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Learn to sail
Choose a Learn to Sail holiday if you're a beginner or you want to brush up your sailing skills.
No previous sailing experience is necessary. Even if you're a complete novice you can enjoy a sailing holiday in the sunshine and "learn the ropes". We offer RYA courses through RYA Recognised Training centres in Gibraltar and Turkey, including Competent Crew, Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper, as well as flotilla courses in Greece for couples and families who want to learn to sail on flotilla.
“I’m a beginner and I want to get an RYA qualification”.
You could do an RYA Competent Crew course with a RYA Recognised Training centres in Gibraltar and Turkey. This course provides a general introduction to yacht cruising. A complete beginner will be shown how to tie knots, steer the yacht, handle the sails, moor anchor, basic navigation and how to be a welcome and useful crew member. Singles or couples willing to share a yacht with other students can share a yacht from Göcek or Gibraltar.
Couples and groups up to 5 students who do not want to share can have exclusive use of the yacht with an instructor in Göcek or Gibraltar. For RYA courses only a maximum of 5 people can be onboard, but not all 5 people onboard have to take part in the course. The course is not suitable for children under 12.
Suggested pre-course experience: None, suitable for complete novices and anyone wanting to get started in yachting.
“I’m a beginner and I would like to sail on a flotilla”.
Couples and families can add an instructor to their flotilla yacht for the 6-day flotilla course on the Ionian or Saronic flotilla. 
This course is designed to take students with little or no experience to the level that they can skipper a yacht within our flotilla under the guidance of our lead crew. This course will cover ropework, basic navigation skills, safety on board, sailing techniques, mooring and anchoring. Plan a second week sailing with the flotilla, practising your new skills, or return later in the season. Great for families to learn to sail together but remember the instructor will not look after young children and you will have to allocate a cabin for the instructor.
Suggested minimum pre-course experience: None, suitable for complete novices and anyone wanting to sail on flotilla.
“I have crewed on yachts" "I'm a keen dinghy sailor Level 3" "I'm a motoryacht skipper Level 2” “I have sailed before but a while ago”
Suggested minimum pre-course experience: Previous experience on dinghies, motoryachts or sailing yachts
"I want to get my RYA Skipper qualification”
To do your RYA Day Skipper practical course you will need at least 5 days crewing experience on sailing yachts and have either completed the Day Skipper shore-based course or have a good knowledge of basic navigation. We offer Day Skipper courses from RYA Recognised Training centres in Gibraltar and Turkey. This practical course gives you the chance to take charge on short passages under instruction with advice and help from the instructor. You'll also get plenty of chance to practice mooring up in many different situations. By the end of the course you should have enough experience to skipper a yacht in a safe and seamanlike manner on short daytime passages.
Singles or couples willing to share a yacht with other students can share a yacht in Göcek or Gibraltar. Couples and groups up to 5 students who do not want to share can have exclusive use of the yacht with an instructor in Göcek or Gibraltar. This course is not suitable for children and you must be over 16 to get RYA Day Skipper qualification. For RYA courses only a maximum of 5 students can be onboard, but some students can do the Competent Crew course (including children over 12) and some need not take part in any course.
Suggested minimum pre-course experience: 5 days onboard, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht. Basic navigation and sailing ability.
“I have just got my RYA Day Skipper practical qualification”
Congratulations! A flotilla is ideal for practising your new skills on your own yacht with the backup of the lead crew. The Ionian and Saronic flotillas suit less experienced skippers, especially if you’re taking the family along for the first time. You could add an instructor for the 3-day flotilla course if you want to get instruction on Mediterranean sailing and/or bring the rest of the family up to competent crew level.
Where can I learn to sail?
Ionian Flotilla from Palairos, Greece
3 and 6 day flotilla courses are available on the Ionian flotilla so you can learn new skills while sailing on flotilla. Click here for more information >>
Saronic Flotilla from Athens, Greece
3 and 6 day flotilla courses are also available on the Saronic flotilla. Click here for more information >>
Göcek, Turkey
RYA Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses are available from RYA Recognised Training centre Portway Saling School in Göcek so you can learn to sail while enjoying a holiday in the sun. Click here for more information >>
Gibraltar
Year round sailing at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, Gibraltar offers exciting opportunities to cruise the Spanish Costa del Sol and visit Morocco. Choice of RYA courses from RYA Recognised Training centre PASA which offers RYA courses for all levels from Competent Crew to Yachtmaster. Click here for more information>>
More questions?
If you have more questions seeFAQ section or contact our helpful and knowledgeable staff. We'll be pleased to answer any questions and assist you in your holiday planning.
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