Squamish, BC
Small-group sailing courses in Howe Sound for complete beginners, developing crew, and aspiring skippers.
Start with a Day Sail, build skills over a Weekend Course, or join a 5 Day Intensive course and work toward internationally recognized IYT certification.
There are three main ways to train. These formats can stand alone as skill-building courses, or form part of an IYT certification pathway:
A single sailing day in Howe Sound.
Join a fun, hands-on day sail in Howe Sound and learn the basics!
No experience required.
Best for:
Complete beginners, locals, couples, friends, and anyone who wants to try sailing.
Certifications available:
Can lead to the IYT International Crew pathway
Price: C$ 349 per person
A two-day course, usually run as a one-night liveaboard.
Take one weekend as a skill-builder, or combine weekends into a structured pathway toward IYT certification.
Best for:
Local students who want steady progression over several weekends.
Certifications available:
IYT International Crew over 2-3 weekends
Price: C$ 895 per person
An immersive liveaboard training format for students who want focused progress in one block and earn an internationally recognized certificate.
Best for:
Students working toward IYT International Crew or International Bareboat Skipper certification.
Certifications available:
IYT International Crew
IYT International Bareboat Skipper + ICC
Price: C$ 2495 per person
• Small-group instruction on the water
• All fuel & boat related expenses
• Tea and freshly roasted coffee onboard
• High-attention instruction over a Weekend or 5-day course
• Accommodation onboard
• Small group size — typically 3 students, max 4 depending on format
• Boat, fuel, and marina-related expenses
• Food onboard: breakfast, snacks, lunch each day, and onboard dinners on longer courses (we typically eat out when in harbor)
When you complete the IYT certification syllabus, IYT certificate processing is included. There is an extra processing fee if the ICC is needed.
Every sailing course is shaped by weather, tides, crew experience, and the dynamics of the course. The examples below show typical routes — the final plan is always chosen with safety and maximum learning in mind.
Start in Squamish in the morning and return in the afternoon.
We usually spend the day sailing in the reliable winds of northern Howe Sound, practising sailing skills while enjoying the dramatic scenery under the Chief and surrounding mountains.
Depending on the weather, tides, and timing, we may stop for lunch or a break near places such as Britannia Beach, Zorro Bay, or the Defence Islands before sailing back to Squamish.
Typical timing:
9:00 AM start - Return around 5:00 PM
A two-day, one-night liveaboard course exploring Howe Sound.
Over the weekend, we often sail much of the length of Howe Sound, combining practical training with a short cruising experience. You’ll build skills during the day, help with onboard routines, and experience what it’s like to spend a night onboard.
Depending on weather, tides, and the focus of the course, we may spend the night near Keats Island, Bowen Island, Gibsons, or Gambier Island.
Typical format:
Day 1: 9:00 AM Depart Squamish, sail Howe Sound, overnight onboard
Day 2: Morning training sail, return to Squamish by late afternoon
A liveaboard training course from Squamish into Howe Sound, the Sunshine Coast, or the Gulf Islands.
The exact route depends on weather, tides, marina availability, and the training dynamics of the course. The focus is not to “tick off destinations,” but to create the best learning environment for boat handling, navigation, passage planning, anchoring, crew routines, and decision-making.
Sample itinerary:
Day 1: Squamish → Gibsons / Keats Island
Day 2: Nanaimo / Newcastle Island
Day 3: Gulf Islands
Day 4: Gulf Islands or Vancouver / Bowen Island
Day 5: Return to Squamish
Day Sail: $349 + GST per person
Weekend Course: $895 + GST per person
5-Day Intensive: $2,495 + GST per person
Scheduled group courses are confirmed once 3 students are booked.
Want to book the whole course for your own group?
Private group bookings are available for friends, families, couples, or boat crews who would like to train together.
3-person private booking: 5% off
4-person private booking: 10% off
Please don't hesitate to enquire about your preferred dates.
Courses run from Squamish between May and November.
Use the calendar below to see upcoming Day Sails, Weekend Courses, and 5-Day Intensives. If you don’t see a date that works, please enquire — private dates can be arranged.
To reserve a place, please send a booking enquiry. I’ll confirm availability, answer any questions, and send payment and preparation details.
