by LEARN TO SAIL.
Have you always wanted to become a competent skipper or crew? Then the Basic Cruising course is for you! Join Sail Nelson in the Kootenays for our most popular course!
Are there prerequisites?
There are no prerequisites for this course, however it is highly recommended that students have a background in sailing or have completed the Sailing Sampler (Charter Sail) or Sailing Essentials (Crew Training) courses prior to the Basic Cruising course.
What will we do?
This course is taught over 4 days (28 hours) on one of our boats. We will spend the entire course (regardless of weather) out on the water. It is an intense, but rewarding, course!
What will I learn?
This course will provide you with a solid sailing foundation. You will learn about sail trim, boat parts, seamanship skills, emergency situations, anchoring, helming and so much more! This course will teach you everything from doing a pre-departure checklist, to handling unexpected emergencies.
What will I get?
Basic Cruising – Competent Crew: students who have limited sailing experience will learn the ins and outs of cruising, without the pressure of taking total control of the boat. You will move through the course at a pace you are comfortable with and learn how to be an asset on any sailboat! The Sail Canada Basic Crew Standard will be awarded to our Competent Crew students upon successful completion of this course.
Basic Cruising – Day Skipper: students who have prior sailing experience and are looking to take control of the boat will be working on crew and skipper skills during the course. You will take on more responsibility with the goal of being confident and competent to handle the boat after the course on your own with a small crew. The Sail Canada Basic Cruising Standard will be awarded upon successful completion of the course to students who are comfortable taking full responsibility of the vessel.
Basic Cruising – Crew or Skipper
What’s the next step?
Once you have completed your Basic Cruising Standard, you are stepping into the world of boat chartering. At this point in your sailing adventure there are some classroom courses that you need to get under your belt to move into the Intermediate Cruising Standard. Sail Nelson offers all of the courses you need to get chartering including: VHF Marine Radio, Coastal Navigation, and Intermediate Cruising.