RYA sailing courses from Poros
Location
The area around Poros in the Saronic gulf is ideal for learning to sail due to steady and predictable breezes thoughout the day. The area is well protected from the meltemi winds that tend to blow from the NE Aegean and sailing distances between islands are not long, giving you ample opportunity to try your anchoring techniques in small bays. The course may follow a similar route to the Poros flotilla, either north towards Aegina and the Argolic gulf or south towards the islands of Hydra and Spetses. There is plenty to experience in these beautiful Greek islands.
RYA Courses
Practical courses are offered from March to November, usually by the week, from Saturday to Saturday. The practical courses are 5 days, but you will have six days sailing so an extra day for practice. Boarding is at 5pm on Saturday and you disembark the following Saturday in the morning. The boat will set sail from Poros on Sunday morning and return on Friday afternoon.
All courses are offered on the RYA training yacht (Sun Odyssey 35, 36i, 37) though in some cases larger yachts can be substituted. There is also a large fleet of yachts that can be offered for private charter with your own instructor. The maximum number of students on any course / boat is 5 per instructor.
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RYA COMPETENT CREW PRACTICAL No previous experience required. Duration of course: 5 days (6 days sailing, 7 nights on board) |
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RYA DAY SKIPPER PRACTICAL Previous minimum experience: 5 days / 100 miles, including 4 night hours. This experience should have been in the form of active participation in the sailing of a similar sized yacht - ideally a Competent Crew course. Theoretical knowledge: RYA Day Skipper Shorebased, or equivalent level from experience/self study/online theory courses. For students requiring additional assistance with areas of the shorebased course some extra tuition can be given but this is no substitute for being properly prepared before you arrive on Poros. We also offer online courses that you can do in your own time before arriving in Greece for the practical course. Duration of course: 5 days (6 days sailing, 7 nights on board) |
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RYA COASTAL SKIPPER PRACTICAL & EXAMINATION Previous experience: 15 days (2 days as skipper) / 300 miles, including 8 night hours. Ideally you should hold a day skipper certificate. Theoretical knowledge: Successful completion of the RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Shorebased or equivalent course. For students requiring additional assistance with areas of the shorebased course, some extra tuition can be given, but this is no substitute for being properly prepared before you arrive on Poros. Duration of course: 5 days (6 days sailing, 7 nights on board) |
| MILE BUILDERS These mile builder sailing cruises are suitable for clients with RYA Competent Crew or higher qualification, plus sailors without formal qualification but with a reasonable amount of practical sailing experience. Mile building is important to any student planning to progress to take RYA/MCA examinations for Yachtmaster Coastal (previously known as ‘Coastal Skipper’) or Yachtmaster Offshore certificates of competence (see the following table below). Alternatively you may simply want to experience “longer legs” and more challenging sailing. |
2021 Prices for 6-7 day practical courses
| Sailing period | Price per person sharing | Price per person single |
| June - September | €750.00 | €950.00 |
| April - May & October | €690.00 | €900.00 |
| Off season rates | €650.00 | €850.00 |
| €20 discount for mile building courses | ||
When you book a course on the tuition yacht the school provides:
A fully qualified instructor, a sleeping berth (single or shared double), breakfast and a light lunch, bedding, waterproof clothing (when required - not swim suits though!), fuel, water, mooring fees, provisions on board for breakfast and a light lunch. If you book a RYA practical course we will give you a free RYA Sail Cruising & Yachtmaster Scheme Syllabus & Log Book or a RYA voucher to spend on further training.
We do not provide/guarantee, unless specific arrangements have been made:
evening meals (clients are welcome to cook on board rather than eat ashore), towels (can be provided at €5 set (one large / one small), flights to Greece or transfers to Poros Island (transfers can be arranged on request).
Private tuition
We can offer a range of yachts from 32 feet to 50 feet, mostly Jeanneau, with private instructor. Those not partaking in the course are welcome to join in but there can only be a maximum number of 5 persons on board plus the instructor, no matter how many are doing the course. It should be noted, however, that the emphasis will be on the course syllabus and most of the sailing time will focus on this. Children should not be on board unless there is an allocated adult to look after them who is not doing the course.
- Price of yacht weekly hire + instructor fees €1600.00 per week (high season) / €1300.00 per week (mid-season) + meals + linen/cleaning fee + running expenses (fuel/water/port fees)
When you book an instructor to join you on a yacht you have chartered:
We organise a suitably qualified instructor to join you, we ask you to arrange suitable accommodation (normally a separate cabin) and meals for the instructor. If, at the end of the course, your instructor is not dropped back to our base on Poros Island you will be responsible for the return travel costs. This will be payable locally at cost. Bed linen is provided.
