The NauticEd Instructional Skipper Program
How To Upskill Your Sailing Knowledge While On Vacation
The Instructional Skipper Program
The Instructional Skipper Program is an immersive, hands-on sailing experience designed to teach you the skills you need while enjoying a yacht charter in some of the world’s most beautiful destinations. It’s more than just sailing—it’s about learning the real-world skills. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced sailor, this program provides tailored instruction, practical experience, and the confidence to take on new challenges—all while enjoying a memorable vacation with family or friends.
Whether you’re on a monohull or a catamaran, this experience is the perfect blend of education, adventure, and relaxation.
Watch and listen below as Grant Headifen, Global Director of Education for NauticEd, explains what it is like to learn on vacation.
Why the Instructional Skipper Program Stands Out
Immersive Learning in Real Conditions. Unlike traditional certifications or local training, this program places you in the heart of a real sailing adventure. Learn to manage all aspects of a yacht charter:
-
- Energy and Water Management: Gain practical knowledge of how to conserve and monitor resources onboard.
- Crew Management: Learn to lead and work with a crew, whether they’re family, friends, or hired crew members.
- Mooring Reservations: Practice navigating marina systems and securing moorings in busy charter destinations.
- Route Planning in a New Destination: Experience the complexity and excitement of planning and executing routes in unfamiliar waters.
- Provisioning: Master the art of stocking a yacht for a multi-day trip, balancing necessities and preferences.
- Weather Management: Learn to interpret weather reports and adapt plans to changing conditions.
- Navigation in Unknown Waters: Gain confidence in navigating unfamiliar waterways with charts, plotters, and real-time observations.
Who this program is for…
New Sailors:
- If you’ve dreamed of sailing but lack the confidence or experience to skipper on your own, this is the perfect way to start.
- Get a head start with real-world experience that goes beyond classroom certifications. You’ll learn the skills and nuances that only come from sailing in a real destination with a professional instructor by your side.
Novice and Intermediate Sailors:
- Hone your existing skills while enjoying a dream vacation. Whether it’s navigation, docking, anchoring, or weather planning, this program builds the confidence you need for future bareboat charters.
Experienced Sailors:
- Fine-tune advanced skills, refresh your knowledge or practice specific techniques like heavy-weather sailing, med-mooring, or multi-day planning.
Mixed Groups:
- Perfect for families or groups where some members want to learn while others want to relax and enjoy the experience.
How the Program Works
- Choose Your Format:
- Private Charter with Instructional Skipper: Charter a monohull or catamaran with your friends or family and have an instructor onboard to teach you.
- Instructor-Led Cabin Charter: Join a shared yacht, perfect for individuals or couples, and learn alongside others while enjoying a flotilla-style adventure.
- Custom-Tailored Learning:
- The program is customized to your goals and skill level.
- Learn as much—or as little—as you like, balancing education with relaxation and vacation.
- Hands-On, Real-World Experience:
- Navigate and sail in stunning destinations like the BVI, Greece, or Croatia.
- Work directly with a NauticEd American National Standards certified instructor who adapts the experience to your pace and goals.
- NauticEd Resources:
- Access online courses, logbooks, and tools to complement your onboard experience.
- Track your progress and achievements as you learn.
Program Benefits
Immersive Real-World Learning:
- Go beyond what certifications can teach you in local waterways.
- Experience the day-to-day realities of a yacht charter, from provisioning to crew management.
Confidence Building:
- Learn to handle the unexpected and gain the skills to skipper on your own in future charters.
- Navigate in unfamiliar waters, plan routes in new destinations, and adapt to changing weather.
Tailored to All Skill Levels:
- Beginners can learn the basics while enjoying the thrill of sailing in paradise.
- More advanced sailors can focus on specific areas like navigation, docking, or energy management.
Vacation Meets Education:
- Balance hands-on learning with the relaxation and joy of a sailing vacation in a top charter destination.
- Spend quality time with family and friends while gaining valuable skills.
Do I Get Certified?
With NauticEd, certifications are based on competence, which is the combination of theory knowledge, practical skills, and real-world experience. To earn the Bareboat Charter Master Certification, you need:
- To complete all the theory courses in the Bareboat Charter Master bundle.
- To be signed off on all the practical task skills associated with the certification.
- At least 50 days of sailing experience, with 25 days minimum as master of the vessel.
If you meet these requirements, a week of immersive, instructor-led training on a charter vacation could help you achieve this certification.
But What If I’m Not Ready?
Not everyone starts with the experience needed for Bareboat Charter Master certification—and that’s okay! During your week of experiential training, you can still earn a lower-level certification while gaining invaluable skills and real-world experience.
What’s the Focus of This Program?
This program is not designed to be a rigid, hardcore training session. It’s an immersive, hands-on upskilling vacation designed to teach you things you simply cannot learn at home during short day outings on local waterways.
Here, you’ll experience life aboard a yacht in a way that certifications alone can’t prepare you for:
- Managing energy, water, and provisions.
- Navigating in unfamiliar waters and planning routes.
- Adapting to weather conditions.
- Working with a crew, securing moorings, and making decisions on the fly.
The focus of this program is on learning while you vacation—discovering what it really takes to enjoy a yacht charter, with an instructor guiding you every step of the way. You’re not just learning to sail; you’re learning how to have a confident, successful, and stress-free sailing vacation.
Whether you’re a new sailor, an intermediate looking to build confidence, or someone honing advanced skills, this program offers the perfect balance of education and adventure.
Why Wait? Start Now.
The Instructional Skipper Program is perfect for anyone looking to enhance their sailing skills in an immersive, real-world setting. There’s no need to wait until you feel qualified to charter on your own—start your journey now. Book a sailing vacation with NauticEd and ask for an instructional skipper. Learn what it takes to lead your own charter, and return home with unforgettable memories, newfound skills, and the confidence to plan your next adventure.