Group courses are confirmed once 3 students are booked. If a course does not reach minimum enrolment, you can transfer to another date or receive a full refund.
Have 3–4 people ready to train together? Ask about preferred dates and private group rates.
Yacht Master Class offers two main IYT internationally recognized certification pathways:
IYT International Crew
IYT International Bareboat Skipper, which includes the ICC (International Certificate of Competence)
Start here if you’re new to sailing.
Learn the fundamentals and become a capable crew member on a yacht.
Beginner course
5 Day Sails, 2-3 Weekends, or a 5 Day Intensive
Prerequisites: NONE | Group size: 3-4
International Crew introduces complete beginners to sailing and teaches the seamanship and safety skills needed to become an active, reliable member of a yacht crew.
Complete beginners with little to no sailing experience
Anyone who wants to join a yacht as crew and learn the basics of sailing
Recommended minimum age: 16
Hands on training on the water. You’ll learn and practice the essentials of sailing — steering, sail handling, mooring, ropework, nautical terminology, and safety drills such as man-overboard recovery — all from the perspective of a crew member.
Join a sailing yacht as an active crew member on coastal passages.
Contribute safely to onboard operations under the direction of a skipper.
Progress naturally to the IYT International Bareboat Skipper course for command training.
Nautical terminology
Types of vessels and basic parts of a yacht
Personal and boat safety
Vessel checkout and daily routines
Basic sail and power handling skills
Steering under sail and power
Ropework and knots
Anchoring techniques
Emergency procedures (including man overboard)
Basic collision regulations (COLREGs)
Ready to take the helm yourself and become a captain?
Build the boat handling, navigation, and command skills to charter with confidence.
Intermediate skipper course
5 Days Liveaboard
Prerequisites: YES | Group size·: 3-4
For sailors who want to step up as skipper and take their friends and family sailing — whether that means chartering abroad or taking responsibility of their own boat.
The course that transitions you from crew to skipper — and builds the confidence and competence to take full command of a yacht — planning and executing coastal passages safely, managing crew, and making sound decisions as skipper.
You’ll develop navigation, pilotage, boat handling, and leadership skills. This course is widely recognized around the world and also enables you to apply for an ICC (International Certificate of Competence), which is also valid in Canada in lieu of the PCOC.
Sailors with some solid crewing experience (International Crew or equivalent)
Anyone planning to skipper and charter yachts up to 24m in coastal waters (typically within 20NM offshore, fair conditions)
Minimum age: 16
200NM & 10 days sailed (includes the 100NM & 5 days on the course itself) and VHF license. (I can help with that)
Sailing skills equivalent to the International Crew level.
Theory knowledge equivalent to the IYT IBS Theory course. (free online)
At this level, you’ll be expected to combine practical sailing ability with solid theory knowledge.
Your first skipper course is challenging — and rewarding — because it transitions you from crew to a position of complete responsibility.
Five days of skippering, navigation, pilotage, crew leadership, and boat-handling instruction under real conditions. You’ll plan passages, handle the boat under sail and power, and practice docking, anchoring, and emergency drills.
Assessment is continuous — combining practical skills, theory understanding, and responsible command. Your instructor will give you feedback throughout the course, so you know what to work on.
Skipper a yacht for private cruising or charter in many parts of the world.
Qualify to apply for the International Certificate of Competency (ICC) — often required for chartering in Europe, and accepted by Transport Canada in lieu of the PCOC
Progress toward IYT Yachtmaster Coastal and beyond.
Most importantly, it will give you the tools to go out and learn for yourself — and to make your potential mistakes and progress safely.
Skipper responsibilities and crew management
Safety, hull, rig, and systems checks
Fuel, water, and provisioning planning
Weather, forecasts, and local patterns
Passage and pilotage planning
Mooring, anchoring, and vessel handling in confined waters
Tides, currents, and position fixing
Collision regulations: lights, shapes, and sounds
Ropework, knots, and general deck work
Dinghy handling and tender operations
Certification is awarded only when the required syllabus, theory, assessment, and prerequisites have been completed to the required standard.
The listed course formats are designed to provide enough time for prepared students to meet the requirements. In some cases, additional training may be recommended before certification is issued.
