Does your dream of a perfect adventure holiday on the water include sailing or powering your own vessel into picture-perfect anchorages or marinas every night and living aboard such a vessel for a week or more with your family or friends? Is the only thing preventing you from accomplishing this, the fact you have no or limited competencies and skills in sailing or power boating?

A bareboat charter with an instructor/skipper aboard OR a week-long (or more) course with an accredited sailing/boating school is your answer!

West Coast charter companies cater both to qualified boaters and non-qualified boaters. If you have the qualifications, expertise and experience needed to safely manoeuvre and navigate a vessel in the local waters, you will be offered a bareboat charter. If not, you’ll be offered the option of an instructional charter where a CRYA instructor will be aboard to teach you all you need to know to thoroughly enjoy your sailing or power boating holiday.

Sailing schools on the West Coast are accredited with a variety of organizations like Sail Canada/BC Sailing, the British based Royal Yachting Association (RYA) and, our West Coast based accrediting body: the Canadian Recreational Yachting Association (CRYA). A sailing school has one or more boats that are used for instructional purposes and are registered Transport Canada Recreational Boating School (RBS) vessels.

The curriculum developed by CRYA is designed for boat handling and navigating in tidal waters – BC waters being a prime example! CRYA does not offer dinghy sailing or racing instruction – only cruising keelboat and power boating courses! And aside from some pre-boarding reading assignments, all instruction is ON THE BOAT. YOU LIVE ABOARD YOUR SAILING YACHT OR POWER VESSEL and are AT THE HELM, right from Day 1.

A first step in choosing your Instructional charter or Sailing school is to choose the region you wish to discover. If you want to cruise in the Gulf Islands, choose any of the Vancouver Island or Gulf Islands charter companies or schools. If you would prefer to discover Desolation Sound, choose a charter base in Comox or Lund. For Howe Sound or the Sunshine Coast, leaving out of Vancouver would be the best option to maximize your time on the water.

Check out the Instructional charters & Sailing schools Showcase soon under the “Chart your Course” tab for more details on what to expect from your Instructor/Skipper and life aboard a cruising yacht during an Instructional charter or Sailing school course.

Click on a logo and contact any of the Charter and Sail School companies below and let’s get you on the BC’s incredible coastal waters.

crya - Instructional Charters & Sailing Schools

Canadian Recreational Yachting Association
CRYA

The Canadian Recreational Yachting Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to the training of sail and power boat operators, with an emphasis on safe handling and skilful use of pleasure craft. As recognized leaders in Sail and Power boat training, we have a complete curriculum for the beginner boater to the offshore sailor. Our sailing and boating school instructors emphasize real-life, on the water instruction and mentoring, in the context of Cruise and Learns and Day-tripping courses. Whether you want a customized training program on your own boat, an Instructor/skipper on a charter vessel, or wish to join a Sailing school class, our affiliated Schools will put together the instructional program YOU need. Check out Schools and Independent Instructors at https://crya.org/.

Desolation Sound Yacht Charters

Desolation Sound Yacht Charters

At Desolation Sound Yacht Charters we believe nothing is more enjoyable and exhilarating than sailing or power boating on a charter yacht. You decide when you wish to sail, swim, collect shellfish or just relax on deck. Many experienced sailors consider Desolation Sound to be among, or even the, most beautiful and varied cruising area on Earth. Warm weather and tidal patterns contribute to water temperatures in Desolation Sound exceeding 75°F (22°C) during summer. You can spend six glorious days in a wilderness setting while you learn to operate a power or sailing yacht. Our skippers also explore the deep fiords of Toba Inlet and Princess Louisa Inlet or cruise north to the wilds of the Broughton Archipelago and Great Bear Rainforest.

Free Spirit Sailing

Free Spirit Sailing

Interested in Learning to Sail or Upgrading your Boating Skills? Free Spirit Sailing certified Instructor and CRYA Yacht Master, Agathe Gaulin, offers the Canadian Recreational Yachting Association (CRYA) programs, which are designed to teach you:

  • Sail Management & Trim
  • Docking
  • Anchoring
  • Navigation & Route Planning
  • Use of Chart plotter, VHF Radio, and safety gear
  • Living aboard a cruising vessel

Available to teach on your boat, on charter vessels, and on our Ontario 32, Prairie Mist.

Cell: 250-339-5654 / agathe@freespiritsailing.ca

Nanaimo Yacht Charters & Sailing School

Nanaimo Yacht Charters

At Nanaimo Yacht Charters, we believe the only limitation to your yacht charter or instructional sailing vacation is the length of time you have to spend. Based in Nanaimo, we are ideally located for exploring the Gulf Islands, Princess Louisa Inlet and Desolation Sound. Plan your own holiday itinerary or choose from one of our popular routes. In addition to our selection of the very best in sail and motorized craft, we can put you in the Skipper’s chair with our instructional sailing vacation and other courses, all certified by the Canadian Recreational Yachting Association – CRYA.