SAIL AND POWER COURSES

Not quite ready to take the helm of your own yacht?  Desolation Sound Yacht Charters (DSYC) offers special vacations that are excellent ways to prepare for a bareboat charter.  You can spend six glorious days in the beautiful Desolation Sound cruising area as you learn to operate a power or sailing yacht.  What a great experience to live aboard, navigate and drive your yacht while exploring the islands and bays of the Sound.

Your course will be taught to international standards using either the  International Sail and Power Academy (ISPA) or the Canadian Yachting Association (CYA) certification program. The goal of this certification is to enable you to cruise safely in local coastal waters as skipper in moderate wind and sea conditions by day.

No pre-requisites are required for the basic courses.  Basic courses are designed for the novice boater and those with minimal experience on keel sailboats or displacement power yachts in tidal waters.  Our courses are very enjoyable and students successfully completing the course can return to charter a similar vessel in the future.   Further courses are available that can train you all the way to offshore capabilities.

Basic sailing and power courses are offered on  boats from 31 to 35 feet.    The boats are equipped with hot & cold pressure water, shower/head, propane stoves/ovens and BBQs.  Full safety, navigation and galley equipment are standard.  All boats have dinghies.  Check out our Charter Fleet to find a yacht to suit your needs.

Cruise N’ Learn Course - Basic Sail or Power

Charter the yacht of your choice, then add $1500 plus 5% GST for the instructor.  Course books are $90.00 per student, plus 5% GST.  Maximum of 4 students.

Example Cost (including taxes & insurance) -  Hunter 310:
Low Season Charter Fee (6 days):                    $2051.76
Instructor Fee:                                                 1575.00
Books (2 Students):                                             189.00
Total Fee:                                                      $3815.76

Cost of the course does not include provisioning or fuel.  You are responsible for provisioning for yourself and the instructor.  The advantages of setting up your own course are having your friends or family sailing with you, personalized instruction time, choosing your dates to suit your schedule and choosing the size of yacht (up to 35’) you want to learn on.

Where To Begin

Once you have decided that you want to learn how to handle a keel sailboat or a displacement power yacht, you must be prepared to do some work.  Contact DSYC for the yacht and dates you want.  We will send you your books upon receipt of your deposit so you can get started.

Courses involve both theory and practical handling skills.  You are required to complete the theory portion of your course prior to arriving for your charter.  Read through your books and complete any quizzes or exams, as required.  By taking this time to prepare, you will get more benefit from the on-the-water practical portion of your course - and with a lot less stress.

Remember, you'll get out of your course what you put into it.  Be prepared for an intensive week of sailing / boating and learning.  If you choose to relax and lay back - this is okay too, but you may not achieve your goal to be able to skipper a yacht.

What To Expect During the Course

Once you arrive for your charter, our staff will familiarize you with basic boat functions.  You can take advantage of our Early Boarding option ($75) to stay on board your yacht the night before you leave.  At 9am on your first morning, you will be joined by one of our certified instructors and your work will begin.  Our instructors love to teach, so be prepared to learn.  Typically, the first morning is spent getting comfortable with the boat and the instructor.  Once you sail / power over to Desolation Sound, you're 'cruising and learning' and you will spend the week exploring The Sound, learning as you go.

You will be part of a team while on the boat, with each person pitching in to sail, cook and clean.  This method of learning has proven very successful.  Upon return from your adventure, you will be given a Log Book which will illustrate everything you have achieved.  If you successfully pass all standards, you will be awarded both Competent Crew and Day Skipper (Basic) Certification.

Can I Return & Bareboat Charter?

We welcome those who have successfully completed the Basic or Day Skipper Certification.  We do, however, also require additional Coastal Navigation to bareboat charter.  This can be obtained through the Coastal Navigation Home Study Course ($195 Cdn, plus taxes) or through courses with Canadian Power Squadron or through other navigational course offerings.

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Authored by:  Desolation Sound Yacht Charters Ltd.
Last Updated:  February 25, 2009