Course content

Seamanship navigation and meteorology.  Use of the equipment on board the yacht, rules of the road and meteorology.  This course is on a yacht larger than 15m.

Suggested itinerary

On the Friday evening you join your Instructor for a welcome drink, before spending the rest of the week visiting ports such as San Sebastian de la Gomera - giving you a chance to see the unspoiled areas of the Canary Islands.

On Saturday morning the course proper starts at about 10:00 with a comprehensive safety briefing and familiarisation with the boat and its equipment.  After lunch you will prepare the boat for sea and set sail for a gentle introduction to the boat including man over board techniques, points of sail etc.  You will often return to the base marina on the Saturday night.  If you are on a more advanced course, or crewing on one, then you will often sail for another harbour.

On the Sunday morning you sail west around Tenerife, perhaps stopping for the night in the beautiful fishing harbour of San Juan - anchoring for a peaceful night amongst the fishing boats.  If you like fish we can suggest a wonderful Spanish fish restaurant that is hidden away in the back streets.  Other options for the night is anchoring in El Pris and also mooring on the pontoons in the harbour of Los Gigantes.  Further north can be found Masca bay – a perfect anchorage, ideal for a swim or lunch stop.

We then cross from Tenerife, on a beam reach through the wind acceleration zone, to San Sebastian de La Gomera for a night in a marina.  This is the town that Christopher Columbus departed from on three of his four trips across to America.  In this picturesque Canarian town you can find a steak restaurant to rival the best, and a fish restaurant (known to those who have sailed with us before as Thomas’) where, if you are lucky, the locals join together for a sing song after the food has finished cooking.

We usually then depart for Santa Cruz de La Palma.  The locals call La Palma “Isla Bonita” (beautiful island) - it is the greenest of the Canary Islands – as well as being the home to the world’s largest volcanic crater! After a morning maybe exploring the town, you then sail over to La Gomera mooring in Valle Gran Rey.

You moor in the old fishing harbour - either anchor stern to in the harbour (Mediterranean style), or tie onto the harbour wall.  Puerto de Vueltas, the other name for Valle Gran Rey (the valley of the King), is a delightful town surrounded by red cliffs, with narrow back streets.  This wonderful setting is one of the best in the Canary Islands - a world apart from the resorts of Las Americas!  Once you have watched the sun go down over the ocean from a little bar you can enjoy a delightful Lebanese restaurant or if you fancy Spanish food you will not be disappointed.  The only problem with the town is it is so hard to leave its peaceful environment.

From Valle Gran Rey we either make our way back to San Sebastian.  On the Wednesday afternoon we wend our way back to Las Galletas – just in time for the Thursday regatta and the chance to race the other yachts.

On the evening of Thursday we have our end of course drinks in our classroom, with the certificate presentation.  A great chance to chat over the highlights of the week – and commiserate with the losers of the race!

On the Friday morning we are available to take you back to the airport from any time after 10:00.

Notes: This course takes place on one of our larger yachts – and thus we often combine this course with milebuilding.  As this course is on a >15m yacht you will not get much opportunity to boat handle in confined spaces. 

We ask our clients to arrive on a Friday between 10:00 and 18:30 so we can collect you from Tenerife South airport (we can collect you between 10:30 and 19:30).  Outside these times we ask you to get a taxi to the marina which costs about €15.

We ask you to get a flight home on the Friday between 12:00 and 21:00 (we can take you to the airport between 10:00 and 19:00).  Outside these times we ask you to get a taxi to the marina which costs about €15.

As usual with Club Yachting the following is included:

• All our clients get their own cabin – no need to share or sleep in the saloon;
  
• A client instructor ratio of 4:1;
  
• Transfers from and to Tenerife South airport are included between 10:00 and 19:00 on the Friday – no additional costs or waiting around for a taxi;
  
• Because of our location you have the advantage that you normally arrive in our marina within 20 minutes of collecting your bags;
  
• Your course takes you away from our base marina, giving you the chance to explore the beautiful and unspoilt areas of La Gomera and sometimes La Palma or Gran Canaria;
  
• Tuition from an experienced Instructor – we do not use instructors who have just qualified;
  
• 6 full days of tuition, and 7 nights accommodation – we understand that you are on holiday and give you time to relax as well as learn;
  
• Freshly laundered sheets, duvets and towels – no sleeping bags with liners or any need to bring your own;
  
• Light weight waterproofs – just in case;
  
• Food and drink on board – including a including a glass of wine, gin and tonic or a beer after a days sailing;
  
• Two evening meals on board the yacht;
  
• All mooring fees, diesel and gas – no hidden extras.
  

Notes: We do not include: flights, travel insurance or evening meals ashore.

Must bring your own:

Sun protection – Sun glasses, sun hat and non oily sun cream (without carotene) are a definite must!

Music / DVD – there is a CD on the boat (and a DVD player on Club Class boats), so please bring with you a CD / DVD or 2.

Mobile phone charging – There is a 12v “cigarette” style socket on board the yacht which is live even when sailing, and a 240v socket (Spanish type) for when connected to shore power.

Medication – If you are taking any medication please advise your Instructor on commencement of the course.

Health care – Health care in the Canary Islands is good, but it is a good idea to collect the EHIC form from your local post office or online at www.ehic.org.uk.

Seasickness - It is advisable to bring with you a seasickness remedy if you have suffered in the past.  There is a local chemist in the town of Las Galletas – ask your Instructor where it is at the Friday night drink.

Notes: All bedding, bed linen (sheet, duvet cover and pillow) and a towel are provided.  Please make sure that you let us know if you suffer from allergies as we provide feather pillows as standard.

Recommended clothes

The climate in the Canaries is temperate.  You are recommended to bring with you shorts and t-shirts, a jumper/cardigan, long jeans/trousers and jumper for the odd cooler evening in the winter months, shoes with non-marking bottoms for use on the boat, swimwear and something for dinners ashore.  As the boat has limited storage space a sailing bag / holdall is the most suitable luggage.

Following extensive feedback from our clients we have introduced some other options on our larger Club Class yachts according to which option you book: