Coaching week

You sail. You decide. I guide you.

A week to learn the basics of sailing or become a confident, independent skipper, with an RYA sail and motor instructor. Short theory sessions, applied straight away on board in the real conditions of the Aegean and Ionian seas.

7days

Tailoredyou choose who trains

From €1,100per person

★ 2027 early-bird: 5% off if you book by 31 January 2027★ Returning guests: an extra 5% off

Two levels

Choose your week

Everything you learn during the week, depending on your level. The programme is built around your goals, and the order adapts to the weather, the sailing area and the crew's pace.

Discover

Learn the basics of sailing

For complete beginners or people who have only sailed as crew. By the end of the week you can helm, trim the sails, handle the boat in harbour and play an active part on board.

Key points of the Competent Crew syllabus

On deckterms, knots and ropework, sails: hoisting, trimming, reefing
At the helmhelming under sail and power, points of sail, tacking and gybing
Safetylifejackets and harnesses, man overboard, safety gear, rules of the road
In harbour and at anchorhelping with manoeuvres, handling the tender
Life on boardweather, seasickness, customs and etiquette

Detailed programme

Sailing terms, parts of the boat, rigging and sails
Ropework: essential knots (bowline, figure of eight, clove hitch, round turn and two half hitches…), winches and cleats
Practical ropework: coiling and stowing a line, throwing a line, lassoing a cleat or bollard
Sail handling: hoisting, trimming, reefing and stowing
Helming under sail and power, points of sail, tacking and gybing
Personal safety: lifejackets, harnesses, jackstays
Man overboard: alarm, spotting and recovery
Safety equipment: flares, liferaft, fire prevention and fire fighting
Rules of the road and keeping a lookout
Tender handling under oars and outboard
Helping with harbour and anchoring manoeuvres
Weather forecasts, seasickness, life and etiquette on board (courtesy flags, manners)

Improve

Become a confident skipper

For boat owners and charterers, or future ones, who want to take command with confidence: manoeuvres, decisions and crew management.

Key points of the Day Skipper syllabus

Prepareboat, crew, provisioning, engine and onboard systems
Handle the boatunder power, stern-to mooring, catamaran, anchoring
Navigatechartwork, electronics and apps, pilotage, harbour entry
Read the weathermeltemi, local effects, go or no-go, trim and reefing
Take commandbriefing, decisions, emergencies: MOB, fire, VHF distress

Detailed programme

Preparing the boat and crew for sea, safety briefing
Victualling and organising life on board
Engine checks, maintenance and minor repairs
Systems on board: batteries and charging, water and watermaker, toilets and holding tanks, gas
Boat handling under power: prop walk, pivot point, leaving and coming alongside, springs
Mediterranean stern-to mooring with lazy line or anchor, in wind
Handling a catamaran: using two engines, dealing with crosswinds
Anchoring techniques: choosing a shelter, setting and recovering the anchor, swinging room, shore lines
Navigation: chartwork, estimated and fixed positions, electronics, plan B
Electronics and apps: chartplotter, AIS, Navionics, Navily, Windy, Greek forecasts
Greek weather: meltemi, local effects, deciding to go… or not
Sailing in the meltemi: reefing early, sea state, sheltered routes
Fine sail trim, reefing under way, heavy weather
Pilotage: planning and entering an unfamiliar harbour
Collision regulations (IRPCS), lights and shapes
Emergencies: man overboard, fire, VHF distress call, abandoning ship
Command: crew briefing, roles, decisions, a passage as skipper, debrief

Navigation de nuit : préparation de route sur la carte à la table à cartes

The method

Learning by doing

You sail. You manoeuvre. You decide.
I observe, guide and debrief.

I explain things simply, let you try, and go over it again as many times as needed. Every day ends with a debrief: what went well, and what we'll work on tomorrow. As a former primary school teacher, I've kept a love of teaching, with calm and good humour.

Price

What is included

From €1,100 per person per week, boat and skipper included. The exact price depends on your dates, the boat and the size of your group.

