Learn to Sail with Navaia

Competent Crew & Day Skipper Courses aboard a Contessa 32

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


At Navaia Sailing School, we offer RYA-certified Competent Crew and Day Skipper training on a Contessa 32 — a legendary yacht with serious pedigree and timeless style.

  • 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.

  • The Yacht: 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

  • 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)

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

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.

Book now