Sailing Courses

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Tired of being just a "land lubber"? Get out on the water with Learn To Sail Mexico and start your sailing education today! We teach all levels - from absolute beginners to veteran sailors looking for a refresher - and we train on any boat that suits your unique goals: ours, yours, or a charter boat.

Becoming a true salty sailor is no small task, and you will be a lifelong learner no matter how experienced you get. But thankfully, we can get you from zero to competent in FAR less time than in bygone days thanks to the sophisticated melding of online learning with practical, on-the-water training.

We've done our homework. NauticEd is the only sailing educational body who are verified as adhering to American National Standards for sailing training & assessment per the United States Coast Guard. Additionally, NauticEd's philosophy is not about "checking boxes" but promoting true competency on the water. As you complete online courses, you can get assessed on the water with us - a verified NauticEd Assessor - in order to earn Verified Competence.

We recommend perusing the NauticEd Student Guide - it explains how NauticEd standards are well above other certification programs, and all the cool things you can learn through the offered courses!

Beginner Sailing Courses

If you're just getting started with sailing or have designs to become a worthy crew member on any sailing excursion, then these two courses are a great place to start!

INTRODUCTION to SAILING

Discover the fun and excitement of sailing with this introductory course! Get equipped with the fundamental knowledge and techniques needed to start sailing confidently.

Qualification for:
Basic Sailing Skills Certificate

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BASIC SAILING (CREW)

Ramp up your sailing resume with Basic Sailing (Crew Rank). With these skills, you can feel confident to join a local sailing club or enjoy sailing vacations with friends and a professional captain.

Qualification for:
Qualified Crew Rank Certificate

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Advanced Sailing Courses

Become a truly well-rounded & experienced sailor! These comprehensive courses prepare you for longer distances, coastal and offshore routes, and overnight sailing in diverse conditions.

BASIC KEELBOAT (SKIPPER)

Learn the fundamental principles of safe, confident daysailing on a 38-foot keelboat in light to moderate winds. Learn everything you need to see your confidence rise as a true beginner on day one to a competent sailor by the end of the course.

Qualification for:
Skipper Large Keelboat Rank Certificate

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BAREBOAT CHARTER MASTER

Become the sailor who truly knows their stuff! This course trains all aspects of multi-day sailing for near-coastal and offshore passagemaking. Gain skills and competence necessary to skipper on bareboat charter sailing vacations, or skipper your own vessel and captain your own crew!

Qualification for:
Bareboat Charter Master Rank Certificate

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OFFSHORE CAPTAIN RANK

Offshore sailing and passagemaking is the pinnacle of sailing knowledge, training, and experience. Setting sail into the sunset requires many practicalities and competencies that must be learned for you and your crew's safety and well-being. This course covers all the knowledge and skills you need to safely sail offshore.

Qualification for:
Captain Level III Rank Certificate

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Considering all of our courses together, you can count on developing real competency in these core areas:

Navigation Rules
An intro to the ColRegs (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) to keep you safe on the water
Points of Sail & Sail Trim
Understanding the wind, the boat's handling characteristics, and getting the most from our sails
Sailing Theory & Principles
Get acquainted with all sailing and sailboat terminology, basic sailing & maneuvering, knots, navigation, and more
Standing & Running Rigging
What the rigging does, how to inspect and maintain the rigging, and use the associated lines
Docking
How to safely maneuver your sailboat into and out of a slip
Maneuvering Under Sail
How to sail in all wind directions, reef the sails, tack and gybe
Anchoring
Types of anchors and tackle, guidelines for scope/tide, techniques & associated equipment
Weather & Sea Conditions
Operating the boat safely in different sea states and weather
Safety On Board
Vital knowledge on staying safe and secure while underway
Electrical Systems
Familiarizing you with key electrical systems and their operation and maintenance
Auxiliary Power (outboards)
Types of outboards, their operation, storage when underway, and basic maintenance
Basic Navigation
How to plot a safe course, enter it into your navigation equipment, and use basic landmarks and GPS
Auxiliary Power (inboard diesel)
Familiarizing you with your main engine, it's care and maintenance, and troubleshooting common issues
Maneuvering Under Power
Operating safely with the engine engaged while entering anchorages and marinas
Mooring
Attaching to and releasing mooring balls
Bareboat Chartering
Fundamentals of what a bareboat charter is, expectations, responsibilities, and skills
Coastal Navigation
Sailing and navigating while in sight of land
Anchoring & Mooring (Advanced)
Deeper dive into anchoring and mooring under various conditions, anchor types, scope, etc.
Electronic Navigation
Using modern electronic equipment to navigate at sea, including radar, AIS, and chartplotters
Sail Trim (Advanced)
Advanced topics in adjusting sail trim to suit various weather conditions to maximize speed, reduce speed, or heave-to
Storm Tactics
Handling adverse weather conditions or strong weather while sailing
Weather (Advanced)
Reading weather charts, cloud types, making forecasts, adjusting sail plans
Safety At Sea
Vital knowledge on keeping yourself and crew safe during passage-making

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