Basic Course
Every sailor’s journey begins with the first pull of a sheet and the whisper of wind in canvas. This introductory course transforms curiosity into competence. You’ll learn the essentials of boat handling, wind awareness, sail trim, and crew coordination. Under the guidance of a professional instructor, you’ll steer, tack, and gybe — learning not just what to do, but why it matters. By the end, the terminology of sailing becomes second nature: sails, knots, headings, and confidence all fall into place. Whether you dream of coastal cruising or simply want to feel at home at the helm, this is where your voyage truly begins.
The boat:
· description and terminology
· Equipment and safety gear
· Basic seamanship concepts
· Trim and balance (boat trim / weight distribution)
Crew:
· positions and duties
The sails:
· description and rigging
· Care and maintenance
· Sail trim and adjustment
Knots:
· bowline, reef knot, clove hitch, figure-eight knot, round turn & belaying (two halfhitches)
· Throwing and recovering a line
The engine:
· precautions and starting procedure
· Departing and arriving in port
Wind:
· description, points of sail
· Possible courses and tacking (beating)
· Sail orientation and trimming
· True wind vs apparent wind
Points of sail:
· close-hauled, beam reach, broad reach, running
· Wing-and-wing sailing (butterfly rig)
· Techniques and common mistakes
Tacks:description of the tack (bow turn / coming about)
· Techniques and common errors
· Gybe: description of the gybe (stern turn / gybing)
· Techniques and common errors
Manoeuvering:
· Changing genoa to jib
· Reefing the mainsail
· Mooring buoy: picking up a mooring buoy
· Heaving-to: description of the maneuver
· Man overboard: recovery procedure
· Docking / Mooring: description of the maneuver
Right-of-way & navigation rules:
· Starboard tack vs port tack
· Windward vs leeward boat
· Right-of-way upwind vs downwind
