Georgian Bay Sailing Coach offers both practical skill-focused training and full certification courses & assessment. We train on our sailboat or yours!
Each course includes online knowledge-theory before applying it with our on-water practical training and experience. Learn more here >
Our training is tailored to your sailing goals and experience. Contact us to discuss what training plan and schedule works best for you.
Skill-Focused Training
Maneuvering Under Power · Maneuvering Under Sail · Anchoring · Crew Overboard · Sailing at Night · Heavy Weather Sailing · Crew · Navigation
Specialized courses focused on advancing fundamental sailing skills. The skills courses are designed to supplement and progress a sailor’s experience and education. Each is excellent learning and experience whether you’re a new just learning sailor, experienced boat owner, or thinking of chartering and looking to improve your knowledge and skills in specific areas.
Maneuvering Under Power
No need to stress about using the “iron Jenny” (engine) when docking and maneuvering. We teach many techniques to maneuver a sailboat like a pro.
Upon completion you’ll receive the Maneuvering Under Power endorsement.
Online Theory Course: Maneuvering Under Power Clinic
On-water Practical Training:
- Momentum
- Maneuvering in forward
- Prop walk
- Maneuvering in reverse
- Sideways movement & spinning
- Leaving the dock
- Returning to the dock
- Knots & lines handling
Maneuvering Under Sail
Mastering your sails simply translates into more speed, safety and fun.
Upon completion you’ll receive the Maneuvering Under Sail endorsement.
Online Theory Course: FREE Basic Sail Trim Course + Sail Trim Clinic
Recommended: Skipper Course
On-water Practical Training:
- Points of sail
- Steering / Rules of the road
- Proper winch techniques
- Tacking & Jibing
- Heading up & Bearing away
- Luffing up & stopping
- Heaving-to
Anchoring
“Sinking an anchor” may sound easy enough, until you’re sleeping on the hook! We teach techniques to make anchoring easy as well as secure.
Upon completion you’ll receive the Anchoring On-the-Water endorsement.
Online Theory Course: Anchoring a Sailboat Clinic
On-water Practical Training:
- Choosing the right spot & equipment
- Using proper hand signal communication
- Setting/raising the anchor
- Tying to shore
- Etiquette
Crew Overboard (COB)
Practice makes perfect with crew overboard situations! There are many techniques and challenges, and in the ‘real world’ you need to make life saving decisions in a matter of seconds.
Upon completion you’ll receive the Crew Overboard endorsement.
Online Theory Course: Safety at Sea Clinic
On-water Practical Training:
- Emergency action list
- Recovery under sail (at least 2 methods)
- Recovery under power
- Recovery of a disabled body
- Hypothermia
Sailing at Night
Pop quiz: what do the above lights above mean? Sailing at night is wonderful and confusing – and best learned by knowledge + experience.
Upon completion you’ll receive the Night Sailing Navigation endorsement.
Online Theory Course: Coastal Navigation Clinic
On-water Practical Training:
- Identify local lighted marks
- Identify correct lightning on local traffic
- Landfall approach
- Night-time equipment
- Crew organization
*Answer: Fl G (2+1) 6s and Fl R (4) 6s against a backdrop of city lights
Heavy Weather Sailing | Storm Tactics
At some point all sailors encounter heavy weather. Your first decision is whether to even leave the dock! From there, dealing with heavy weather requires planning and skill.
Upon completion you’ll receive the Heavy Weather Experience endorsement.
Online Theory Course: Safety at Sea Clinic
Recommended: Weather Clinic
On-water Practical Training:
- Making a storm management checklist
- Tactics to weather a storm
- Heaving-to and staying behind your own slick
- Packing a ditch bag
Skipper’s Partner (What If???)
Statistically, it’s likely that the most experienced sailor aboard will be injured (or worse go overboard). Is your sailing partner prepared to take control? Also (and legally), your partner will also be a ‘lookout’ responsible for identifying navigational hazards….
Upon completion you’ll receive a Basic Sailing Skills endorsement.
