Learn to Sail with Navaia

A different kind of sailing school — practical, confidence-building coaching aboard a Contessa 32, or on your own boat.

Step aboard a true sailing classic and earn your stripes at sea.

Train on a beautifully restored Contessa 32 — the yacht that helped define offshore sailing.
Learn the skills, build confidence, and become the skipper.

Prefer your own boat? I’ll come to you for personalised coaching, own-boat tuition, and supported deliveries — so you gain experience while your boat gets where it needs to be.

RYA accreditation planned Spring 2026

  • Close-up of a sailboat's sail against a clear blue sky.

    Real Sailing. Real Skills.

    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.

  • Close-up of a sailboat's rigging and sail with water in the background.

    The Yacht: Bossy Boots, a Contessa 32

    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

  • Close-up of a sailboat's rigging against a blue sky with clouds.

    Flexible Course Formats

    🧭 RYA Competent Crew (5 Days or 3 weekends)

    For complete beginners or those looking to build practical experience

    You’ll learn:

    Steering, sail handling, line work, and anchoring

    Living onboard and being a useful crew member

    Safety at sea, including man overboard drills

    Working with the tides, navigating simply, and watching the weather

    🧭 RYA Day Skipper Practical (5 Days or 3 weekends)

    For aspiring skippers ready to take charge of a yacht and crew

    You’ll learn:

    Passage planning, pilotage, tides, and navigation

    Boat handling under sail and engine

    Crew management, safety leadership, and skippering decisions

    Night sailing and watchkeeping
    Pre-requisites: Navigation theory + sailing experience (ask if unsure)

    RYA acceditation planned Spring 2026

  • Several sailboats with colorful sails on calm water reflecting golden sunlight.

    For Private Groups:

    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

  • Person relaxing on a boat at sunset, lying on their back on the deck with legs crossed, wearing glasses and black shorts, with water and hills in the background.

    What’s Included

    RYA course instruction and certification

    Accommodation onboard for 5 days / 4 nights

    All meals, snacks, and drinks onboard

    Mooring fees, fuel, safety gear, waterproofs

    Navigation tools, logbook, and learning materials

  • A marine compass on a boat or yacht with the water in the background.

    What You’ll Leave With

    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

  • Yacht Deliveries — with or without you on board

    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.

  • Own-Boat Tuition — build confidence on your boat

    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.

Available dates

Tailored to You – No Fixed Dates

At our sailing school, we do things differently.
Rather than fixed schedules, we shape each course around you. Whether you'd prefer to learn over a single week or across three flexible weekends, we’ll find dates that suit your availability—and ideally, the weather too.

Just get in touch, and we’ll make it work.

Secure your space now. Use the form below to reserve a place. Payment by credit card or bank transfer within 14 days.

Book now