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Choose your sailing course
Choose your sailing course
Choose how you want to learn: a Day Sail, a practical Weekend Course, or a focused 5-Day Intensive.
If your goal is certification, these courses can form a pathway toward IYT International Crew or IYT International Bareboat Skipper + ICC.
Day Sail
Day Sail
A hands-on sailing day in Howe Sound.
Learn the basics, take part in sailing the boat, and see if you’d like to continue towards certification.
No experience required.
Best for:
Complete beginners, locals, couples, friends, and anyone who has always wanted to try sailing.
Weekend Course
Weekend Course
A two-day sailing course, usually with one night onboard.
Build practical skills, explore Howe Sound, and experience life onboard.
Can be taken as a standalone course or as part of an IYT certification pathway.
Best for:
Local students who want steady progression over several weekends.
5-Day Intensive
5-Day Intensive
A focused liveaboard course for faster progress.
Best if you want immersive training and are working toward IYT certification.
Best for:
Students working toward IYT International Crew or International Bareboat Skipper certification.
Prefer a custom plan?
Prefer a custom plan?
Private Training
Private Training
Bespoke, high-attention instruction tailored to your goals. Private coaching is available on your boat or ours for owners, families, and sailors with specific goals.
Ideal if you:
Ideal if you:
want to feel in control and confident in your skills
want to take your family sailing, but you are unsure whether teaching them yourself is the right choice
are an experienced skipper seeking focused coaching (docking, heavy weather, passage planning, emergencies, and "what if?" situations)
are buying or chartering a boat and want to build safe habits from day one
would like to earn an internationally recognized certificate
Train on your own boat, anywhere in BC, or abroad.
Or train on our boat, based in Squamish, BC.
Hi, I'm Patrik,
Hi, I'm Patrik,
I am a sailing instructor with over 40,000 nautical miles as skipper and instructor, and more than 750 sailors coached across Europe and Canada.
I deliver first-class sailing instruction — either as bespoke private tuition or as scheduled small-group certification courses.
With absolute attention to your individual needs, I help new sailors, boat owners, families, and aspiring or experienced skippers alike push their sailing envelope further and get the most out of their time on the water.
My teaching style is calm, practical, and focused on helping you become genuinely competent — not just collect a certificate.
Many of my students — from complete beginners to Yachtmaster and Instructor level — have gone on to incredible adventures and professional careers of their own.
Qualifications ∣ Patrik Lindr
Qualifications ∣ Patrik Lindr
IYT Recreational Instructor
RYA Yachtmaster Instructor & Cruising Instructor Trainer
MCA Master 200gt
Let's talk
Let's talk
Not sure which course is right for you?
Not sure which course is right for you?
Help me understand your goals, and let's chart the right sailing journey for you.
How it works
How it works
- Choose your course
Whether you’d like to try sailing for a day, build skills over a weekend, or work toward a skipper certificate, choose the course that fits you.
Not sure? Get in touch and let me help.
2. Reserve your place
2. Reserve your place
Send a booking request with your preferred course and date.
I’ll confirm availability, answer any questions, and send the preparation details so you know exactly what to expect.
3. Train on the water
3. Train on the water
Join a small group onboard in Howe Sound.
You’ll learn through hands-on, high-attention instruction on the water to build your skills.
2026 Course Schedule
2026 Course Schedule
May - November 2026
May - November 2026
Intro Day Sails, Weekend Courses, and 5-Day Intensives will run through the season in small groups from Squamish.
Dates are opening now. Join the waitlist or check the course page for the next available options.
Testimonials
Testimonials
“It’s one thing to be an expert but entirely another to translate that into great teaching skills. Patrik is one of those rare gems that do both. Calm but firm, he pushes you to do your best and makes sure you truly earn your certification. Top-notch through and through.”
— Dewey
"As a complete beginner, by the end of the day I was docking our sailboat with confidence. I felt safe the entire time. Patrick is an amazing instructor, with the ability to adapt to the student, very knowledgeable, patient and kind."
— Carole
“Superb course. Calm and patient, he took every opportunity to teach and give us space to try. When things went slightly skewed, he kept the team together beautifully.”
— Ellen
“As a former Senior Fire & Rescue Officer and instructor, the standard reached could not have been improved.”
— Albert
"Patrick was the perfect sailing instructor for me and my family. Clear explanations reinforced with immediate hands on demonstrations and practice. He is personable, openly invites questions and feedback and finds a good balance between correcting mistakes and allowing the student time to learn through doing."
— Augie
“First-class and demanding in the best way. Calm, thorough, and pushed us to perform at our best.”
— George
“Always calm and clear — even during an engine failure on a night sail. Changed plans smoothly and kept everyone safe. Learned plenty.”
— Ann
“Patrik created a safe, open and supportive learning environment. I learnt a huge amount and left feeling confident about heading out on my own sailing adventures.”
— Tim
Certifications
Certifications
Yacht Master Class (YMC) offers official sailing certification through IYT (International Yacht Training) programmes including:
IYT International Crew
entry level course teaching you sailing basics so that you can be a capable crew member
IYT International Bareboat Skipper
an intermediate course giving you skills and certification to sail yourself
ICC (International Certificate of Competence)
recognized by Transport Canada in lieu of the PCOC.
required for charter in the Mediterranean and much of Europe.
