This page contains e-mail messages, photographs and letters we receive from students.

If you have attended a course ( or several ) at the Maritime School of the West Indies in St.Maarten, please feel free to send us an e-mail with your impressions, remarks or praise, pictures etc.

Newest messages are on top of this page.

Thank you.
Veerle

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*Growing up on a sailboat makes you aware of security issues, doing an
STCW95 course, gives you the basics on such issues. I would recommend anyone
living on a boat to do an STCW95 course. My experience at the West Indies
Maritime School (?) was excellent: the staff was always helpful and
encouraging, the atmosphere very pleasant and last but not least, the
teaching of great quality!*
Monica JAKOTS
St Barthélemy Cedex

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May 18, 2007

ciao
je voulais vous saluer encore une fois. arret ici a st barth mais depart demain.
encore merci pour tout.
bonne continuation.
elise
Gin Tonic

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April 28, 2007
 

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Dear mswi

Many thanks for providing outstanding courses! the content was excellent 
and the instructors were first rate, very knowledgeable and very willing to 
provide additional help when needed. 
i was extremely impressed with Veerle's attention to detail and her willingness to go above and beyond for 
her students. i definitely leared a lot! and will recommend the courses 
to anyone considering a career in the maritime industry and will look 
forward to my ocean course in the upcoming year. many thanks again and hope 
to see you at future courses in the islands!

jonathan couture
yachtmaster offshore 2006

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Dear Veerle,

I had an excellent time at the MSWI. 
The courses were excellent and the team of instructors very pro and efficient.
My new diploma in the pocket I had the chance to be hired as captain on Parsifal II, 
120ft sloop joining a crew of 5 for a transatlantique crossing. 
After a beautifull journey, we stopped in La Ciotat for one month maintenance and prepared the boat 
for the charter season in Med. The season is almost over by now and I'm looking forward to coming 
back to the Caribbean.

All the best to the MSWI team

Olivier 

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Hi Veerle
I completed the STCW 95 course with MSWI in order to work on a 230 foot Motor Yacht,
which i am currenly doing now. As a basic course the training was very good. 
Not only did i need to have the certificates to get the job but was also able to understand
what the captain was talking about when he mentioned muster lists, fire fighting equipment 
and all the rest.

Regards
Greg Joseph

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Hello you guys, its me Randy and boy did I find your course way more difficult and way
more enlightening than the USCG course I took for my US liscence. 
Though the international yacht masters is difficult I learned heaps and thanks to 
Capt. Lou Hoffman for his exceptional instruction. 
All the best to you and your staff and will continue to upgrade with you as well as tell
everyone I know how worthwhile I found the course. 

Regards, Capt. D. Randy West, St. Barth 

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Hello Jan and Veerle,

Thank you for the course, i had a great time with all the teachers and
you of course.
Everyone was so friendly, that make you very comfortable to asked
questions ... I learned a lot and enjoy every moment there and laugh
when i see the pictures or remember all the funny time there ...

Thank you again and hope to see you soon again

Sarah

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Hi Jan and Veerle

Thank you so much for everything you have done for me, you were one of the few people in my life 

who gave me the motivation I needed to get out into the real world and 'Just do it'.

The courses were put together in a professional manner and the instructors insured the 

maximum benefit from all materials available. As you know I grew up on a sail boat and 

to tell you that the thought of joining the STCW'95 course with a group of strangers scared 

me would be putting it lightly.

By the end of the course I had not only learnt more than I ever thought imaginable but I 

also left with the confidence that I was lacking, not to mention lots of new friends.

I am now on a boat and I will be going across the Atlantic this year for a season in the 
Mediterranean.

Once the season is over I will try and get back to St Maarten and do my Yacht Master, why not?
You made me believe anything's possible.

See you next season, get the text books ready!!!

Liz Brasler

 

Dear Veerle

First of all everything went fine, all the participants came back on board to
the yachts happy for what they have learned. The response and feedback is
very good. So with regards to the invoice there is no problem ,we split the
cost between the two vessels and make a PO from the one received with the
adjustments.

Please find attached the comments from the observer at the course yesterday
by our Safety Officer Vincent Wally R. Alvarado.
I think this will give you and all your colleagues at the School a nice day
at the office. 
Thank you for all your support and effort to have this training accomplished according to our requests.
We will take contact for next training when needed.

We are looking forward to work with you again. 
Have a nice weekend in beautiful St.Maarten

Best Regards

Terje Willassen
Chief Officer, Seadream 2
* CONCLUSION 
Course MSWI:
* The Instructors have a wide knowledge on the Subject . 


Every subject matter is well presented . 

Instructions were brought out clearly  
and easy to understand. 

Tools and Equipments needed are ready and handy. 

Well 
organized and prepared. 

The training  was very well planned and the crew had 
benefited  much on the training. 

Crew trained are now more confident and  can 
react correctly when such incidents arise.     
Reported by: Vincent Wally R. Alvarado Safety Officer, SeaDream  2





  Veerle,

   

    Shelly and I have just returned home after our 
  wonderful week of sailing with the Maritime School of the West Indies.  The 
  program that your organization ran was truly outstanding.  Six willing, but 
  totally inexperienced, people came together for one week and left with a solid 
  basis of understanding in the dynamics of sailing.  


   

    By the end of our training each of us felt 
  comfortable, in not just executing the tasks of a crew member, but with 
  actually sailing a 40 foot plus vessel under full sail.  We not only became 
  conversant with all of the parts of boat but with how they operated.  We 
  learned the language of sailing, something that appeared totally daunting at 
  first.  We were introduced to the skills of navigation, the rules of the sea, 
  and most importantly how to sail in a safe and responsible manner.  

   

    The key to our positive learning experience 
  was largely the result of the skill, experience, knowledge and patience of 
  your instructor.  I can't say enough about how he instructed each us with 
  considerate understanding.  He brought us along at our own speed so that no 
  one ever felt intimidated or overwhelmed.  


   

    Captain Lou Hoffman is without a doubt one of 
  the finest instructors that I have encountered.  After spending 26 years in 
  the military I have seen many instructors and can attest that he stands in a 
  class that is head and shoulders above the norm.  His ability to impart he 
  vast experience and knowledge encouraged all of us to want to learn even more.

   

    Shelly and I were so pleased with our experience 
  we intend to continue on for more advanced training so that someday we will 
  feel comfortable sailing unsupervised.    I can't imagine a better way to 
  spend a week of my life than mastering the skills of sailing in the beautiful 
  surroundings of St. Maarten.

   

  Dave & Shelly Tippett

	
	

	
Hello, and happy new year!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm Marielou Pichon, I took your class 2 years ago, I
had a very good time..............I'm still working on
76 feeth sail sloop boat, from 7 years now, we are 2
member of crew with the captain permanent and we are
looking for the third personn as an hotess (male or
female) for a coming charter on the 3rd february to
the 10 february departure in SXM, it will be paid in $
on the base of 2000 $ per month...the cellular of the
captain  VINCENT is xxxxxxxxxxx, we are french and the
guests will be americains

Thanks for your help if you know anyone that is free
to work

Best regards
mlou