Chieftain Crew

DOUG INNES (Principal)

With over 40 years at sea, Doug Innes brings a depth and breadth of maritime experience that sets the professional standard at Chieftain Training. He has been an RYA Instructor for more than three decades, a powerboat owner for over 20 years, and has served almost continuously as Chief Instructor or Principal at RYA and STCW training centres since 2000. He previously worked at SWAC in the 1990s.

Doug was one of the UK’s first holders of the MCA Master 200 Certificate of Competence. Since the 1990s, he has skippered race yachts at the highest level, securing victories in major offshore and international events including the RORC Series, Round Britain & Ireland, Cowes–Cascais, and Antigua Sailing Week.

Alongside his senior management responsibilities, Doug remains firmly hands-on. He personally delivers many of Chieftain Training’s RYA and IMO instructor training courses, ensuring that instructional standards, teaching methodology, and safety culture are consistently applied across all centres.

• BA (Hons). Maritime Leisure Management
• MCA Master 200 & OOW 500
• MCA GMDSS Examiner (GOC, ROC, LRC)
• RYA Advanced Powerboat Trainer
• RYA PWC Trainer
• RYA Dinghy, Keelboat & Multi-hull Trainer
• RYA First Aid Trainer
• RYA SRC Trainer
• RYA Navigation Trainer
• RYA Radar Trainer
• RYA Diesel Engine Trainer
• RYA Teaching in Classroom Trainer
• RYA Yachtmaster Instructor (motor, sail, offshore & ocean)
• RYA Sea Survival, Offshore Safety & STCW Instructor
• RYA Sail Foiling & Windsurfing Instructor
• MT Rock Climbing Instructor (SPA)
• PADI Dive Master

BECKY INNES (Accounts Director)

Becky is the organisational heartbeat of Chieftain Training, keeping the team aligned, focused, and operating smoothly across multiple sites. Since 2007, she has held senior leadership roles at three RYA Training Centres and previously worked within the RYA’s racing and dispatch departments, giving her a rare combination of operational, regulatory, and practical insight.

Beyond training centres, Becky has contributed her expertise to the SB20 Class Association and a major Solent yacht club, supporting the administration and coordination that underpin successful sailing programmes and events.

A seasoned sailor and scuba diver, Becky has raced in events including RORC and Cowes Week, and cruised extensively—from UK waters to the Caribbean and the Eastern Mediterranean. Her diving adventures range from Egypt to Mexico, and she remains ever-ready for the next journey, afloat or below the surface.

• RYA Day Skipper Shorebased
• RYA Day Skipper Sail
• RYA Dinghy Level 1 & 2
• RYA SRC
• RYA Sea Survival
• PADI Advanced Open Water
• HSE First Aid at Work

C–ALLUM V–AUGHAN (Marketing Coordinator  & Course Advisor – Hamble)

Callum joined Chieftain Training in early 2022 and quickly became an essential part of the organisation. With a background in IT, networking, and media design, he is responsible for managing our technical systems, digital record-keeping, and plays a key role in handling customer enquiries across the business.

Calm, methodical, and highly detail-oriented, Callum ensures that the digital and administrative backbone of Chieftain Training runs smoothly—supporting instructors, management, and customers alike, often behind the scenes but always critically important to day-to-day operations..

• BSc (Hons) Computing
• MSc Music Technology
• Diploma in Creative Media
• STCW & HSE First Aid
• RYA Powerboat Level 2

ALAN RACKETT (Senior Instructor- Hamble)

• MCA GMDSS Examiner (GOC, ROC, LRC)
• RYA Motor Cruising Instructor
• RYA Powerboat Advanced Instructor
• RYA SRC Assessor
• RYA First Aid Instructor
• RYA Radar Instructor
• RYA Diesel Instructor
• RYA/MCA Advanced Powerboat COC
• RYA /MCA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC [Power]
• IMO Training Course For Instructors
• IHCD First Person on Scene
• Level 3 Ambulance & Emergency Care

KAI WILSON (Senior Instructor – SWAC, Southampton)

Kai began his journey into watersports through kayaking, where he quickly developed a love for being on the water. A turning point came when his Scout Leader introduced the group to sailing – something Kai was initially reluctant to try.

• RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor
• RYA Powerboat Instructor
• RYA Safety-boat Instructor
• RYA Keelboat Instructor
• BCAB Paddlesports Instructor
• Level 3 Outdoor First Aid
• HSE First aid at Work

EMILY ASHWORTH (Admin & Course Advisor – Hamble)

Emily joined Chieftain Training in 2025 as an Apprentice Business Administrator. From the outset, her excellent organisational skills and positive attitude have had a transformative impact on the office, and she approaches every task with enthusiasm and attention to detail—no job is ever too big or too small.

Alongside her apprenticeship, Emily is currently undertaking an online digital marketing course, helping to strengthen our online presence and communications. Born locally, she brings strong local knowledge to the role and, prior to joining Chieftain Training, gained valuable experience working in both retail and leisure environments. Her broad skill set and commitment to learning make her a valued and growing member of the Chieftain team.

• RYA First Aid
• STCW Elementary First Aid

KERRY LOGAN  (Quality Assurance Coordinator – Hamble)

Kerry began her career in manufacturing, where she helped introduce lean manufacturing and Six Sigma principles, standardised processes, and supported ISO compliance. She also played a key role in preparing data for the introduction of a new computer system, coordinated recruitment agencies for production staff, and monitored staff training.

Highly detail-oriented, Kerry enjoys recording, optimising, and standardising processes. At Chieftain Training, she leads on MCA and STCW compliance and record-keeping. Outside of work, she has volunteered with a charity making regular check-in calls to vulnerable adults and enjoys walking, particularly along coastal paths, cliffs, and forest trails.

• RYA First Aid
• STCW Elementary First Aid
• RYA Powerboat Level 2
• STCW HELM O

ALEX KISSACK (Instructor – Southampton)

Alex is a passionate multi-activity instructor who strongly believes that outdoor sports should be as accessible as possible. Having gained confidence through outdoor learning and teaching, Alex is driven by helping others have fun while developing their own skills and confidence.

She entered the outdoor education industry with no fixed expectations but quickly founder her stride and has never looked back. Her experience includes everything from cliff jumping along the rugged Irish Sea coastline to horseback trekking and guiding in New Zealand’s Cardrona Valley. These varied adventures have developed a strong sense of safety and risk management, underpinned by a desire to build a long-term career in the outdoor industry. After a brief stint at our Hamble centre she is now based at SWAC (Chieftain Southampton) .

• RYA Dinghy Instructor
• RYA Powerboat Instructor
• RYA Advanced Powerboat
• RYA Yachtmaster Shorebased
• Paddlesport UK Paddle Leader
• CT Outdoor First Aid

CLAIRE GASKIN (Senior Instructor- Scotland)

Claire went to sea in 1993, beginning her career as a deckhand in the North Sea before joining P&O Cruises as a cadet. Working her way up in what was then a male-dominated industry, she spent 15 years with P&O Cruises, serving as Chief Officer on both Arcadia and Oceana.

In 2003, Claire achieved the highest professional qualification at sea, becoming an MCA Master Mariner (Unlimited). She later chose to come ashore to focus on family life and transitioned into the marine training sector full time, where her operational experience and regulatory knowledge quickly set her apart.

Since leaving sea-going service, Claire has worked at several marine training centres and went on to become Chief Examiner at AMERC. In that national role, she oversaw all GMDSS training centre approvals and GMDSS examinations across the UK on behalf of the MCA, placing her at the very centre of maritime communications standards and compliance.

Today, Claire delivers all of Chieftain Training Scotland’s GMDSS courses at our training centre in Helensburgh, bringing exceptional depth of knowledge, calm authority, and unrivalled examination insight to every course she teaches.

• STCW Master Mariner (unlimited)
• MCA GMDSS Examiner
• STCW Proficiency in Medical Care
• Lead External Auditor 9001:2015
• Nautical Institute Navigation Assessor
• Level 3 Award in Education and Training

YVONNE TAYLOR (Senior Medical Instructor)

After 15 years in senior management roles, Yvonne joined the British Steel Challenge in 1992, racing around the world “the wrong way.” Following her return, she retrained as an Emergency Medical Technician with Haven Ambulance Service and qualified as a Yachtmaster Instructor with Southern Sailing—where she met Doug.