All courses are subject to our Terms & Conditions.
Courses are opening now for May – November 2026. YMC is transitioning from offering private instruction only to also running limited group courses on our training vessel. Once this process is finalized, we will update the page with scheduling details. The scheduled courses will run monthly from May to late autumn.
No — you can enter at any level if you already have the required experience, theory knowledge, and practical skills expected below that level.
It’s highly recommended, though, to have either the official IYT prerequisite course or an equivalent qualification from another recognised training organisation before moving up.
For example, many sailors with prior crewing or skippering experience go straight to IYT International Bareboat Skipper.
That said, it’s important to choose the level that truly matches your experience — both for your enjoyment and your progress.
International Bareboat Skipper is not designed to teach the absolute basics; you’ll likely struggle without a good crewing foundation.
Yachtmaster Coastal and Offshore are coaching-based courses and assessments for seasoned skippers — you should already be competent and confident in all areas of seamanship; the course simply sharpens those skills and validates them through examination.
Not strictly — but you do need to have the same level of theoretical knowledge.
Your practical course focuses on applying skills like navigation, COLREGs, tides, and passage planning, so arriving with that understanding already in place will make a huge difference to your confidence and progress.
IYT offers free e-learning modules for many of its courses — it’s well worth checking them out at IYT E-Learning.
Scheduled group courses need a minimum of 3 students to run.
If the course does not reach minimum enrolment by the confirmation date, you can either transfer to another course date or receive a full refund.
Sometimes, if everyone wants to go ahead, I may offer the option to run the course as a smaller semi-private course at an adjusted rate. There is no pressure to choose this option.
Generally, yes.
There’s no single global “sailing licence,” but IYT qualifications are among the most widely recognised worldwide thanks to multiple governmental approvals and more importantly charter and insurance company wide recognition.
With an IYT International Bareboat Skipper certificate, you’re eligible to obtain an ICC (International Certificate of Competence), which many European charter companies require. The IYT ICC is also recognized by Transport Canada so you don't need a 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 the ICC (International Certificate of Competence)?
The ICC (International Certificate of Competence) is a widely recognised skipper certificate originally developed to help standardise recreational boating across Europe.
There is no single “global sailing licence,” but the ICC has become one of the most commonly accepted credentials for chartering yachts in Europe — and in many other destinations worldwide.
When you successfully complete the IYT International Bareboat Skipper course, you qualify to apply for the ICC directly through IYT.
The IYT-issued ICC is:
Recognised by the UK Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA)
Recognised by Transport Canada (Canadian edition – PCOC equivalent for recreational use)
Under UN Resolution 40, IYT cannot issue ICCs to residents of countries that already have their own national ICC issuing authority.
If you are a resident of one of the following countries, you must apply through your national body instead:
Please follow this link for more details.*
*practically, you are eligible for the IYT ICC if you are not a resident of the following countries:
Austria
Belarus
Belgium
Bulgaria
Croatia
Czech Republic
Finland
Germany
Hungary
Ireland
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Romania
Serbia
Slovakia
South Africa
Switzerland
Ukraine
For the International Bareboat Skipper, you need to have a VHF license. This can either be an IYT VHF license, or other recognized VHF license. A popular way of obtaining one is through Canadian Power and Sail Squadron, available as an online or in person course.
There is no VHF requirement for International Crew.
Yacht Master Class as of now does not provide VHF exams.
I will give you feedback throughout the course so you know what to work on. Assessment is continuous — combining practical skills, theory understanding, and responsible command at the appropriate level.
Towards the end of the course, there is a short theory test, which includes the topics covered during the course.
Group courses bring together people from different backgrounds, ages, and experience. What connects everyone is the same thing: a genuine motivation to learn.
Sailing has a way of creating natural teamwork. We operate in an environment where cooperation and respect are essential. That shared purpose tends to align people quickly.
Over the years, I’ve never had a course where personal differences became a major problem. In fact, many students stay in touch long after the course ends — sometimes becoming lifelong friends.
The key ingredients are simple: humility toward the sea, respect for each other, and a willingness to learn.
If you value those, you’ll fit in perfectly.
Safety is always the first priority.
I do not push questionable situations, and decisions are err on the side of caution.
