SILVER

  SAIL

YACHT   SURVEYORS

Background

Chris Nicolle: Yacht Surveyor and Consultant. 

B.Sc. (Hons) Marine Science, Associate Member Royal Institute Naval Architects (AMRINA), Affiliate Member Yacht Design and Surveyors Association, Commercially Endorsed RYA Advanced Powerboat Certificate.

Chris was brought up in Bryher on the Isles of Scilly, a small remote archipelago in the Atlantic, off the tip of Cornwall and familiar to many South Coast summer sailors.

From a very tender age, he was entrusted with both power and sailing boats – sailing, fishing and commuting between the islands. This made for a very hands-on understanding of boats and the importance of caution and safety at sea.  Chris also worked on commercial dive boats (searching for bullion on the wrecks that litter Scilly) and in local boatyards.

Chris’ love for the sea led him to a degree in Marine Sciences at the University of Southampton. He continued in research at National Oceanographic Centre.

Chris then moved from research to yacht surveying.  He first undertook ‘shadow work’ under the watchful eye of senior YDSA surveyors, before joining John Winterbotham and Partners, who have a world wide reputation in luxury Super and Mega Yachts. 

With John Winterbotham, he worked on vessels all over the world. These included power and sail, with timber, high-tech composite and metal construction.  These vessels were between 30 - 140m long.  The work included pre-purchase surveys, structural condition surveys, new build technical supervision, supervision of repairs, valuations, plan approvals, new build specification review/production, pre-delivery inspections, sea trials and working on ‘expert witness’ legal cases.  Chris is very aware of the regulatory framework for operating such vessels.

He has also surveyed large classic timber boats, smaller yachts, RIBs and day-sailers.  He is familiar with the sometimes neglected safety and construction requirements of the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD) and has developed specific expertise in this area.

SILVER SAIL YACHT SURVEYORS