Included

7 days of coaching with an RYA instructor
Personalised programme and daily debriefs
The boat for the whole trip, chosen for your group
End-of-week review and advice for what comes next

Not included

Fuel, harbour fees, provisioning, the instructor's meals and the instructor's travel to the departure port
Optional: extras on board, paddle board and Subnado underwater scooter →

Option · Short course

Harbour manoeuvres course

Hands-on practice under engine for boat owners, charterers and anyone who dreads coming into harbour: coming alongside, leaving, Mediterranean stern-to mooring and leading your crew. On its own or alongside a coaching week. Not a beginner course: you should already have some time at the helm.

Step 1

Understanding and controlling the boat

Prop walk, pivot point, windage and manoeuvring speed, then exercises in open water: holding position, turning in a tight space, going astern and moving sideways. Knots and cleating.

Step 2

Berthing, mooring, taking command

Coming alongside pontoons and quays, springing off, stern-to on lazy lines or anchor, rafting up. You take command: crew briefing, anticipation and knowing when to abort.

Detailed programme

Understanding the boat under engine

Prop walk: demonstrating it ahead and astern, and using it on purpose
Pivot point: how it moves going ahead and astern
Windage: the bow blowing off downwind at low speed
Manoeuvring speed: minimum speed to steer, no rudder effect without water flow
Using the engine: short bursts or steady revs (prop wash over the rudder)
Stopping: stopping distances and carrying way

Boat control

Holding position: stemming the current or wind
Turning in a tight space: ahead/astern using prop walk
Going astern: steering a straight line and switching from ahead to astern
Moving sideways: ferry gliding into the current or wind

Berthing and mooring

Coming alongside a pontoon or quay, windward or leeward side, with wind or current
Leaving: springing off on the bow or stern spring (motoring against the spring)
Mediterranean mooring: stern-to, on lazy lines or on your own anchor
Helm position: standing diagonally when reversing in, to see both stern and bow
Rafting up: coming alongside another boat

Command

Crew briefing: roles, manoeuvre plan and conditions, agreed signals, preparing lines and fenders, safety instructions, plan B and debrief
Anticipation: observe before acting, announce your intentions, know when to abort

Ropework and deck work

Knots: bowline, round turn and two half hitches, clove hitch, sheet bend
Cleating: making a line fast, and taking a turn to control it under load
Coiling: stowing lines and preparing a line to run freely
Throwing a line: coil in two hands, throw underarm, aim beyond the target
Lassoing a bollard or cleat from the deck or cockpit
Slipped lines: rigging and using lines doubled back to the boat
Adjusting lines: setting and adjusting bow and stern lines and springs

FAQ

Before you book

Is this a certified RYA course?

No. It's private coaching, run by an RYA instructor using RYA teaching methods. It's excellent preparation for an RYA course or exam; if you're aiming for a certificate, let's talk about it.

Do you need experience?

No. The Discover week starts from scratch; the Improve week is for people who already sail and want to become independent.

Do you need experience for the harbour manoeuvres course?

Yes. It isn't a beginner course: it's for people who have already spent time at the helm, as boat owners, charterers or crew. If you're starting from scratch, begin with a Discover coaching week.

Which boat?

A monohull or catamaran chosen for your group, included in the price.

Does everyone have to take part?

No. Coaching happens during the cruise: one or more people learn at their own pace while the rest of the crew enjoys the swims and the ports. The programme adapts to however many want to learn.

How does booking work?

A deposit confirms your week, and the rest is paid before or on the day of departure. The exact amounts and dates are written in your quote.

Where does the coaching take place?

In three Greek seas: the Ionian Islands, the Saronic Gulf and the Cyclades. I recommend the area according to the season, the wind and what you are looking for.

Sample weeks

Where to sail?

Three seas, three characters. Each sample week adapts to the weather and to your wishes.

Ionian IslandsFrom Corfu · LefkadaSee the sample week →

Catamaran vu du ciel sur une eau turquoise

Saronic GulfFrom Athens · LavrioSee the sample week →

Baie et village d'une île des Cyclades au crépuscule

CycladesFrom Lavrio · Paros · MykonosSee the sample week →

Other programmes

Looking for something else?

RelaxPrivate skippered cruiseDiscover →Remote islandsTwo- or three-week voyageDiscover →

Ready to take the helm?

Choose your sea and dates. I reply with availability, a few boats to choose from and a quote.

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