A1 SAILING LTD
💤Zombieactive
04519667 · ltd · incorporated 2002-08-27
Investment thesis
Zombie company — trading but stalled; unlikely mover.
Why interesting: Quiet, steady; could be a succession or carve-out candidate with the right conversation.
Why risky: No growth signal; thin margin for error on price.
🔒Estimated value
—
Upgrade to see
Turnover
—
year to Aug 2025
Net worth
—
book net assets
Opportunity
78/100
Strong
What this business does
Based in Essex, this small active company most likely provides sailing lessons, boat hire, or related water sports services, operating as a micro-entity suggesting modest revenues consistent with a small independent sailing school or recreational sailing activity provider.
Primary activity: Other sports activities
Sector: Arts, entertainment & recreation
Investor take
PursueStrong opportunity: active trading company with strong profile and bankable structure.
Opportunity 78/100 (strong), bankability 75/100. High owner-dependency — earn-out structure likely required for clean transition. Share purchase looks the cleaner deal structure. Biggest value-creation lever: Broaden director team. Sole director creates succession risk and reduces buyer comfort. Appoint a second director or strong #2. Most likely exit: share sale to pe / searcher (73/100).
Data confidence
Overall: medium (76/100)Adequate coverage. AI outputs are reliable for the sections scored high; verify the rest in diligence.
Company profile
address, 1 SIC codes, incorporation date
100
Financials
2 years of iXBRL accounts extracted (YoY deltas available) + narrative notes parsed
75
Lenders & charges
Confirmed no charges registered
85
Directors & officers
9 officers (1 active, 9 linked, 6 with DOB)
83
Ownership & PSC
1 active PSC(s) of 3 total, 3 with control declared
90
Director network
Network not yet resolved
30
Filing history
77 filings on record
85
Gazette notices
No matching gazette notices (standard for active companies)
60
Opportunity Score
78/100Strong
PassWatchWorth a lookStrongExceptional
Solid opportunity signal. Worth a dedicated memo and management meeting.
Business quality
70
Active, clean filings, stable charge profile.
Acquirability
70
Strong succession / seller-readiness signals.
Risk profile
85
Few red flags.
Signal strength
90
Good data coverage for analysis.
Key financials
2 years extracted from filed iXBRL accountsCash
—
Net Worth
—
Current Assets
—
Current Liabilities
—
Hover to see exact values · click legend to toggle series
Financials
Extracted from Companies House accounts · accounting standard unknown| Metric | 2025-08-31 | 2024-08-31 |
|---|---|---|
| Total assets | — | £11.8k |
| Current assets | — | £14.5k |
| Net assets | — | £-224.2k |
| Average employees | 1 | — |
Amounts extracted automatically from iXBRL. Fields left blank were not reported or not mapped. Values in GBP unless stated.
🔒Filing-note intelligence
1 signal detected in this company's narrative notes — going-concern language, audit opinion, contingent liabilities, related-party transactions.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Recent activity
Last 30 days
0
filings
Last 90 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Last 180 days
1
filing
- • 1 accounts
Counts from Companies House filing history.
Corporate timeline (35 events)Click to expand
- 2026-04-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2025-03-27📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-10-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entityaccounts · AA
- 2023-02-07📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2022-08-18📄notification-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC01
- 2022-08-18📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-08-18📄cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC07
- 2022-07-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-07-21📄change-to-a-person-with-significant-controlpersons-with-significant-control · PSC04
- 2022-05-04📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2022-05-04📄appoint-person-director-company-with-name-dateofficers · AP01
- 2022-04-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2021-12-01➕WHYTE, Martin, Mr. appointeddirector
- 2021-12-01➖WHYTE, Kimberley resigneddirector
- 2020-10-12📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2019-11-05📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2018-10-23➖WHYTE, Rebecca resigneddirector
- 2018-10-23📄termination-director-company-with-name-termination-dateofficers · TM01
- 2018-10-23📄change-person-director-company-with-change-dateofficers · CH01
- 2018-10-22📄accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-fullaccounts · AA
- 2013-11-30➖WHYTE, Martin Richard resignedsecretary
- 2013-11-30➖SMITH, Sharon Angela resigneddirector
- 2013-11-30➕WHYTE, Kimberley appointeddirector
- 2013-11-30➖WHYTE, Martin Richard resigneddirector
- 2013-11-30➕WHYTE, Rebecca appointeddirector
- 2006-04-28➕SMITH, Sharon Angela appointeddirector
- 2006-02-21➖WHYTE, Nicola resigneddirector
- 2002-08-30➖FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2002-08-30➖FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD resignedcorporate-nominee-director
- 2002-08-27🏢Company incorporatedAs A1 SAILING LTD
- 2002-08-27➕WHYTE, Martin Richard appointedsecretary
- 2002-08-27➕FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-secretary
- 2002-08-27➕WHYTE, Martin Richard appointeddirector
- 2002-08-27➕WHYTE, Nicola appointeddirector
- 2002-08-27➕FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD appointedcorporate-nominee-director
Owner dependency
83/100
Critical — business is the founderThe business appears inseparable from the founder. Acquisition without a serious earn-out or meaningful transition period would likely destroy value.
FACTORS
- +Sole director: Only one active director — all governance concentrated on one person.
- +Senior director age: Director aged approximately 62 — approaching natural succession window.
