RYA Sailing Courses - canarysail.com

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Canary Sail are an official RYA training centre and are able to offer all RYA Tidal sailing courses from Competent Crew through to Yachtmaster and Cruising Instructor.

Please scroll down or use the drop down bar above to go directly to the course of interest to you.

Unlike most schools, we run our courses with a maximum of four students to the instructor thus giving each student their own sleeping accommodation and maximum time with the instructor. We also run our courses for six days as opposed to five. The course commences on a Saturday morning at 10am and finishes on the following Thursday at around 4pm. We request that students arrive the Friday before the course commences to settle into the yacht and start bright and early Saturday morning. This is also to tie in with flights from the UK on a Friday in to Tenerife South. The accommodation the preceding Friday night and last Thursday night are also included in your course cost so there are no added hotel costs.

You will be sailing in one of our modern Bavaria 36`s or 37. They are all the three double cabin versions. You can see some pictures here.

The course cost is 750 euros per person, per week. This includes provisions for all meals on board, soft drinks, wet weather gear (unlikely to be needed!), gas, the relevant RYA practical course booklet, diesel, marina fees, fresh sheets, duvets, pillows and towels. It does not include flights and transfers to La Gomera and food and drink ashore. You need to fly in to Tenerife South (code TFS) and then it is a short ferry transfer to La Gomera. The cost of this transfer is approximately 40 pounds return. We are happy to help you find flights from the UK if you would like us to. When looking for flights in to Tenerife South it is advisable to find one that arrives prior to 6pm.

Our instructors have been teaching and sailing for many years and also live on the island. They know the area extremely well and will take you to the best marinas and bays around La Gomera and Tenerife. The sailing conditions are great with ideal winds and a tide running up to 3 knots! The sun is (nearly) always shining!

We are based on the beautiful island of La Gomera which is just off Tenerife and could not be more different. It remains incredibly spanish and does not suffer with any of the trappings of tourism. You will see beautiful scenery, experience great sailing, have wonderful food and meet some very friendly people! If you have the chance please take a look at the Gomera tourist website.

Canary Sail is a family run company whose main aim is to provide you with the best possible sailing holiday. We hope you enjoy yourselves so much that you will return - and so many of you do!

This course runs 2/3 days and introduces the complete beginner to sailing and seamanship. No previous experience or knowledge is required in fact all you need is enthusiasm. We run the start yachting days either as a short break or as an extended holiday. Stay in one of our Luxury apartments and combine your new sailing experience with an opportunity to explore this beautiful island.

This is for beginners and those who would like to become active crew members rather than just passengers. You are the crew and without you the sails won`t go up and the boat won`t be steered. By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines on board. You will also have had a fantastic holiday and visited some great marinas and anchorages along the way!

Designed for partners of boat owners and for exsisting "Competent Crew" certificate holders wishing to progress sailing skills without taking on the full responsibility of running the boat. A basic introduction to navigation and plotting. Assist with more advanced boat handling skills under the direction of your skipper. Really master those lines and knots and become a more complete and confident yacht crew member.

This is for aspiring skippers who have some yachting experience and basic understanding of navigation. Each trainee skipper will be asked to skipper the yacht on a short passage. Your instructor will be on hand to give advice and encouragement and to ensure that your destination is reached safely. The essential element is that you experience being in charge and take the credit when all goes well, but also have responsibility when it doesn`t. The end of each day is usually spent around the chart table discussing the passages and gaining from each other`s experience.

Suggested minimum pre-course experience:
5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht.

Assumed Knowledge:
Basic navigation & sailing ability. Ideally you will have attended the Day Skipper Theory Shorebased course or at least have a good understanding of the following: Tidal heights, Tidal streams, Compass variation, Course to steer, Passage planning, Pilotage, Clearing bearings, 3 Position fixes and knots. A basic understanding of Lights & Shapes.

Suggested minimum pre-course experience:
You are an RYA Day Skipper or have some experience skippering a yacht.

