RYA Competent Crew sailing course in Gibraltar

Starting locally in the bay, you will get a great introduction to sailing sheltered by the Rock of Gibraltar with dolphins in your wake. You return to Gibraltar after the first days sailing for a well earned drink at one of the local bars while your Instructor prepares dinner on the yacht. Half the fun is living on board the yacht and the adventure of going to new places by sea. During the week we like to cross the Straits to Africa which is always exciting and often forms part of the night sail (4 hours starting at sunset). We always overnight in marinas, which could include one of many cosmopolitan marinas on the Spanish Mediterranean coast, or in contrast the natural Costa de la Luz and soft sandy beaches of the Atlantic coast. We run Competent crew courses alongside the Skipper courses so there is an opportunity to practice towards the Day Skipper if you wish to do so. The emphasis is on enjoying yourself as well as learning and we find everyone mucks in as a team. By the end of the course you will be able to steer, handle sails, keep a lookout and assist in all the day-to-day routines. Of course there is no pressure to do a course at all so if at any time you want to just treat the week as an adventure that’s fine too.

Plan

No previous experience required. This is a fun course. You live onboard the yacht (modern Bavaria 37) sharing with others or on a private charter basis.

A typical itinerary would be:
Sunday meet and greet 6pm - You could arrive early and go for a Gibraltar Rock tour to see the cave and monkeys.
Monday - Safety brief and sailing in the Bay of Gibraltar with dolphins.
Tuesday - Sail to Africa crossing the Straits of Gibraltar.
Wednesday - Sail to Spain leaving the Riff mountains behind and sail towards the Costa del Sol.
Thursday - Sail to another Spanish port.
Friday back to Gibraltar.

You will learn to be a good crew member with:
Sail handling
Learning knots and their correct use: figure of eight, clove hitch, rolling hitch, bowline, round turn and two half hitches, single and double sheet bend, reef knot
Helmsmanship and Sailing
Rules of the Road
Safety and Man overboard practice
Anchoring and much more....

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Other information

The advantages of doing your course with us:
• We have been running for 23 years and we have been sailing this area for 33 years - oldest RYA school in Gibraltar!
• The weather is warm and sunny so we can offer courses all year round.
• Interesting destinations to visit with a variety of cultures from British Gibraltar to Morocco in Africa and the best of Spain.
• If it is your first time sailing you will appreciate a safe modern yacht with an easy going experienced Instructor.
• Cheap short flights (see below) and a 10 min walk from Gibraltar airport to your yacht .

There are direct flights to Gibraltar from these U.K. airports:
• BA flies from Heathrow and Gatwick.
• Easyjet also flies from Gatwick, Manchester and Bristol.

What to bring:
Please note that stowage space on a boat is always limited. Use a soft sports type bag, which can fold flat, not hard suit cases.
Passport (European ID cards are not valid).
Euros for drinks ashore in Spain.
Cap, Sun Glasses, Sun Block factor 50, Swim suit.
Deck shoes (white soled trainers or crocs are fine too).
Good quality warm fleece. Comfortable clothes, sweat / T shirts etc
Wash Towel , the small quick drying type found in camping shops are best.
Toiletries and wash bag for visits to shower rooms
RYA logbook, you can buy online direct from the RYA or when you arrive for £10.

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Square by square

Complete boat

4.5 · 6 reviews

James

April of 2024

I feel so lucky to have found Cathy and her Trafalgar Sailing school. There is absolutely no end to her availability and willingness to make sure my Day Skipper experience was fulfilling. Incredible instructors (quite hilarious), wonderful boats, and Gibraltar is perfect for wind and experience.
Thank you, Cathy!!!

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Reply from Catherine

Thank you James, your positive energy, smiles and willing to he help and laugh all the time was approeciated by everyone. I hope you get lots of use with the Day Skipper qualification. I will certiainly be recommending you when I am asked. Thank you and best of luck :-)

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João

January of 2024

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Jose Antonio

December of 2023

A crossing to Ceuta from Gibraltar on a Bavaria is a unique experience. The captain is a genius, who knows what he is doing and makes you have a good time. With winds of more than 30 knots and waves of more than 3 meters, he remained calm and safe on board at all times. I learned a lot and had more fun. Recommendable!

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Iñigo

November of 2021

People of this school have an incredible navigation experience and they transmit it by mentoring us in all the work on the boat: testing engine, planning route, triming, controling wheel and docking or undocking.
My problem was my English to take advantage of the experience despite the patience of Ian and the tripu.

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Reply from Catherine

Thanks Inigo,
The professor tells me that your English was very good. Better than your Spanish for sure ;-)

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Else de Haan

April of 2018

We've enjoyed our Day skipper course very much and learned a lot from our instructor John who allowed us to make mistakes and learn from them. The straits of Gibraltar are an excellent area to test your skills and experience sailing in close proximity of large vessels. We recommend this sailing school to anyone who is seriously interested in sailing.

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Pawel Ostrowski

March of 2018

Staff highly responsive & professional. Training prepared in every aspect, starting from registration and on-boarding to yacht preparation and training on the water itself. Lots of useful, practical tips on handling the yacht & manoeuvres. I did the Day Skipper course there and can recommend the school for beginners and/or people who wish to further enhance sailing skills.

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RYA Competent crew sailing course

Course offered by Catherine

Boat details

Additional Information

4.5 · 6 reviews

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