Outside the classroom, Yvonne was a competitive sailor, regularly participating in the double-handed offshore series. In 1996, she embarked on her second circumnavigation, this time as crew trainer and navigator aboard Norwich Union in the BT Global Challenge.

Around the same time, Yvonne and her husband Keith established KTY Yachts, a training centre that quickly built a strong reputation for high-quality instruction in Sea Survival, Ocean Yachtmaster Shorebased, and Advanced Medical Training—including the Ship’s Captain’s Medical Course (now STCW Proficiency in Medical Care).

Yvonne has been a long-standing relief skipper with the Ocean Youth Trust and continues to volunteer at Warsash Sailing Club. In recognition of her contributions to navigation, she was awarded a Fellowship of the Royal Institute of Navigation in 2019.

Yvonne now co owns Haven Ambulance with us and leads our advanced medical training courses.

• MCA Yachtmaster Ocean CoC
• RYA Yachtmaster Instructor Sail
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean Shorebased Instructor
• RYA SRC Assessor
• RYA First Aid Instructor
• RYA Radar Instructor
• RYA Sea Survival Instructor
• World Sailing Offshore Safety Instructor
• Fellow of Royal Navigation Institute
• Emergency Medical Technician
• O2 & Entonox Instructor
• FAW Instructor
• Graduate Ambulance Service Institute
• BA (Hons) Education & Training
• Certificate in Education

MARQUIS NEWELL (Powerboat/Dinghy Instructor & Digital Marketing Guru)

Marquis began sailing on the Thames at the age of eight and later studied Maritime Studies at the London Nautical School. After completing sixth form, he trained with Chieftain Training, earning qualifications as a Keelboat Instructor, Powerboat Instructor, Yachtmaster Offshore (Power) and Advanced Powerboat Instructor.

He now teaches powerboating, dinghy sailing, keelboating  and skippers a variety of commercial vessels. In addition to his instructional and operational roles, Marquis supports our digital marketing efforts and was instrumental in launching our London Centre.

• RYA Powerboat Advanced Instructor
• RYA Keelboat Instructor
• RYA Dinghy Instructor
• MCA Yachtmaster Offshore COC (Power)
• London Nautical School Maritime Studies

BRIAN CLOUGH (Instructor/Assessor- Hamble & Southampton)

Brian has been around boats for more years than he cares to remember. He has sailed most of the waters around the UK, with numerous cross channel trips and transited the great lakes NW to SE. As an avid Scuba Diver, he has been around RIBs for 50 years and has dived The Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans. He enjoyed  a 38-year career with the MOD as an electronics engineer and is now 28 years into a second career as a Powerboat Instructor & SRC Assessor. He previously owned and ran his own RYA & BSAC training centre, until the premises were re purposed. He then freelanced at SWAC for a few years and has been involved with Chieftain Training since the day is was founded.

• RYA Powerboat Advanced Instructor
• RYA Safety-boat Instructor
• RYA SRC Assessor
• MCA GMDSS Instructor (ROC)
• RYA Advanced Powerboat COC
• BSAC Boat Handling Instructor
• BSAC Diver Coxswain Assessor
• BSAC Oxygen Administrator
• GMDSS GOC

MATT BLAND (Senior Ship’s Security Instructor – Hamble)

Matt began dinghy sailing at a young age. He later moved to the coast to study and continued into offshore racing and tall ships. About 20 years ago he enrolled on Doug’s Cruising Instructor Course and entered the world of RYA Training. His main job was; Master Unlimited (Merchant Navy) and  following a 17-year seagoing career he accepted a shore based position with a local shipping company. After a stint of managing marine compliance and safety he has returned to marine training full time.