Online Portion: FREE Navigation Rules Clinic + Introduction to Sailing
On-water Practical Training:
- How to start and stop the engine
- How to stop the boat under power
- How to spin the boat under power
- How to dock the boat under power
- How to stop the boat under sail
- How to reduce the speed under sail
- How to retrieve a crew overboard
- How to use a VHF radio
- How to tack & jibe
- How to tie 3 Knots, and lines handling
Navigation Clinic – theory + practical Navigation
Navigation is truly 2 parts knowledge and 1 part practical application, and we teach both in a unique format that applies your knowledge training in practical situations.
Upon completion you’ll receive a Practical On-the-Water Navigation endorsement.
Online Portion: Coastal Navigation Clinic
On-water Practical Training:
- Using charts & navigational tools
- Determining your position using various techniques such as dead reckoning, running fixes and triangulation
- Rate and Direction from wind, tides and current
- Practical experience in determining position, rate and direction
Sailing Certification Courses
Skipper Large Keelboat · Bareboat Charter Master · International Sailing License & Credentials
We offer a full range sailing courses and certification for beginners to bareboat/near-coastal sailing. We train required skills as well as assess – meaning that if you have the experience, knowledge, and skills you can optionally request a “challenge” assessment for a certification.
Skipper Large Keelboat
Gain the knowledge and skills for sailing large keelboats inland and coastal (within sight of land) and in a diverse conditions. Skipper Large Keelboat is a comprehensive course for beginner to intermediate sailors.
Certification: upon successfully passing the online knowledge testing and practical training assessment, you’ll earn the NauticEd Skipper Large Keelboat Rank certification.
For detailed information on training and requirements, go to Skipper Large Keelboat Rank >
Theory-knowledge requirement: Skipper Course Bundle ($95), which includes 2 courses:
- Skipper Course ($67.50)
- Maneuvering Under Power ($39)
On-water Training and Assessment – you will be able to demonstrate:
- Your knowledge on any topic listed on this online course
- A skillful maneuverability when docking under power
- Boat handling under sail
- Safely following navigational “rules of the road”
- A basic coastal navigation, using paper charts and GPS
- 1 anchoring technique, using proper communication
- 1 COB retrieving techniques, using proper communication
- Heaving-To, staying behind your own slick
Bareboat Charter Master
Bareboat Charter trains you all aspects of multi-day sailing: international navigation rules and buoys, sailing techniques, boat management and systems, boat handling, coastal navigation, electronic navigation and more.
Certification: upon successfully passing the online knowledge testing and practical training assessment, you’ll earn the NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master Rank certification. Optionally you can earn the SLC (International Sailing license and Credentials) – international licensing accepted by Port Authorities in the Mediterranean and worldwide.
For detailed information on training and requirements, go to Bareboat Charter Master Rank >
Theory-knowledge requirement: Bareboat Charter Master Bundle ($175), which includes 6 courses:
- Includes both of the Skipper Courses (note prices are adjusted if you’ve already purchased an included course).
- Bareboat Charter Clinic ($39)
- Coastal Navigation Clinic ($39)
- Anchoring a Sailboat Clinic ($17)
- Electronic Navigation Course ($25)
On-water Training and Assessment – you will be able to demonstrate:
- Your knowledge on any topic listed on this online course
- Beginner to advanced maneuvering skills
- Beginner to advanced sailing skills
- Coastal Navigation, using paper charts and GPS
- Dead reckoning, running fixes and triangulation
- 2 anchoring techniques, using proper communication
- Vessel and crew management
- Boat and engine troubleshooting
- 1 COB retrieving techniques, using proper communication
- Heaving-To, staying behind your own slick
International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC)
The SLC is accepted by Port Authorities in the Mediterranean and worldwide, giving you the confidence and licensing required to charter sailing vacations and adventures anywhere in the world!
Georgian Bay Sailing Coach is an approved SLC assessment school, meaning that your training exceeds international recreational sail standards.
Find Your Way.
with Georgian Bay Sailing Coach
Georgian Bay Sailing Coach 