Congratulations - you are well on your way to a fantastic sailing trip and potentially life-changing adventure. Our Yachtmaster Offshore and Yachtmaster Coastal Fastrack courses are designed to not only provide you with an amazing experience but also transform you into a first class sailor.

Listed below is a sample itinerary of our 8/16 week Fastrack programme, sailing is weather dependant and the programme may change according to conditions and skill level of those onboard, please note that any changes will be for the benefit of all and will not have a negative impact on your overall training. We try to leave some free time to allow us to concentrate on improving your skills and understanding of sailing overall.

Week 1 - Competent Crew - introduction to life onboard, general sailing skills, ropework and the start of your sailing adventure.
Week 2 - Day Skipper theory - Into the classroom for 5 days, learn to navigate and understand the basics of chartwork, tides, buoyage, the collision regulations, etc.
Week 3 - Back on the water and apply your new skills, gain experience and work towards achieving your Day Skipper practical. 
Week 4 - Gaining in confidence everyday you now complete Day Skipper. Congratulations you will by now be making decisions onboard when acting as Duty Skipper.
Week 5 - Back into the classroom for 6 days to complete Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory, advanced navigation and chartwork, more tidal work including secondary ports, sharpen those Collision Regualtions and learn about meteorology.
Week 6/7 - Out on the water to apply new skills, this time we will be sailing further afield to gain experience miles and take you to new destinations. A real chance to test your knowledge, possible destinations include Ibiza, Formentera and Mallorca.
Week 8 - Fine tuning workshop, concentrating on sail trim, reefing, spinnaker/cruising chute set hoist and set, handling under power and sail in close quarter situations. Unfortunately those on the 8 week Coastal programme now leave us.
Week 9 - General sailing week.
Week 10/11/12/13 - Milebuilding and experience Spain/Morocco/Gibraltar and Portugal, setting sail from La Manga/Cartagena we will head South towards Cabo de Gata before setting a course either down the Spanish Coastline or across to Melilla (Spanish enclave in Morocco), before pushing on towards the likes of Ceuta and Gibraltar. Upon successfully negotiating the Straits of Gibraltar we then begin our tidal mile-building phase in the Atlantic whilst making our way into Cadiz Bay, possibly up the Seville river, Mazagon and onto the Portuguese Algarve where potential destinations include Albufeira, Portimao, Villamoura and Lagos.
Week 14/15 - staying in tidal waters, general sailing and time to absorb and look back on the adventure so far. Week 15 finishes with another fine tuning workshop to really polish your skills.
Week 16 - Yachtmaster prep week and Assessment. We tend to stay very local for these weeks focusing on refining skills whilst preparing you mentally for the Exam. Confidence will be running high and you will be looking forward to demonstrating your sailing ability to the Examiner.
 
This intensive schedule is demanding and it will test your ability both as a sailor and as an individual.

There are two weekends off built into the structure and dates will be advised at the start of the programme. Otherwise weekend are spent learning topics such as VHF radio, First Aid, Diesel engine basics, ropes and rigging, GRP and gelcoat, yacht maintenance, dinghy sailing and reading.

Owning a yacht is comparable to owning an old house, there is always maintenance to be done, some may be preventative whilst other tasks may be repairs to keep the yacht ship shape and Bristol fashion. You should be proud of the yacht you are in command of, a tidy and well maintained boat will reflect that and even possibly lead to job offers. Leaving the yacht with the just abandoned and I'm in the pub look only serves to give the impression of sloppy seamanship.

To find out more about this amazing sailing adventure - contact us today or Skype call/Instant message (IM): go-n-sail

UK cheap call 0872 426 0837 or Spain +34 968 143 718 / 695 326 184