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THE
PRINCIPALS
PYT
can boast some of the highest seafaring qualifications and significant tertiary
qualifications, a rarity anywhere in the world. So we can literally say that we
know the ropes and humbly claim that you won't get better training anywhere in
the world.
At
PYT, students will find rare levels of maturity, high standards and depth of knowledge.
This is a highly professional academy and successful graduates of PYT can expect
doors in the industry to open.
The
two partners owning the academy are Colin Schwegman and Keith Stewart
Colin
is focussed on the academic side and is the academic principal of the Academy.
He runs the Yachtmaster and Officer of the Watch and is in charge overall of the
training. He combines a wealth of academic and technical sailing experience.
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»Colin
Schwegman
"Colin
is focussed on the academic side and is the principal
of the Academy. He is in charge overall of the
training. He combines a wealth of academic and
technical sailing experience.
Colin
was headmaster of a Senior Primary School (near
Durban) and has sailed in many parts of the world,
with two Atlantic crossings amongst many other
voyages to his credit. He started sailing dinghies
as a six year old and progressed to ocean going
yachts over a career spanning 40 years. |
He
enjoys teaching and, to quote past students, "imparts
knowledge efficiently", and has a reputation for
"making sense of the things that others make complicated."
His
NTSD Teaching Diploma, MCA Yachtmaster Instructor qualification
(earned at Fort Lauderdale), an unnerving frankness
and honesty and the wisdom of age keeps the academy's
instructors on their toes and will help prepare you
for a career in the megayacht industry.
 |
»Keith
Stewart
Keith
compliments Colin by focusing on the business
side and brings considerable administrative,
management and strategic skills earned over
many years in the tough construction world and
backed up by a BSC Civil Engineering degree.
|
An
ex captain of industry, Keith took early retirement
from his position as CEO of the biggest construction
consortium in SA, CMGM, to go cruising for five
years, mainly in the Indian Ocean Islands. It
was during this time that Colin lured him back
to terra firma.
Keith doesn't suffer fools gladly but will sit
down patiently one-on-one with a struggling
student to help them get through.
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TRAINING
INSTRUCTORS AND TEAM
All
our senior staff are experienced yachtsmen and have between them hundreds of thousands
of sea miles. There's no substitute for experience, whether it's at sea or in
the global megayacht industry, and PYT is proud to offer instructors of the highest
calibre to be found at any academy in the world.
 |
»Mike
Stewart
(no relation to Keith Stewart)
PYT
is privileged to have someone so experienced and qualified at the highest merchant
shipping and tertiary education levels.
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Mike
has come through the ranks as a commercial mariner, and undertook his first voyage
to sea at 16. Progressing through the ranks under the red ensign, Mike is one
of the few people qualified to the level of Extra Master Mariner and has visited
many seas, harbours and canals while sailing around the world a few times, along
the way witnessing technology advance from the humble sextant to GPS and ARPA
plotting.
Mike also holds a University Education Diploma
and has many years experience as a lecturer and
Head of the Department of Maritime Studies at
the former Natal Technikon, now the Durban University
of Technology. He joined PYT after taking early
retirement as Dean of the faculty of Engineering
at that institution to add to PYT's maritime academic
resource. He runs the Officer of the Watch and
Master training programme, but still plays a role
in the Society of Master Mariner's SA, and operates
a consultancy specialising in vessel stability.
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»Neil
Schwegman
Neil
is PYT's Zero to Hero specialist, and a sailor
that will give you as much wisdom as is possible
within the limitations of a course.
While preparing for a recent trip, a crew's mother
asked "Are you going to look after my daughter?"
to which Neil replied: "No. I'm going to
look after myself, so if she stays next to me
she'll be fine". |
Neil
cruised the Indian Ocean islands for a couple
of years but is most well known for his reputation
as the best delivery skipper in South Africa.
The boats are always delivered in better condition
than when they leave, earning this seaman the
highest respect of his peers. It is told that
he had to deliver a boat to Ft Lauderdale for
the boat show and poor weather delayed the voyage,
eating into the preparation days. An understandably
anxious owner was more than pleasantly surprised
to find that his yacht only needed 3 hours to
be presentable for the show, it being spic and
span despite the rigours of a 40 day voyage.
PYT
is often requested to do deliveries, unfortunately
these requests have to take a back seat because
the focus is now on the academy.
Neil
is an ex local government senior municipal official,
reaching the position of deputy town clerk (these
days called municipal manager) of Amanzimtoti,
a large town south of Durban.
|
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»Allan
Parkinson
Allan
served for 21 years at sea on many different vessels
of varying sizes from tugs to container ships.
He qualified as a Master Unlimited.
Allan
qualified as a Marine Consultant, which he obtained
from the London Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers.
He spent 14 years at the Durban University of
Technology and for 10 of those years he was HOD. |
Alan
delivers his lectures in a breezey humorous style.
This style provides an environment of continuous
alertness for his students throughout all of his
lectures. He is a published author in the Bible/Science
field. |
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»John
Burn
John is a qualified City and Guilds motor mechanic. He imparts his knowledge during his presentation of the Approved Engine Course in a professional and clear to understand manner. John spends most of his time working on the engineering aspect of boats when he is not lecturing. |
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»Merle
Stewart
Merle
is the instructor for Medical First Aid and hostess
training, and like all PYT's other instructors,
she comes well qualified and experienced. She
has a medical background as a registered nursing
sister and surgery theatre assistant in a medical
centre, working part time at the Kingsway Hospital
and Bluff Clinic. She holds a "Medical Care
on Board Ships" qualification. |
Merle's
sailing background includes five years with husband
Keith sailing the Med and Indian Ocean Islands
and doing the Ft Lauderdale American Yacht Institute
stewardess course.
|
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»Allen
Bruning
Allen is the PYT Office Manager. He played
a major role in the implementation and entrenchment
of our Quality Management System; SANS ISO 9001:2008.
He has had many years of quality management experience.
Allen holds an Institute of Marketing Management
Diploma. |
 |
»Liezelle
De Marcy Pugin's
Liezelle
is Keiths secretary, And general "office
Executive". She assists where required
in all disciplines at PYT as and when required.
Liezelle holds a fire fighting qualification.
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»Ronelle du Plessis
Ronelle is our Operations Manager. She has a well established SA Naval background in the telecommunications field.
Ronelle is responsible for all aspects of course management, course record keeping, lectures and course scheduling. She manages candidate records, information assessments, accommodation arrangements as well as certificate preperation, certificate issuing and lectures students in their first aid courses. |
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»Terry Allan
Terry is the epitome of a fine lecturer. His delivery style makes him popular with his studens. He promotes an air of concentration and alertness with them during his course presentation. Terry is qualified to deliver the Ribmaster; Yacht Hand; Yachmaster Limited, PSSR and Sea Survival courses. |
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»Nic Booth
Nic has recently joined PYT as a lecturer. He previously lectured at our academy and is a past student where he studied and passed various maritime courses. Nic is a conscientious lecturer who endeavours to deliver his courses in a meaningful and interesting manner. He is qualified to deliver the Ribmaster; Yacht Hand; Yachtmaster Limited, PSSR and Sea Survival courses.
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Proud
to be an
SA World Class Academy
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Welcome
to Professional Yachtmaster Training (PYT)
in Durban, South Africa - one of the world's
leading megayacht academies and the only
one in the Southern Hemisphere directly recognized
by the MCA. PYT provides MCA recognized
courses from beginner up to Master level,
and our graduates are in demand worldwide.
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