A MAN has travelled from the Indian Ocean to Lyme Regis to discover how to repair his damaged boat.

George Thomas spent last week at the Lyme Regis Boat Building Academy (BBA) at Monmouth Beach to learn how to fix his yacht after it was damaged on rocks in Mauritius.

George has learnt skills in using fibre glass at the BBA, which he hopes to take back to Mauritius.

He has been guided through the skills and processes he will need by instructors Craig Pinder and Steve Petford.

"I bought an old yacht that was damaged in high tide on rocks," said George. "I bought it very cheaply and it needs repaired.

"Since I did not know anything about fibre glass, I looked on the internet and finally found the BBA.

"I wanted my daughter to come along with me, but unfortunately she wasn't free during this period. She would have loved doing such practical and manual things.

"I used to be very manual but I have hardly done anything practical in the last ten or 15 years. So I have been returning to the old times really."

The Lyme Regis BBA offers very popular short courses, which people travel from all over the world to complete.

George found that using fibre glass is very difficult, but hopes to take the skills he has learnt back to the Indian Ocean.

"It's exactly what I was looking for and I have got it," he said.

"Unfortunately I have now learnt that fibre glass is more difficult than I thought and I realise that repairing my boat needs much more skill.

"Everyone here has been very helpful and welcoming and I am very grateful for all the help."

Principal of the Lyme Regis BBA, Yvonne Green, is hoping staff can visit George in Mauritius to see how he is getting on with his project.

"We are considering a staff outing to Mauritius," she said.

"It has been great working with him. He's a lovely person to have around.

"We hope to see him again, but in Mauritius next time."

Places are already being snapped up for the BBA's 2016 short courses, with places on offer earlier than anticipated, due to popular demand.

"We have had people from all over the world here, because there are not many places where you can do short course," added Yvonne.

"We get all sorts of people here for all sorts of reasons. We've just had out busiest short course program. We've published our 2016 programme early and we've already got bookings."

For more information on short courses, please call 01297 445545 or visit boatbuildingacademy.com