• STCW Master (Unlimited)
• Nautical Institute Marine Incident Investigator
• Nautical Institute Navigation Assessor
• STCW Ship Security Officer
• STCW Company Security Officer
• Designated Person Ashore
• IMO Train the Trainer
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean CoC
• RYA Navigation Instructor
• RYA Radar Instructor
• RYA SRC Assessor
• MCA GMDSS Instructor (GOC, ROC)

NIGEL RENNIE (Senior Ocean Navigation Instructor – Hamble, London)

Nigel had a distinguished 26-year career in the British Army, serving as a Sergeant Major in the Royal Engineers (REME). During that time he became a RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and when he stepped onto “civvie street” he became a full time professional yacht’sman. He is a well known and long standing Yachtmaster Examiner and he has volunteered for many years at his local sailing club where he was recently the Commodore. He is the Race Officer for the Warsash Spring Series, one of the biggest yacht race series in the UK and he teaches the majority of our Ocean and astro courses as well as helping with the World Sailing Offshore Survival courses.

• RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Examiner
• RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Instructor
• World Sailing Offshore Survival Instructor
• RYA Race Officer

CARL BRYAN-BROWN (Senior Electrics Instructor – Hamble, London)

Carl is our Lead 12 Volt Instructor and teaches across several other disciplines (survival, first aid and navigation). He has sailed through blue water paradises, hurricanes and pirate attacks and skippered everything from an Optimist dinghy to a 80′ Maxi yacht, He has completed a circumnavigation and lost count of the the Trans Ocean crossings, (inc. a solo TransAt). He has raced Sydney Hobart, Fastnet, ARC, Round Britain and placed 2nd in the Round the Island Race. He became a Yachtmaster Instructor in 1996 and around the same time managed and skippered Creighton’s Naturally (world famous 80′ Whitbread Round the World Yacht). He has logged over 300,000 miles and has managed and re wired dozens of yachts and workboats from 35-80 feet. He works offshore on rotation so has three weeks with us, then three weeks on the wind farm and so on. In between skippering he trained and worked for some time as an A level Physics teacher.Quote, “I have life long interest in team building and personal development. I encourage students to sail, not just for recreation but for transformation.”

• MCA Master 200 & OOW 500
• RYA Ocean Yachtmaster Instructor (power & sail)
• RYA Powerboat Instructor
• RYA First Aid Instructor
• HSE First Aid Instructor
• STCW First Aid and Survival Instructor
• RYA Yachtmaster Ocean CoC (power & sail)
• Degree in Applied Physics
• A-Level Physics Teacher
• A-Level Physics Examiner
• Round the World Skipper

PETE HARRISON (Senior Powerboat Instructor – Southampton)

Like most of us, Pete has been around boats all of his life. As a teenager he windsurfed and raced Lasers before finding his way onto Tall-ships with The Ocean Youth Club (now Ocean Youth Trust). In his 20s he worked in the Med. initially as a water sports instructor, and then managing water-sports beach clubs. He moved from water sports to flotilla and became a Med. yacht skipper. Eventually he retuned to the UK and got back into dinghy and keelboat racing (with National level wins in the Laser 2, Laser 4000 and SB3 classes).

In the 90s Pete and Doug worked together at SWAC,  coaching the Hampshire youth squad and teaching power-boating. Since then Pete has logged many miles of keelboat racing, Fastnet racing, performance coaching and powerboat instruction. These days, when not teaching our RYA Powerboat or Navigation courses, he can be found pottering on his Hardy (motor boat) around Chichester Harbour, or racing his Hadron dinghy.

• RYA Motor Cruising Instructor
• RYA Powerboat Advanced Instructor
• RYA Navigation Instructor
• RYA SRC Assessor
• RYA Senior Dinghy Instructor
• RYA Safetyboat Instructor
• RYA Racing Coach
• RYA/MCA Yachtmaster Offshore CoC (Power & Sail)
• RYA /MCA Advanced Powerboat CoC

INDIA & JULIET (Chief Scroungers)

India and Juliet are often the first to greet you at our Hamble and Southampton centres. Having sat in on many courses, they’ve mastered everything from using a sextant to life raft procedures They have cruised the south coast as far as the Scillies and can navigate their way too many Solent watering holes. You’ll often spot them in the Hamble office, making sure everything runs smoothly! Despite what you may think they are telling you they really don’t want to be fed.