRST AID INSTRUCTOR
Every charter carries a full first aid kit. If something happens at sea, Walter can act decisively.
RYA VHF INSTRUCTOR
VHF radio is the primary communication channel at sea. Walter holds the instructor qualification — not just the licence. He understands not only how to use it, but how to ensure others use it correctly in an emergency.
RYA RADAR INSTRUCTOR
Radar navigation is critical offshore and in poor conditions. Walter is qualified in it to instructor level, which means his understanding goes beyond passing the exam — it extends to the full practical and theoretical picture.
RYA DIESEL ENGINE INSTRUCTOR
The ability to diagnose and address engine issues at sea is a practical safety skill. Walter holds the instructor qualification, which means there is nothing about the engine he cannot understand and address — at sea, far from a marina.
CHOOSE YOUR WAY TO SAIL
Start with the kind of sailing you want: an RYA course, a private day from Alicante, or a multi-day Mediterranean voyage.