Succession & seller-readiness
65/100
Strong succession signalMultiple signals suggest succession is on the horizon. Candidate for proactive outreach.
SIGNALS
- secondaryFounder aged 58+: Senior director is approximately 62. Early succession window.
- primarySole active director: Only one director in control. No visible successor — buyers solve the succession problem.
- secondaryStable-but-static management: Company is 24 years old and no new directors in the last 3 years — succession not yet being planned internally.
Red flags
cleanNo red flags detected from available public data. (This is not a clean bill of health — detailed accounts review still recommended.)
Shareholders & ownership
1 active beneficial owner · dominant holder ≥75%| Name | Shares | Voting rights | Nature of control | Notified |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Mr. Martin Whyte Individual · British · DOB 03/1964 · age 62 | 75–100% | 75–100% | board control75-100% shares · 75-100% voting · board control | 01/12/2021 |
2 historic (ceased) PSCs
- Miss Kimberley Whyteceased 01/12/2021· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control
- Miss Rebecca Whyteceased 01/12/2021· 25-50% shares · 25-50% voting · board control
From Companies House Persons with Significant Control filings. Share ranges are banded per the public PSC regime.
Similar companies
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 193 COLLECTIVE LTD→ 16018664 · est 2024 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 1y | — | — |
| 2 PERCENT SPORTS GROUP LTD→ 12812435 · est 2020 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| 2AIM4 LIMITED→ 08420709 · est 2013 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 13y | — | — |
| 2DIVE4 TOURS LIMITED→ 05368893 · est 2005 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 21y | — | — |
| 33 ENTERTAINMENT GROUP LONDON LTD→ 10438707 · est 2016 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 9y | — | — |
| 3D PIVOT LIMITED→ 08970470 · est 2014 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 12y | — | — |
| 5 ELEMENTS COMBAT ACADEMY LIMITED→ 13806746 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
| 5-A-SIDE PITCH HIRE LTD→ 14996253 · est 2023 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 2y | — | — |
| 7 GYMS LIMITED→ 10777776 · est 2017 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 8y | — | — |
| A1 ALLIANCE LIMITED→ 14256963 · est 2022 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 3y | — | — |
| AAB HOLIDAYS LIMITED→ 13173009 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 5y | — | — |
| ABFABFIT CLUB (BISHOPS STORTFORD) LIMITED→ 13539710 · est 2021 · no financials extracted | — | — | — | — | 4y | — | — |
Peers ranked by estimated value, then turnover, then opportunity score.See all →
🔒Tailored diligence questions
7 specific questions generated from this company's actual signals — liquidity, leverage, director age, charge count, red flags, age-of-company.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →🔒Advanced scoring suite
Exit-route ranking, improvement thesis, quiet-distress detector, covenant-pressure proxy, extraction monitor, approaching triggers, ownership drift, local cluster, value trap, debt capacity, archetype classification — 48+ scoring modules.
Available from the Pro tier upwards.
See pricing →Company details
Statusactive
Typeltd
Incorporated2002-08-27
Jurisdictionengland-wales
Primary SIC93199 — Other sports activities
Registered office
2 High Street
Burnham On Crouch
Essex
CM0 8AA
Filing status
Accounts
Next due: 2027-05-31
Last made up to: 2025-08-31
Confirmation statement
Next due: 2026-08-25
Last: 2025-08-11
Officers (1 active · 8 resigned)
WHYTE, Martin, Mr.→
Activedirector · ~62y · appointed 2021-12-01
View their other companies + combined net worth →
WHYTE, Martin Richard→
Resignedsecretary · appointed 2002-08-27 · resigned 2013-11-30
FORM 10 SECRETARIES FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-secretary · appointed 2002-08-27 · resigned 2002-08-30
SMITH, Sharon Angela→
Resigneddirector · ~61y · appointed 2006-04-28 · resigned 2013-11-30
WHYTE, Kimberley→
Resigneddirector · ~38y · appointed 2013-11-30 · resigned 2021-12-01
WHYTE, Martin Richard→
Resigneddirector · ~62y · appointed 2002-08-27 · resigned 2013-11-30
WHYTE, Nicola→
Resigneddirector · ~59y · appointed 2002-08-27 · resigned 2006-02-21
WHYTE, Rebecca→
Resigneddirector · ~36y · appointed 2013-11-30 · resigned 2018-10-23
FORM 10 DIRECTORS FD LTD→
Resignedcorporate-nominee-director · appointed 2002-08-27 · resigned 2002-08-30
Click a director name to see their full track record across all companies.
Recent filings (77 total)
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2026-04-27
confirmation-statement-with-no-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2025-08-15
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2025-03-27
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2024-08-13
accounts-with-accounts-type-micro-entity
accounts · AA
2023-10-05
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2023-08-11
accounts-with-accounts-type-total-exemption-full
accounts · AA
2023-02-07
confirmation-statement-with-updates
confirmation-statement · CS01
2022-08-18
notification-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC01
2022-08-18
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-08-18
cessation-of-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC07
2022-08-18
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-07-21
change-to-a-person-with-significant-control
persons-with-significant-control · PSC04
2022-07-21
termination-director-company-with-name-termination-date
officers · TM01
2022-05-04
appoint-person-director-company-with-name-date
officers · AP01
2022-05-04