Designed for partners or friends of boat owners and for existing Competent Crew certificate holders wishing to progress their skills without taking on the full responsibility of the boat. A basic introduction to Navigation and plotting. Really master those lines and knots and become a more complete and confident yacht crew member.
1 week (6 full days sailing)
Basic level crewing
Some sailing experience or a Competent Crew certificate holder
Learn to prepare a yacht for departure, some basic navigation, sails up/down and sail trimming, handling lines for berthing and leaving a berth, MOB (Man Overboard) drills, keeping a lookout, handling the anchor. Making fixes and keeping a ship´s log
A more complete and confident yacht crew member
From €1095/pp (shared cabin for 2)
From €1190 (own cabin)
52 Weeks of the year, subject to availability
RYA Competent Crew
RYA Sail Cruising and Yachtmaster Scheme – Syllabus and Logbook
For those clients wishing to study the book before you arrive, books can be purchased online prior to your arrival. Alternatively they can be purchased at our school when you arrive.
Below is a list of the course content you will understand by the end of your 6 day Competent Crew “Plus” course with Canary Sail
We will meet and welcome you and settle you onto your yacht. You are then invited to join us all 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 restaurants for you to sample!
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.
Instruction on boat handling in and around the marina before making the first passage normally through the Wind acceleration zone (WAZ) to Marina Los Gigantes situated on the northwest of Tenerife. Here you will moor the boat in ideal conditions and be ready to relax before heading off for dinner in one of the many restaurants or bars available. Los Gigantes is a perfect set off point for your next destination.
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, experiencing the sunset from this charming habour. 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 to San Sebastian La Gomera!
Further sailing, anchoring and general boat handling we finish back at your base in the afternoon where we begin the de-briefing, clean-up and issuing of your certificates. The course ends at around 4pm. Remember – your accommodation on the last evening is also included!
Leave the yacht at 09.00 latest please for your return home or to continue your holiday on La Gomera or Tenerife. Please see our stay page for accommodation.
Exclusive Course Yacht option for couples, families or groups on 36 to 50ft cruise yachts – now also including our Lagoon 38 C2 Catamaran option!
This course is designed as a steppingstone towards the RYA Day Skipper Practical Course. It consolidates the Competent Crew Course and adds other elements, introducing Day Skipper but without the pressure of a course exam. There is no certificate issue.
Ideally, one has the RYA Competent Crew Certificate or some basic training in Sailing/Crewing a modern sailing vessel and is possibly preparing for a move to Skipper level and, taking more responsibility on board
With us, this course is run over 6 sailing days, staying 7 nights on board. We normally sail each day, stay in port evenings for meals out, and conduct a number of hours “Night Sailing” in the hours of darkness – often a highlight of the week!.
For the 36/37ft size yachts we take a max of 4 clients. Accompanied by their Instructor – total 5 on board. The larger 40/41 ft yachts usually 4 or sometime 5 if 2 couples are booked on.
This course is a continuous assessment week and quite relaxed. A chance to revise the basics and add a little more knowledge and experience with full support from your instructor
We run Sail Training Yachts from 36 to 43ft. Safety equipment includes Life jackets and safety lines, Life raft, emergency COB (Crew Overboard) recovery systems, emergency communication systems, thermal protective suits/blankets (TPA´s), and emergency procedure training = Where is it? When to use it? How to use it – safely!
Provisions such as drinks, snacks, breakfast and lunch are provided. Top up shopping is at the discretion of clients. Additional cost are all drinks and evening meals ashore – a very good choice at very reasonable prices here in the Canary Islands!
The weather in the Canaries is quite temperate through the year, typically mid 20 to occasionally 30 degrees. It is rarely “too hot” here! The sea and wind conditions can sometimes be challenging but also exciting. We experience winds most times in the Canary Islands, so we are rarely short of opportunities to sail during the week
No exams, no pressure! Just continuous assessment and assistance to improve skills
This is not an official RYA Course but rather a steppingstone between official RYA course levels. There is no official certificate issued.
A wide range of practical and theory courses offered all year round
Choose from a variety of sail cruises around the Canary Islands and beyond
From Bareboat to skippered charter, we have an option to suit your needs
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
Office opening hours:
Monday-Closed
Tuesday-Friday 08.30-15.30
Calls diverted outside of office hours, excluding Mondays. Please send us an email and your enquiry will be dealt with promptly.
Please use the form below to email us with your enquiry
Canary Sail S.L
Looking to hire a yacht, take sailing courses or maybe just relax on a boat in the Canaries?
With over 20 years experience we offer an unrivalled range of RYA Courses.
