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Year round sailing at the gateway to the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, Gibraltar offers exciting opportunities to cruise the Spanish Costa del Sol and visit Morocco.

RYA courses are offered through RYA Recognised Training centre Rock Sailing in Gibraltar, which offers a full range of RYA practical, live aboard courses from Marina Bay Complex, just 5 minutes from the airport.

The sailing in and around the Straits of Gibraltar presents a challenging, yet safe, year-round training area with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures. The wind is usually between Force 4-5 with only rare extremes occurring during the winter months. During the course you will be sailing one of their teaching yachts from 36' to 40'. Students are limited to 5 per yacht to allow optimal teaching conditions.

All courses follow the RYA syllabus but are not suitable for children under 12. Certificates are awarded at the end of the week to those pupils who meet all the requirements of the courses.

Learn to sail in Gibraltar

  • Overview
    RYA Day Skipper course
    RYA Competent Crew Course
    RYA Gibraltar
    Learn to sail Gibraltar
    RYA course Gibraltar

    Overview

    • Learn from the experts to skipper your own yacht
    • Enjoy a holiday whilst gaining valuable new skills
    • Breakfasts & lunches onboard included
    • Year round courses
    • Courses for all abilities
    • Children aged 12 and over can take part
    • Individuals or couples/groups all welcome
  • Competent Crew

    RYA Competent Crew Course

    A 5-day course for the complete beginner. This is where you will find out what sailing and life aboard a sailing yacht is all about. No prior knowledge is required and the aim of the course is to turn you into a valuable and useful crew member.

    Suggested pre-course experience: None
    Assumed knowledge: None
    Minimum duration: 5 days
    Course content: Basic seamanship and helmsmanship
    Ability after course: By the end of the course you should be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout, row a dinghy and assist in all the day to day routines on board.

    5 Days Liveaboard Practical Tuition

    1 Feb-31 Dec £749/person.

    Includes basic breakfast & light lunch.
    Price based on 2 people sharing a double cabin. (
    £895 single occupancy private cabin / £1450 double occupancy private cabin / £3000 private yacht
    Flights and airport transfer not included.

    Course runs: 17.00 Sunday - 09.00 Saturday with 6 nights onboard

    Flights to Gibraltar: Flights & airport transfers are not included. Scheduled flights to Gibraltar daily from Gatwick and Luton. Please ring for the latest flight availability and prices. Airport transfers in Gibraltar 5 mins, £5/taxi each way.

    RYA courses are offered through RYA Recognised Training centre Rock Sailing.

  • Day Skipper

    RYA Day Skipper Course

    This 5-day course is suitable for most people, the next step up from Competent Crew and your first experience of being the Skipper...the person in charge. You will need to have either completed the Day Skipper shore-based course or have a good knowledge of basic navigation to this level. You will learn to handle the yacht, navigate and make both operational and tactical decisions - all under the watchful eye of your instructor. Mistakes are frequent but an essential part of the learning process. Very much a 'hands-on' course, where everyone gets a go and everyone learns.

    Suggested pre-course experience: 5 days, 100 miles, 4 night hours on board a sailing yacht.
    Assumed knowledge: Basic navigation and helmsmanship. It is recommended that you attend the Day Skipper theory course before taking this practical course.
    Minimum duration: 5 days
    Course content: Pilotage, boat handling, seamanship and navigation.
    Ability after course: Can skipper a small yacht in familiar waters by day.

    5 Days Liveaboard Practical Tuition

    1 Feb-31 Dec £749/person.
    £895 single occupancy private cabin
    £1,450 double occupancy private cabin
    £3,000 private yacht

    Includes basic breakfast & light lunch.
    Price based on 2 people sharing a double cabin.
    Flights and airport transfers not included.

    Course runs: 17.00 Sunday - 09.00 Saturday with 6 nights onboard

    Flights to Gibraltar: Flights & airport transfers not included. Scheduled flights to Gibraltar daily from Gatwick and Luton. Please ring for latest flight availability and prices. Airport transfers in Gibraltar 5 mins, £5/taxi each way.

    RYA courses are offered through RYA Recognised Training centre Rock Sailing.

  • Coastal Skipper

    RYA Coastal Skipper Course

    A 5-day course for the more advanced sailor who has both completed the shore based Coastal Skipper course and possesses both practical sailing skills to at least Day Skipper level and has some experience.' You will learn to use more advanced navigational techniques and "manage" the yacht on slightly longer passages. It is also possible to be examined at this level.

    Suggested pre-course experience: 15 days, 2 days as skipper, 300 miles, 8 night hours
    Assumed knowledge: Boat handling to the standard of the Day Skipper practical sail cruising course and navigation to the standard of the Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster theory course.
    Minimum duration: 5 days
    Course content: Passage planning, pilotage by day and night, boat handling, safety and emergency situations
    Ability after course: Skipper a yacht on coastal passages by day and night

    5 Days Liveaboard Practical Tuition

    1 Feb-31 Dec £850/person.
    £1,000 single occupancy private cabin
    £1,650 double occupancy private cabin

    Includes basic breakfast & light lunch.
    Price based on 2 people sharing a double cabin.
    Flights and airport transfers not included.

    Course runs: 17.00 Sunday - 09.00 Saturday with 6 nights onboard

    Flights to Gibraltar: Flights & airport transfers not included. Scheduled flights to Gibraltar daily from Gatwick and Luton. Please ring for latest flight availability and prices. Airport transfers in Gibraltar 5 mins, £5/taxi each way.

    RYA courses are offered through RYA Recognised Training centre Rock Sailing.

"We would like to thank you for arranging another superb holiday for us in the Dodecanese. We found Kos and the other islands very quiet, with no evidence at all of refugees/migrants. We love sailing in this area, the sailing is great and the people incredibly friendly. Summed up in a message home "The sun is shining, the water's warm, and the beer is cold. Come and join us!"

Kos 2016 - R&K.M
Trustpilot

Sailing Qualifications

To skipper a bareboat charter or flotilla yacht, you need to hold a practical sailing certificate equivalent to RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC). For charters in Greece, you must now have the ICC certificate. You must also be assisted by at least one competent crew member over the age of 18.

The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates: RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence), RYA Coastal, RYA Yachtmaster, ASA IPC (International Proficiency Certificate) or the IYT (International Yacht Training) Passport. If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA). If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 12 years old and does not have a photo ID, then we would also strongly advise applying for an ICC or IPC. If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use this link - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.

For charters in Croatia, Malta and the Canaries, at least one member of the crew or the skipper will also need a VHF licence.

RYA qualifications can be obtained by RYA sailing schools in the UK or alternatively choose from one of our overseas centres in Gibraltar, Greece or Turkey.

For Seychelles, the local authorities require an ICC for the skipper of a bareboat or flotilla yacht charter.

For Caribbean and Tropical charters, formal qualifications are not compulsory, however, you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew. A brief sailing resume should be provided to outline your experience.

If you don't hold the relevant qualifications then why not add a skipper?

Sailing Levels

Level 1

Winds force 2-3 (4-11 Knots)combined with generally shorter distances. Good for beginner or intermediate sailors. Line-of-sight navigation but basic knowledge of charts and ability to plot your position required.

Level 2

Winds force 3-5 (7-21 Knots) with approximately 15-20nm per day. Intermediate experience required. Predominately line of sight navigation but an understanding of how to sail in open water.

Level 3

Winds force 4-6 (11-27 Knots) with mileage of approximately 20nm+ per day. Ideal for experienced skippers looking to venture out to new destinations. Day skipper standard but with experienced crew would be recommended.