I am a commercially endorsed Yachtmaster with extensive offshore experience including adverse weather, first aid certification, and sea survival training.
Our training vessel carries a full complement of required and in-date safety equipment, including lifejackets, harnesses, liferaft, flares, VHF/DSC radio, and man-overboard recovery gear.
Before departure, we conduct a thorough safety briefing so everyone understands the vessel, equipment, and procedures.
If at any time you have concerns or questions, please let me know immediately.
In the unlikely event of a serious emergency, we are always within reach of Coast Guard assistance via marine radio.
Group courses are run on a Vancouver 32 — a classic long-keel ocean-going sailboat.
She’s a proven offshore design: stable, well sailing boat, and perfectly suited for skill development in real conditions. The boat comfortably accommodates up to five people onboard, is maintained to high standards, and equipped with a full suite of safety equipment.
More details about the vessel, layout, and onboard setup: Tarka of Orwell
Life onboard is sometimes described as “glorified camping on the water.”
Space on a yacht is compact by nature — everything is thoughtfully designed, functional, and efficient. You’ll sleep in individual berths (bunks). On mixed group courses, students do not share bunks. If you’re joining as a couple, you share the forward double cabin.
Privacy is limited compared to land-based accommodation, so we ask everyone to be considerate of personal space and mindful of noise at night.
There is a well sized marine head (toilet) and shower compartment onboard.
USB charging is available onboard.
For liveaboard group courses, the boat is provisioned for the duration of the training.
As the overall focus is on learning, the breakfast and dinner are the main meals of the day, with lunch typically being quick sandwiches or soup. We usually enjoy one or two dinners ashore when staying in a marina.
Cooking and clean-up are shared as part of the crew experience. Learning to function as a team onboard is part of the training.
If you have dietary requirements, please let us know in advance. Most needs can be accommodated with proper notice.
For day-sailing sessions, tea and coffee are available onboard.
We recommend that you bring a soft collapsible backpacking / duffle style bag as suitcases are challenging to store onboard.
Generally, we recommend packing no more than what you would bring on a summer backpacking trip in the mountains.
On top of regular staples, consider packing these:
Thermals. Handy for night sailing or if it’s particularly windy, even in warmer climates.
Swimming suit
Warm socks
Sun hat
Scarf (for sun protection)
Towel
Headlamp/flashlight, ideally with red light option
Wind and water proof jacket and trousers.
Ear plugs
Non-marking shoes
Sunglasses
Notepad
Travel Insurance
Marine-friendly sunscreen
Marine-friendly products if going down the drains of the boat (we will provide shampoo, conditioner, soap and all cleaning products onboard)
Bug spray
Sailing gloves
Refillable water bottle
Personal medications and first-aid kit
Sailing is weather-dependent by nature. In over a decade of teaching — including extensive time instructing in Scotland’s winter Atlantic conditions — I have never had to cancel a course due to weather.
That said, safety and learning quality always come first. If a forecast indicates conditions that would meaningfully compromise safety or the educational value of the course, we will adjust the plan. This may mean modifying the itinerary, working on theory and decision-making in the safety of a harbor, or in rare cases postponing a session.
Most challenging weather systems pass quickly. Often, they provide valuable teaching opportunities. You won’t be pushed into situations beyond your ability. Every decision is made conservatively, with skill level, vessel capability, and crew wellbeing in mind.
Yacht Master Class courses are training programs. There is no alcohol consumption while sailing or during training hours.
If we are securely moored in a marina and the day’s training is complete, you’re welcome to enjoy a drink ashore with dinner. Please do not bring personal alcohol onboard.
Drugs of any kind are strictly prohibited on all Yacht Master Class courses. If a participant is found to be in possession of or under the influence of drugs, they may be removed from the course immediately without refund.
Smoking is not permitted onboard, including in cabins or below deck. If you wish to smoke, it must be done ashore.
This policy protects the safety, comfort, and shared environment of everyone onboard.
Please refer to our T&Cs.
For more general FAQs please see: Frequently Asked Questions page.
Yacht Master Class is accredited under the IYT training system. International Yacht Training Worldwide (IYT) was 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, UN Resolution 40 signatory countries (ICC), 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.
