Becoming a Sailor – How it Works

Theory Knowledge + Practical Training + Experience = Competence

Becoming a sailor and developing competence in sailing is a process that combines a foundation of theoretical knowledge of sailing, practical training in the skills of sailing, and experience in putting those skills to use.

Theory Knowledge
NauticEd online courses give you the knowledge you need. Interactive, interesting, and available any time, you can learn what you need before you even get on the boat. From the basics of how a sailboat sails to advanced ocean voyaging, you learn navigation, safety at sea, weather, who gives way, terminology, tides, sail trim…everything.

Practical Training
The best way to learn is with an expert sailor who is actually an expert instructor, and can adapt to your learning style and goals.

At Santana Sailing, we spend all the instructional time sailing the boat, not sailing a desk in a classroom. Our goal is to help you achieve sailing confidence and competence.

With the foundation built and a few miles under your keel, you will be ready for more advanced techniques and seamanship practices that we can tailor to your specific goals.

Experience
There is just no subsitute for days on the water and miles under the keel. This is where the theory knowledge and practical training come together. Here are ways to gain more sea time and experience.

• Join us on one of our multi-day Sailing Adventures for certification, or just for fun and learning, on a monohull or catamaran. Another way to gain experience is join our Sea of Cortez Flotilla, or one of the many NauticEd Flotillas organized around the world.
• After you have your Skipper Large Keelboat certification, charter a salboat at your local marina once or twice a month with family and friends.
• Look into Offshore Passage Opportunities, a networking site for boats that need crew, and sailors looking for boats. If you want to cross an ocean on someone else’s boat, this is the place to start.

Here is The Pathway in Three Steps – The Certification Series

1. Skipper Large Keelboat certification, Level I (see Skipper Certification Pathway infographic)
   • Complete the online NauticEd Skipper Large Keelboat coursework; complete up to eight days of on-the-water instruction; pass the skills assessment.
   • Most new sailors complete these three on-the-water courses:
     • 1) Intro to Sailing (two days)
     • 2) Basic Skippering Skills (three days) and
     • 3) Skipper Large Keelboat (three days). Sailors with some foundation skills can start with Basic Skippering Skills.
   • Qualifies you to charter a 30–45-foot monohull in moderate conditions, daylight hours, near coastal. Sail with friends or charter on your own to log days of experience. You are shooting for Level III, with 50 days of experience.
2. Bareboat Charter Master certification, Level III (see Certification, License, and Resume)
   • Complete NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle of courses.
   • Log 50 days on the water to gain Level III.
   • Pass the Bareboat Charter Master practical assessment with a one-day on-the-water assessment or up to a seven-day sail training adventure.
3. SLC Mediterranean Sailing License, Level III (see How to Gain Your SLC)
   • Complete NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master bundle of courses, SLC exam online, and all other requirements listed on your NauticEd International Boating License page.
   • Pass a one-day assessment, two-day training and assessment, or complete the training and assessment on one of our Sailing Adventures.

View our STUDENT GUIDE to see how it all works together