Ability After Course:
You are ready to consider your next step - Coastal Skipper

This is an advanced skippering course for yachtsmen and women who have considerable knowledge of sailing and navigation. Coastal Skippers should be able to undertake more difficult passages by day and night and handle the yacht in more demanding situations. By the end of the course you should have the knowledge if not the experience to become a Yachtmaster.

Suggested minimum pre-course experience:
15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours

Assumed Knowledge:
Navigation to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster standard. Sailing to Day Skipper Practical standard.

"Bridge the Gap" between your Coastal Skipper and MCA Coastal/Yachtmaster Preparation and exam. You have learned to skipper a yacht in more challenging conditions day and night and to pilot your boat and crew safely into and out of shelter. You now wish to build on those skills, gaining experience and confidence along the way. You will learn new and useful Yachtmaster techniques. This course is designed as a choice of :

b) Or for passage making including 60NM qualifying passages towards your Yachtmaster Qualification.

Suggested minimum pre-course experience:
15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours. You have attended the Coastal Skipper Practical Assessment Course or have knowledge and practice of the disiplines covered.

Assumed Knowledge:
Navigation to Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster standard. Sailing to Coastal Skipper Practical standard.

This teaching session will prepare you for the examination that will give you the most respected yachting qualification in the world. Our instructors will put you through the mill but teach, teach and teach again as you practice complex sailing skills and gain in confidence from working under pressure.

Dates : Friday 13th to Friday 20th August 2010 - Price Euro 700.00 (plus examination fee)

50 days, 5 days as skipper, 2500 miles, 5 passages over 60 miles including 2 overnight and 2 as skipper. VHF Radio operators licence or SRC. First aid certificate.

30 days, 2 days as skipper, 800 miles, 12 night hours. VHF Radio operators license or SRC. First aid certificate.

Assumed Knowledge:
Content of Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster shorebased course. Content of practical cruising courses.

The Cruising Instructor Course runs over 6 days. The first day is spent in the classroom assessing your theory with exercises at DS level together with general discussion on teaching methods and a review of the Instructors Handbook.Then onto the boat where your skills in boat handling and demonstration of the various disciplines required of a cruising instructor will be honed and assessed. You will be taught debriefing and the communication skills required of you whilst instructing students.

All candidates must hold a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster Offshore certificate.

Assumed Knowledge:
Content of Yachtmaster Coastal (previously Coastal Skipper)/Yachtmaster shorebased course. Content of practical cruising courses. Good theoretical skills and an ability to communicate well.

Ability After Course:
Can instruct Start Yachting, Competent Crew and Day Skipper practical courses

We recommend that students who would like an ICC come on one of our Day Skipper Courses as the RYA will issue an ICC free to members if you send them a copy of your Day Skipper Course Completion Certificate. If you would still like to just do your ICC, we would be happy to arrange this for you.

Maximum of 4 students to instructor - more instruction and no-one has to share!

The Price Includes	All on board food
	Soft drinks
	Wet weather gear (unlikely to be needed!)
	Gas
	Relevent RYA Practical Training Course booklet
	Diesel
	Marina fees
	Towels
	Fresh bedding

Not Included	Flights and transfers to La Gomera
	Food and drink ashore

Please also see our Special Offers for late availability discounts and other deals

Day 1 - Friday

We will welcome you from the ferry and settle you onto your yacht. You are then invited to join us all on the plaza for drinks to meet the team, your instructors and fellow students or crew. You will be made very welcome by the Canary Sail team and we can advise the best restauarants for you to sample!

Day 2 - Saturday

After the initial safety briefing, you will learn the ropes, be shown how to prepare the boat for departure and almost always be taken out for an introductory sail in the "WAZ" (Wind Acceleration Zone) just off the harbour wall. This is to help you feel comfortable and (for some of you) familiar with your new surroundings on board.

