Recreational Sailing in Small Sailboats Course
This course gives you the essential skills to sail small sailboats safely and confidently. You will learn the parts of the boat and the principles of stability and sail propulsion, how to prepare the boat and rig it before leaving, how to read the wind and choose your point of sail, trim the sails and steer, how to tack, gybe, launch and land at beaches, buoys and pontoons, and how to respond to a person overboard, a capsize or a gear failure, finishing with a complete plan for a real outing.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
You are starting from scratch in this subject. The program is designed precisely for that.
What is the Recreational Sailing in Small Sailboats Course?
This short course is designed for sailing enthusiasts who want a solid foundation for sailing small boats safely, beginners looking for a practical introduction to sailing, sail trim and safety, owners of small sailboats who want to sail independently and responsibly, families and groups of friends, and anyone looking for a new outdoor hobby connected with nature. You will study how recreational sailing differs from dinghy racing, coastal cruising and nautical excursions, the parts of the boat, stability and steering, environmental conditions and main risks, boat preparation and rigging, wind, points of sail, sail trim and the essential maneuvers.
What sets this course apart: it follows the real sequence of a day on the water, from choosing and checking the boat to returning to shore; it puts safety at the center, with lifejackets, crew roles, person-overboard drills, capsize recovery and clear cancellation criteria; and it ends with an applied project in which you plan a real outing on a dinghy, lake, bay or sheltered coast, including basic maintenance and environmental good practice.
Program highlights
- Know your boat: hull, deck, mast, boom, rigging, rudder, centreboard, sheets, halyards and sails.
- Before you sail: choosing the boat, checking the gear, rigging, hoisting sails and balancing the crew.
- Wind and points of sail: windward, leeward, true and apparent wind, close-hauled to running and the no-go zone.
- Sail trim and steering: reading the telltales, controlling heel and depowering in gusts.
- Essential maneuvers: tacking, gybing, launching and landing at beaches, slipways, buoys and pontoons.
- Handling incidents: person overboard, capsize and righting, re-boarding, tangled lines and rudder failure.
Syllabus of the Recreational Sailing in Small Sailboats Course
5 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of recreational sailing, dinghy sailing and initial safety in small sailboats
- 1.1. The concept of recreational sailing in small sailboats and the differences between dinghy sailing, coastal cruising, competitive sailing and nautical excursions
- 1.2. Main parts of the sailboat: hull, deck, mast, boom, rigging, rudder, centreboard, sheets, halyards and sails
- 1.3. Basic principles of buoyancy, stability, balance, sail propulsion and steering the boat
- 1.4. Environmental conditions: wind, current, waves, depth, temperature, visibility and nearby maritime traffic
- 1.5. Main risks: capsize, falling into the water, being hit by the boom, fatigue, drifting, disorientation and sudden wind shifts
Equipment, preparing the sailboat, rigging and basic maneuvers before setting sail
- 2.1. Choosing the sailboat according to level, crew, sailing area, stability, sail area and forecast conditions
- 2.2. Checking the hull, rudder, centreboard, mast, boom, rigging, sails, lines, fittings and safety items
- 2.3. Personal preparation: lifejacket, technical clothing, footwear, sun protection, hydration, gloves and basic communication
- 2.4. Rigging the boat, hoisting the sails, initial sheet adjustment, checking knots and keeping lines tidy on board
- 2.5. Boarding, weight distribution, crew positions and checking stability before leaving
Wind, points of sail, sail trim and basic control of the sailboat
- 3.1. Principles of wind: windward, leeward, true wind, apparent wind, gusts and wind shifts
- 3.2. Points of sail: close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, running and the no-go zone into the wind
- 3.3. Basic sail trim using sheets, tension, angle, sail shape and reading luffing
- 3.4. Steering with the rudder, balancing the boat, controlling heel and coordination between helm and crew
- 3.5. Changing speed, depowering, controlled stopping and regaining control in gusts
Essential maneuvers, tacking, gybing, landing and recovery from incidents
- 4.1. Tacking: preparation, coordination, changing sides, adjusting the sheets and returning to course
- 4.2. Basic gybing: controlling the boom, changing the sail over, crew safety and preventing knocks
- 4.3. Launching and landing at a beach, slipway, buoy, pontoon or sheltered area according to wind and available space
- 4.4. Recreational person-overboard maneuver: alerting, controlling the boat, safe approach and initial recovery
- 4.5. Responding to a capsize, righting the boat, re-boarding, loss of gear, tangled lines or rudder failure
Applied project in recreational sailing in small sailboats
- 5.1. Defining the case: dinghy outing, sailing school practice, sheltered coastal sailing, lake, bay or family activity
- 5.2. Diagnosing the environment, crew level, type of sailboat, wind forecast, risks and sailing conditions
- 5.3. Designing the outing plan with boat preparation, route, planned points of sail, maneuvers, timings and cancellation criteria
- 5.4. Drawing up the safety plan with lifejackets, communication, roles, person overboard, capsize, return and incident response
- 5.5. Proposal for basic maintenance, environmental good practice and recommendations for technical progression on future outings
Duration and format of the Recreational Sailing in Small Sailboats Course
It is 300 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Recreational Sailing in Small Sailboats Course
Career opportunities after the Recreational Sailing in Small Sailboats Course
Questions about the Recreational Sailing in Small Sailboats Course
From behind the beam, roughly over the rear quarter of the boat. The sails are eased well out so that they stay full without luffing, and it is usually a fast and comfortable point of sail.
To provide lateral resistance so that the wind does not push the boat sideways, which allows it to sail across and towards the wind instead of simply drifting downwind.
No. The course starts from the basics, with the parts of the boat, wind and points of sail, and progresses to the essential maneuvers and incident handling.
No. Navalis teaches the subject; where a license or certificate is required to skipper a boat, it is issued by the competent authority after its own requirements are met.
The course covers how to prevent a capsize and how to respond if one happens: staying with the boat, righting it, re-boarding and checking the gear before carrying on or returning to shore.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with concise video lessons, online exercises, complementary materials and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The course comprises 300 hours of study across 5 modules of 60 hours each. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at sailing enthusiasts, beginners, owners of small sailboats, families and groups of friends and anyone interested in outdoor activities; no previous nautical knowledge is required, although familiarity with basic concepts helps, and enough physical fitness to handle a small sailboat is recommended.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer, tablet or smartphone with a stable internet connection and an up-to-date browser.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.