Advanced & Expert IYT courses such as Yachtmaster by inquiry
To avoid any confusion, please note that YMC is not an RYA Training Centre (RTC).
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need experience?
Do I need experience?
No. Intro Day Sails and Weekend Courses, and 5 Day IYT International Crew courses are designed for people with little or no sailing experience.
If you are aiming for a skipper certificate (the IYT International Bareboat skipper & ICC), you need an experience equivalent to the IYT International Crew.
What should I book first?
What should I book first?
If you’re completely new, start with an Intro Day Sail, a Weekend Course, or International Crew 5 Day Course.
If you already have sailing experience and want to skipper or charter, look at the Bareboat Skipper pathway.
Can weekend courses lead to certification?
Can weekend courses lead to certification?
Yes, they can form part of a structured IYT certification pathway, provided the full syllabus, assessment, theory, and prerequisites are completed. This can typically be done over 3 weekends.
Where do courses run?
Where do courses run?
Courses run from Squamish, BC. Day and Weekend sails explore the beauty of Howe Sound. 5 Day courses take us further afield, typically the Strait of Georgia, the Gulf Islands, or the Sunshine Coast.
How many people are onboard?
How many people are onboard?
Courses are small-group. Most formats run with 3–4 students. The 5-day mixed liveaboard format is kept small for comfort and high-attention coaching.
What happens if a course does not fill?
What happens if a course does not fill?
Scheduled courses are confirmed once 3 students are booked. If minimum enrolment is not reached, you can transfer to another date or receive a full refund. In some cases, a semi-private option may be offered at an adjusted rate.
I want to skipper or charter a boat - what do I need?
I want to skipper or charter a boat - what do I need?
TL;DR: You need the International Bareboat Skipper and the ICC that comes with it.
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To skipper in Canada, you technically just need the PCOC, which is a theory-only exam by Transport Canada. If your goal is to actually feel confident and keep your crew safe, a practical skipper course is the right way to do it.
The IYT International Bareboat Skipper is designed specifically for charter-ready skippering and is the core skipper pathway I teach here.
Requirements vary by country and charter operator, so if you tell me where you’re going, I’ll help you map the the best route.
Are these courses recognized internationally?
Are these courses recognized internationally?
Generally, yes.
While there’s no single global “sailing licence,” the IYT qualifications are among the most widely recognised worldwide thanks to multiple governmental approvals.
With an IYT International Bareboat Skipper certificate, you’re eligible to obtain an ICC (International Certificate of Competence), which most European charter companies require, and is also recognized by Transport Canada so you don't need the PCOC.
Recognition can still vary between countries and charter operators, so if you’re planning a trip, it’s always best to check their specific requirements in advance.
What is an ICC, IYT, and other abbreviations?
What is an ICC, IYT, and other abbreviations?
ICC - International Certificate of Competence
ICC - International Certificate of Competence
The ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is a widely recognised skipper certificate originally developed to standardise recreational boating across Europe.
While there is no single global sailing licence, the ICC has become one of the most commonly accepted credentials for chartering in Europe and many other destinations worldwide.
When you complete the IYT International Bareboat Skipper course, you are issued an ICC as part of your certification.
Uniquely, in Canada, the IYT-issued ICC is recognised by Transport Canada in place of the PCOC for recreational operation.
IYT - International Yacht Training
IYT - International Yacht Training
IYT stands for International Yacht Training Worldwide. It is a boating training organisation founded in 1998 to provide recreational and professional sailors with certifications recognised around the world.
Over the past two decades, it has grown into one of the most globally connected boating training organisations, with several hundred partner schools operating across dozens of countries.
IYT offers a complete training pathway—from International Crew and Bareboat Skipper through to Yachtmaster Ocean—and extends into professional programmes including superyacht training.
Its qualifications are accepted by numerous national maritime administrations, including the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), USCG, Transport Canada, as well as most charter operators worldwide.
Uniquely, IYT is also one of the few non-governmental bodies authorised to issue the International Certificate of Competency (ICC), often required for yacht chartering across Europe and other regions.
YMC - Yacht Master Class
YMC - Yacht Master Class
There are too many abbreviations! YMC stands for Yacht Master Class, this sail training project based in Squamish, BC. What started as a private training side project in 2021 has eventually developed into a boutique sailing school it is today.
Which course is right for me - Crew, Skipper, or Private coaching?
Which course is right for me - Crew, Skipper, or Private coaching?
If you have your own boat and want to train on the boat you’ll actually be sailing, private coaching is usually the best option.
We tailor everything to your boat, your crew, your experience level, and your goals — whether that means rebuilding fundamentals or refining advanced skills. You can earn respective certifications on a boat you will actually be sailing.
If you don’t have a boat, a group course is the simplest path.
If you’re new to sailing and want a solid foundation, start with International Crew.
If you already have solid crew experience and your goal is to skipper or charter, you’ll need the International Bareboat Skipper course.
If you’re unsure — get in touch. I'll help map the best path for you.
Let's talk
Let's talk
Not sure which course is right for you?
Help me understand your goals, and let's chart the right sailing journey for you.
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