Forget crowded boats and rushed instruction. We keep things personal.
Our courses are limited to just 2–3 students, or can be booked privately for couples, friends, or families — even with kids in tow. You’ll learn at your own pace, with plenty of time on the helm, space to ask questions, and a more meaningful experience of life at sea.

A Lymington-built legend, the Contessa 32 is everything a training yacht should be:

Safe, strong, and beautifully balanced

Responsive and rewarding under sail

Free from distractions — you’ll feel the wind, trim the sails, and helm with purpose

Compact but comfortable, perfect for learning close-quarters skills and life aboard

For complete beginners or anyone wanting to build real confidence on the water

These hands-on sailing days are designed to give you practical skills, comfort onboard, and a solid foundation in yacht handling. No prior experience needed — just curiosity and a willingness to learn.

You’ll learn:

Steering and sail handling

Rope work (knots, lines, and mooring)

Anchoring and basic boat handling

Living onboard and becoming a useful crew member

Safety at sea, including man-overboard awareness and drills

Understanding tides, simple navigation, and weather awareness

Perfect if you want to try sailing for the first time, prepare for a formal qualification later, or simply gain confidence before joining longer adventures.

For aspiring skippers or recently qualified Day Skippers wanting more real-world experience

These courses focus on practical skippering skills, decision-making, and confidence in handling a yacht and crew. They are ideal as pre-course preparation or post-qualification consolidation.

You’ll develop skills in:

Passage planning and pilotage

Tides, charts, and practical navigation

Boat handling under sail and engine

Crew communication and onboard leadership

Safety procedures and skipper decision-making

Night sailing and watchkeeping (where conditions allow)

Suggested experience:
Some prior sailing or navigation knowledge is helpful, but if you’re unsure, just ask — we’ll guide you to the right level.

Looking Ahead

RYA Training Centre accreditation planned for Spring 2027.
While I am a RYA Cruising Instructor Navaia Sailing School is not yet RYA-accredited. Until then, all training is delivered as independent practical coaching and experience-building — focused on real skills, real confidence, and real time on the water rather than certificates.

Book the boat for yourself — ideal for couples, families, or small friend groups

Bring your partner or teenager along and learn together

We adapt the pace and content to match your group’s experience and goals

Kids aged ~10+ welcome if accompanied and ready for adventure

Course instruction and certification

Accommodation onboard

All meals, snacks, and drinks onboard

Mooring fees, fuel, safety gear, waterproofs

Navigation tools, logbook, and learning materials

Confidence at sea

Practical skills that stick

New friends (if you join a mixed group)

And a deeper sense of what’s possible when you trust the wind

Need your boat moved to a new location?
I offer professional yacht deliveries along the South Coast, the UK, and further afield.

You choose the style:

Delivery with you on board — learn as we go, build confidence, and gain miles under guidance.

Full delivery service — I move the yacht for you, with professional crew if required.

Your boat is treated with the same respect and care as if it were my own.
Clear communication, weather-based decision making, and a safety-first mindset — always.

Just bought a boat? Or had it for a while but not using it as much as you'd hoped?

Sometimes you don’t need a course — you just need guidance.

I offer calm, confidence-focused tuition on your own boat, covering whatever you want to master:

- Marina manoeuvres & berthing

- Sail trim & handling in stronger winds

- Anchoring & pilotage

- Passage planning & navigation

- Shakedown baot and sails after purchase or refit

You set the goals.
We build your confidence — on your boat, at your pace.

I don’t take over — I help you become the skipper.

£25 plus VAT per hour for boat consulting.

£50 plus VAT per hour or £250 plus VAT per day for practical sailing training

£100 plus VAT per day for boat hire (if not own boat)

VAT will be charged at the prevailing UK rate where applicable.