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Becoming a Sailor - How it Works 2027 Sea of Cortez Sailing Flotilla

Instructional Sailing Adventures

3-Day and 5-Day Liveaboard Instructional Cruises – Monohull

Over the last year our clients have expressed more interest in sailing adventures that don’t include getting a sailing certification! That is, they just want to learn more and sharpen their skills on a sailing adventure without the tests, and without the homework, just learning by having the whole firsthand experience.

The Sea of Cortez is the perfect sailing venue for all of that, and La Paz is the perfect destination – easy to get to, peaceful, and beautiful. And so, we have put together these instructional sailing adventures where you learn by doing, and certification is optional.

Take a trip to La Paz and get your Sail Training Adventure underway!

  • Sailing on a sunny day with mountains in the background and blue ocean waves near the boat.
  • Sailing yacht glides through blue ocean with mountainous island views on the horizon under clear skies.
  • Sailboat cruising near a rugged cliff in blue waters, under a clear sky. Ideal boating adventure location.
  • Sailing at sunset on a calm sea, enjoying the panoramic ocean view from the boat deck. Perfect for marine adventures.
  • Sailboat anchored in turquoise bay surrounded by rocky cliffs under a clear blue sky. Perfect for sailing adventures.
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Experience the Sea of Cortez

  • Combine a La Paz vacaton with a multi-day liveaboard sail training adventure.
  • Learn at your own pace and focus on your goals with an expert instructor.
  • Join your partner and build confidence as you learn by doing.
  • Optional Bareboat Charter Master and SLC certification on 5-Day trips.

Take a private cabin on a 3-day Introductory Cruise or 5-day Intensive Cruise, and get the training and experience you are looking for. Optional Bareboat Charter Master/SLC certification is available on 5-Day courses (prerequisites apply).

About 3-Day v 5-Day Contact/Register
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– About Multi-Day Sailing Adventures –

A multi-day sailing adventure is a unique and exhilarating experience that allows you to connect with nature in a way that is hard to describe. You will find it both relaxing and challenging at different times as you begin to develop the physical and mental skills of sailing. And, a stunning new cove at the end of each day is its own reward.

If you have thought about taking multi-day sailing trips on your own, this is how to learn by doing. Whether it is your first time or you have experience, you will get expert instruction tailored to your goals. Some sailors are focused on certification, and others just want the experience of being out there.

Every day you will particpate in routine checks of the vessel, consider the weather forecast, make a passage plan, weigh anchor and go sailing. You will learn how we navigate to the next cove and choose the best place to anchor. And then we get to take the dinghy ashore to explore, go snorkeling, or just relax.

3-Day Introductory or 5-Day Intensive

Skills You Learn

    • General safety and seamanship.
    • Navigation: visual, electronic, chart work.
    • Sail trim, reefing, managing power.
    • Spinnaker if conditions allow.
    • Helmsmanship, steering to the trim, heaving-to.
    • Crew overboard rescue maneuvers.
    • Anchoring.
    • Dinghy operations.
    • Daily routines and checklists.

The 3-Day Introductory Cruise

Perfect introduction to the Sea of Cortez when sailing time is limited. Experience navigating and sailing up to the islands with two nights at anchor, and time for snorkeling and exploring ashore

  • Find out what multi-day cruising is all about.
  • Perfect way to get back into cruising after a long time away from sailing.
  • Excellent experience when you are starting your sailing journey and want to charter or buy your own boat one day.
  • First timers can join just for the experience.
  • You can add a day for additional cost.

The 5-Day Intensive Cruise

Full immersion is what you get, practicing the every-day-skills of passage planning, navigation, sailing, cove selection, anchoring, responding to weather conditions, dinghy operations, vessel checks and upkeep. Every night is at anchor with daily opportunities for snorkeling and exploring ashore.

  • Round out your skills – go farther and experience more remote anchorages.
  • Learn to consider the weather forecast and implications for passage planning and anchoring.
  • Perfect opportunity for working together with your partner.
  • First-timers can join just for the experience.
  • Bareboat Charter Master Certification/SLC is optional for experienced sailors. Prerequisites apply.*

*BBCM/SLC certification candidates have significant online course work to complete. To meet the minimum sea-time requirements, your logbook should demonstrate at least 50 days of sailing experience, with at least 25 of those days spent as the master of the vessel.

Certification

Sailing certification course: Bareboat Charter Master by NauticEd. Boost your sailing skills and confidence.
NauticEd SLC logo for sailing license and credentials, Mediterranean accepted and encouraged.

Bareboat Charter Master and SLC certification

Get your BBCM and SLC on a 5-Day Intensive Sailing Adventure

BBCM certification from NauticEd is recognized internationally, enabling skippers to charter sailing yachts globally. Mediterranean destinations and the Seychelles require the SLC Mediterranean Sailing License.

Get expert guidance and coaching, training and assessment to earn your certification

Resources:

Course Fees & Registration

3-Day Introductory Cruise

5-Day Intensive Cruise

Upcoming Dates

3-Day Introductory Cruise

  • 23-25 October, 2026
  • 12-14 November, 2026 Sold Out
  • 20-22 November, 2026

5-Day Intensive Cruise

  • 7-11 December, 2026
  • 15-19 February, 2027 Sold Out

–  OR –

Schedule your own dates

Bring your friends and family.

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Contact us to register or ask questions

To check on available dates please fill out the form below and we’ll contact you to answer questions and set a schedule that works for you!  You can also just call or email:
Marc Hughston Cell/WhatsApp +1 949-939-8123
Email: SetSail@SantanaSailing.com

Course Registration Form
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Training You Can Trust

Our Commitment to Your Sailing Competence: We really want you to have the skills - we know that you do too.  So when you continue training with us through Skipper Large Keelboat level, you will be ready to charter a boat on your own or we’ll invite you back for more training, free of charge. That’s our commitment.

See all the details at Commitment To Sailing Competence. Limitations apply.

American National Standard - Sail

Our training methodology meets the U.S. Coast Guard's prescribed On-Water Recreational Boating Skills Standard – SAIL, the newly released 2017 American National Standard for on-water instruction in entry-level recreational sailboat operation.

 

Professional Sailing Instruction

Santana Sailing's instructors are extraordinarily well-qualified: experienced, mature, trained to American National and International Standards, and assessed to the highest standards and expectations in recreational sailing.

Trust through verification: please feel welcome to read Santana Sailing's student reviews ›

NauticEd - 21st Century Sailing Education

NauticEd Flagship School

Santana Sailing offers fully-accredited NauticEd Training and Certification. NauticEd is the international leader in sailing education and certification, which affords our students the best educational resources and certification in the United States as well as abroad when sailing internationally.

Which course is right for you?

Santana Sailing's instruction focuses on goal-based competence -  aligning our instruction with your sailing goals and experience. We do NOT offer "zero-to-hero" or require unneeded courses like many other schools. Instead, Santana Sailing's courses are designed to train competent sailors, based on their prior experience, to the highest training standards in the U.S. And the approach works well - read our student reviews >

You can start with any course below based on your goals and if you have the experience or prior training for that course. Select a course below for more information, and certainly contact us with questions or to discuss which course is best for you.