We offer a step-by-step sailing education following the highest training standards as the only Royal Yachting Association training centre on the west coast of North America.  Sea to Sky Sailing takes you from our own introductory Start Sailing course and onwards through 4 more levels of RYA training and can open the door for students to earn the International Certificate of Competency (ICC).  

Our experienced instructors are passionate about giving students the best opportunities to learn in a safe, fun and encouraging environment.  Students complete our courses with valuable practical experience and plenty of confidence gained from our high quality, hands-on approach to learning.

You can enter our training program at whatever level makes sense for you given your previous sailing experience- just make sure to check the pre-requisites since it’s no fun to be in way over your head! Contact us if you have any questions about any of our Learn to Sail programs and which one is right for you. 

Learn to Sail Level 1: Start Sailing

The Start Sailing course is exactly what it sounds like! We introduce you to sailing a yacht and help you become a knowledgeable, confident and competent crewmember to have on board. It is an ideal starting point for those with dinghy sailing experience but not ‘big boat’ sailing time, or for those who are brand new to the awesome world of sailing! In this 4-day course (day sailing only, not live-aboard), you will learn how to use winches, helm a big boat, understand all the terminology, knots and actions to take as the crew for tacking, gybing, and sailing from A to B. Read the Course Details page for the full curriculum. 

Learn to Sail Level 2: RYA Competent Crew

The Competent Crew course introduces you to the cruising lifestyle and all its delights. You will fine tune your sailing while learning to live on a yacht, explore new anchorages and venture beyond our home port. 

This course is available in Condensed 3-day or Full 5-day formats, depending on your prior experience. Read the Course Details page for full details and curriculum. 

At the end you will have completed the RYA Competent Crew practical curriculum.  You will be ready to head out on the water with friends or family as a more confident and useful crew member, gaining a bit more experience before entering the Day Skipper program.

We highly recommend taking the Day Skipper Theory course before entering the Day Skipper Practical course to get the most out of it!

Learn to Sail Level 3: RYA Day Skipper

During the Day Skipper course, we give you the tools to safely take command of a boat on your own.  You will build on the skills learned as Competent Crew and gained in some 'extracurricular' mileage building in between courses.  Here you learn to take your crew from A to B without hitting C in between or getting lost and ending up at D.  

In this course you are working towards the RYA Day Skipper standard, which also allows you to apply for the International Certificate of Competency (ICC).  This standard aims to give you the knowledge to safely and confidently charter a boat anywhere in the world and sail it during the day within 20 nautical miles of shore.  Read the Course Details page for full details and curriculum. 

Dare to Dock!

Many students successfully finish their Day Skipper training, but want to fine tune their skills in specific areas to feel more confident tackling things like their first bareboat charter. For example, docking is the leading cause of stress amongst sailors! Our first Skills & Drills day clinic is the Dare to Dock program, where we focus on upping your docking game. Students can participate in a Skills & Drills day as often as they like, making this a great way to get extra practice and avoid letting your skills get rusty! Check out clinic details here.

Taking the Yachtmaster Theory course is mandatory before pursuing further practical training in order to ensure success!

Learn to Sail Level 4: RYA Coastal Skipper

Coastal Skipper is an advanced course, offering intensive training to take you from a beginner level Day Skipper to one who can confidently plan and execute longer coastal cruises, navigate safely at night, and escape even farther by sail.  On top of all the knowledge and skills gained from the Day Skipper level, students must have considerable additional sailing experience... check the pre-requisites carefully!

Check the course details page for full information or contact us to get started.

Learn to Sail Level 5: Yachtmaster Preparatory Course

In this advanced preparatory course, we help you rapidly upskill your sailing and navigation so you can explore farther and escape to sea for longer… safely.  The Yachtmaster Preparatory course is our final level of cruising instruction, following the Royal Yachting Association standard of training and resulting in globally recognized certification. Yachtmaster certification can provide you with all the knowledge and skills to pursue extended voyages and offshore sailing for fun or it can be commercially endorsed, opening the door for you to launch a career in the global sailing industry.  

The goal of the Yachtmaster Preparatory course is to develop your skills as a skipper capable of safely commanding a yacht up to 150 miles from a safe haven.