Day 3 - Sunday

Instruction on boat handling in and around the marina before making the first passage normally through the Wind Zone (ensuring you will sail!) to Marina Los Gigantes situated on the northwest of Tenerife. Here you will moor the boat in ideal conditions and be ready to relax maybe in the Austrian Bar before heading off for dinner in one of the many restaurants available. Los Gigantes is a perfect set off point for your next destination.

Days 4, 5 and 6

The schedule for these days will depend on what you hope to achieve during the course, the level you are working towards and the winds. We aim to sail around the north of La Gomera to Vueltas or Valle Gran Rey on the west of the island. This route takes us through no less than 2 more of our WAZ Zones thus almost ensuring you of great sailing in superb conditions on all points of sail! This fishing harbour is a more rustic location offering a wide variety of foods from local fish to Moroccan cuisine. Experience the sunset from this charming habour and for those of you still energetic enough - cocktails and salsa to finish off the day. The WAZ zone situated just north of Vueltas serves us with ideal training conditions for sailing exercises during the following day. You may then depart Vueltas and complete your circumnavigation of La Gomera calling into Santiago, a beautiful fishing village, either for the evening or as a set-off point for the highlight of your week - *The Night Sail! For the more advanced courses, and particularly when the Trade Winds are set, we might also cruise to the other western islands of La Palma and El Hierro.

*Night sailing is a part of all the courses.

Day 7 - Thursday

Following further sailing, anchoring and general boat handling we finish back at our home port of San Sebastian on Thursday afternoon where we begin the de-briefing, clean-up and issuing of your certificates. Finally the course ends at about 5 pm after which you may wish to freshen up in preparation for drinks at Cuba Libre followed by dinner together with the crew and instructors from all the boats - a popular event which can all too often find us nightcapping in "Manolos" Bar till late! Remember - your accommodation after the course on the Thursday night is also included!

Sunglasses
High factor sun cream (not oil please!)
Deck shoes if possible, otherwise soft? shoes with a non marking sole
Shorts
T-Shirts
Fleece or jumper for the evenings
Soft bag as opposed to a hard suitcase
Light long sleeved shirt if you need to cover up in the sun
Baseball/sun hat (preferrably with a clip to stop it blowing overboard!)
Sea sickness tablets should you need them
And above all, enthusiasm!

If you have two or more weeks to spend in the sunshine, why not combine a holiday with two or more courses?

If you`ve got some experience or have done your competent crew, we can organise a break where you can do Day Skipper Theory followed by Day Skipper Practical. There is also time to do your Marine Radio Short Range Certificate (VHF)and Diesel Engine Maintenance courses if you wish.

We can arrange accommodation to suit your budget during the shorebased courses and accommodation during the practical is all on board the yacht.

We run our practical courses with only 4 students to the instructor. No-one has to share and you receive more tuition!

Avoid the classroom and enjoy the sun and sailing for two weeks on board. Learn some of your navigation prior to arrival and your instructor will fill the gaps during your first week whilst teaching the basic crew duties on board - the RYA way!

In week 2 you will practise your new skills and passage plan, pilot and skipper the yacht, giving you even more experience at your navigational and boat handling skills.

Great value combined with great fun! Dates to suit you. Day Skipper Practical 2 week course (includes theory and crewing tuition) - 1400 euros

We are able to offer the following shorebased courses from our purpose built classroom. Situated at our offices only a few minutes walk from the plaza and marina, this fully air-conditioned classroom offers airy, ample space for a maximum of 4 students. Full presentation equipment, plotting instruments, course materials and a library are provided for your use. Large tables with lamps, a bathroom, kitchen facilities, Wi Fi and PC internet access are all available for your comfort and convenience.

5 day - Day Skipper Theory
6 day - Yachtmaster Coastal (previously Coastal Skipper)/Yachtmaster Theory
2 day - Basic Navigation Theory
1 day - Diesel Engine Maintenance
1 day - Short Range Certificate/VHF

Why not combine theory and practical courses over two or even three weeks? For such combination courses, we offer our luxury apartment at specially discounted rates (subject to availablity).

We will also be glad to arrange alternative on shore accommodation for you at a price to suit your budget.