Sam McClements, Principal
Sam’s obsession with the water began as a child sailing alongside her grandfather. Driven by a belief that the ocean offers the ultimate environment to challenge yourself and build true mental clarity, Sam leads Elite Sailing with a focus on high-quality, supportive instruction.
As a female leader in the maritime industry, Sam is fiercely passionate about inclusivity and breaking down traditional barriers. She understands that step-one to building a great sailor is ensuring everyone- regardless of background or experience – feels entirely safe, respected, and comfortable onboard. For Sam, “above and beyond” isn’t a catchphrase; it’s a commitment to tailoring every single passage to the unique needs and goals of the crew, helping individual sailors unlock their full potential and step up with total confidence.
Beyond teaching, Sam’s deep connection to the blue water drives her dedication to ocean conservation. As a proud Skipper Ambassador for the global charity Sailors for the Sea, she actively works to integrate sustainable, ocean-friendly practices into Elite Sailing’s operations, educating crews on how to protect the vital ecosystems they explore. Highly regarded for her calm, encouraging, and clear teaching style, Sam loves bringing people together, transforming groups of strangers into confident, unified teams ready to embrace the adventure.
Nicole Aguiar, Office Manager
Nicole joined Elite in March 2022 as our Office Manager.
Since arriving in the UK, Nicole’s working experience has been at Michelin-star restaurants, Luxury hotels, and a prestigious private membership club in London. Her passion for customer service has led her to gain further experience in the corporate world, working alongside worldwide Beer distribution centre and Marketing Research companies.
Although Nicole hasn’t grown much of her sea legs, she enjoys assisting our instructors whenever they need an extra set of hands. Having worked at Elite since 2022, Nicole has exceptional knowledge of the RYA Cruising Scheme and of the Elite Adventure Sailing Programmes. Nicole is usually the first point of contact for Elite Sailing customers, with her going above and beyond to meet needs and expectations, and giving a warm welcome to all.
Steve Hodges (“Hodge”), Chief Instructor
As Chief Instructor, Hodge is the driving force behind Elite Sailing’s training standards. His mission is simple: deliver complete consistency across our RYA courses, maintain peak professional standards, and support our team of instructors to ensure every single student receives an exceptional experience on the water.
Hodge’s maritime journey began in the mid-1990s at The London Nautical School. While building a successful career running a global IT business and playing club rugby, his passion for the sea never truly faded. In 2015, after relocating to Chatham, he threw himself back into the sport with Elite Sailing – completing every course and adventure voyage we had to offer, mastering the RYA curriculum up to Yachtmaster Ocean theory, and eventually qualifying as a highly experienced RYA Yachtmaster Instructor (YMI).
An occasional contributor to Practical Boat Owner (PBO) magazine, Hodge balances his time between corporate IT and leading the training here at Elite. When he’s not coaching students, he’s enjoying family life ashore with his partner Sam and her three children, or planning their next adventure aboard their own 40ft Beneteau.
