With 18 years experience in the Canaries, we can offer an unrivalled range of RYA Tidal practical and theory sailing courses in the exquisite waters of the Western Canary Islands. We also have sailing yachts 36ft to 52ft available for bareboat or skippered charter, both in Tenerife and now also based from Lanzarote.
Our RYA Sailing School is based on both Tenerife San Miguel Marina near Tenerife South airport (airport code is TFS) and La Gomera, a beautiful unspoiled island a short ferry transfer from Tenerife South. Tenerife is served by many airlines from most UK and European airports.
Our 3rd RYA training location coming soon! Gran Canaria sail training option!
Bareboat ans Skippered Charter is offered from both Tenerife and now also Lanzarote!
The Canary Islands have a sub-tropical climate that provides ideal sailing conditions and the sun is nearly always shining.
All our Instructors join us from a professional background and have moved to this alternative lifestyle to work with Canary Sail. Most live here permanently and are committed to delivering quality, safe training in a fun atmosphere so that you our clients leave us with a qualification of value, new friends and an intention to return – many do! Our Chief Instructor’s program of continuous in-house instructor training ensures continuity – whether you return one day or choose to stay for a number of weeks, quality of instruction and delivery of your course will remain consistent.
Two beautiful locations to choose from in the Canaries for superb sailing holidays
or summer sailing in the Aeolian Islands, Sicily
Experienced team of instructors delivering highest quality of sail training
Armed with sales and marketing experience and a passion for sailing, Jim moved to La Gomera from Ireland 18 years ago. Jim has worked with Canary Sail since its birth back in 2003 and is now owner, Principal and Chief Instructor. Your sail training enquiry is very likely to handled by Jim personally so feel free to ask away.
Chief Instructor
Natalie studied Outdoor Education at Lochaber College, Fort William, Scotland in 2006, and worked in the outdoor education industry teaching canoeing, kayaking, rocking climbing, leading mountain expeditions and working with people from all backgrounds.
In 2012 Natalie was given the opportunity to sail, after that she never looked back. Natalie progressed through the sailing qualifications to Yachtmaster Instructor for sail, SRC Assessor and Navigation instructor.
With many years experience of teaching, Natalie has a strong passion to help her students grow and develop.
She has been living in Gran Canaria with her husband since 2016 and living on their boat since 2019. Natalie has plans to stay in the sailing industry indefinitely.
Eddy is a very enthusiastic and experienced professional instructor who owned a highly successful RYA Training Centre in Belgium for 11 years, delivering courses in both Sail and Power. He sold the business in 2012 and moved, with his wife, to La Gomera to teach sailing in the Canarian sunshine. Not only is Eddy a Yachtmaster Ocean Instructor for both Sail and Power but he is also qualified to teach Power Boat Level 2, VHF/ SRC, ISAF, Sea Survival, First Aid, Diesel Engine, Astro Navigation and PPR.
Cruising Instructor
Dave is from the UK, and is an experienced skipper, and instructor. He’s skippered many different boats in many different places! Covering areas, including the Baltic, Uk seas, East and West Atlantic, throughout the Mediterranean, South East Asia, throughout the Caribbean and extensive coverage of East coast, USA. With Atlantic crossings and more than 30000nm covered as skipper. He is a very approachable, patient, empathetic person, that loves to help others, and share knowledge. So, 2 years ago he decided to move from being a skipper to instructing, a career he loves.
Silvi from Spain is an enthusiastic and sportive person. She studied architecture but being in front of a computer for hours was not her chosen life!
She went to the Canaries to take a break from that “normal life” and found a boat that was crossing the Atlantic – and looking for crew! It was on that trip that she realised that sailing was what she loved and wanted to continue.
Since then, she has not stopped sailing in different kinds of boats, different seas and all kinds of weather!
Much study and completion of many practical courses enabled her to become an Instructor and is her way to share her passion with more people.
She particularly enjoys working in the Canaries as it is a very “magic” place for her.”
Chavdar (known as Choko) has lived in Tenerife since 2009. His hobbies include windsurfing and dinghy sailing and is a tactical coach for his son – Optimist racer. Choko is a recent RYA Cruising Instructor and is fully devoted to making this his future career. Proving very popular with clients, Choko is always positive and smiling
After running a successful business for many years in the UK, Mark decided to hang up his suit and become a nautical nomad with his partner Sharon. After arriving in La Gomera in December 2016 he decided to stay put and joined the Canary Sail team. Mark has been a Yachtmaster Instructor and Theory instructor for many years and also works as a yacht delivery skipper
Yakov takes care of our Russian-speaking clients and maintains our Russian website.
As a sailing instructor he regularly comes to Canary Sail to teach practical courses.
He enjoys sailing in round-the-year sunny Canary Islands.
Andrea has many years of work experience in Customer Service, Administration and Accountancy. Wanting a better style of living she moved from the UK to La Gomera with her partner in 2006 and has not looked back since.
She is always happy to offer help and answer any queries you may have.
Joy would prefer to describe herself as a ‘Girl Friday’! She says there is not enough time to write her a job description!
She moved to Tenerife 12 years ago, on a sabbatical from teaching science and subsequently stayed! Earlier careers included Banking and Nursing as well as working with family and running her own businesses.
She is the welcoming face when you arrive to our Tenerife base and always on hand to provide information and help to make your sailing holiday perfect.
Darrin and his partner, Andrea, came to La Gomera on holiday in the early 2000’s and having fallen in love with the island (are you seeing a theme running through a number of these profiles?!), they upped sticks and travelled, with their Land Rover from the UK to have a year off! They never left. Darrin has a talent for getting things done and finding the right way to do them. A carpenter and keen shotgun enthusiast, Darrin brings his skills (and of course, tools) to Canary Sail.
A wide range of practical and theory courses offered all year round
Recommended accommodation options in La Gomera and Tenerife
Phone any time on our UK Divert No. (UK call cost): 0044 1252 837648
Phone (USA): 001 855 866-5566
Phone (Spain): 0034 922 141 967
Postal Address:
Apartado 211,
Calle Del Medio, 38800,
San Sebastian de La Gomera,
Islas Canarias, Spain
Please use the form below to email us with your enquiry
Canary Sail S.L
