An introduction to sailing doesn’t have to involve boring instruction in a classroom setting. In fact, the RYA Start Yachting beginner course provides the ultimate hands-on experience for first-time sailors who need basic introductory skills but also crave an exciting adventure. It’s the perfect course to try if you are interested in discovering whether sailing is something you want to explore further.
For two fun days on the water, students experience the sailing life with the option to do as little or as much hands-on sailing as they feel comfortable. With the supervision of highly-skilled professionals, people who feel ready can take the wheel and find out what it’s like to steer a modern yacht. There are opportunities to hoist the sails, tie basic knots, and operate the elementary features of a yacht. First timers will quickly learn the most important sailing fundamentals while benefiting from hands-on training—all while having a blast with their yacht mates in the spectacular setting of picturesque Mallorca.
A practical two-day jumpstart to the real-world sailing experience, the RYA Start Yachting beginner’s course whets the appetite of new sailors, providing them with a taste of what it’s like to actively sail a yacht rather than simply being a passenger along for the ride.
Learning hands-on is a fun way to develop an understanding of the basics of sailing, learn practical boating skills and elementary fundamentals, get an introduction to safety essentials, and get acquainted with important water etiquette.
This course is designed to provide novices with a fun day on the water experiencing the joys of sailing. However, by the end of the weekend, students will have experienced a genuine sailing encounter. They will gain valuable insight of safety on board, as well as learning some simple maneuvers that seasoned sailors use every day.
The RYA Start Yachting course is a great way to get a glimpse of the sailing life while developing enough knowledge and confidence to increase your skills. After completing this course, you will have the proficiency to consider whether to continue your sailing training with one of the more advanced RYA courses. For example, the Competent Crew course introduces the more technical aspects of sailing along with techniques for commanding a crew while the Day Skipper course is a practical 5-day training that teaches students the fundamentals of navigation and the skills needed to command a yacht.
Huddled in the cockpit in the cold, pouring rain while battling unexpected squalls is never a fun or effective way to experience sailing for the first time. Instead, take a quick flight to Mallorca—an island that was tailor made for first-time sailors. Experience perfect sailing conditions on an island that boasts year-round warm, sunny climate. The warm, reliable winds are commonplace for the area and provide a pleasurable learning experience for beginners. They are also ideal for adding in a bit of excitement and adventure.
Since the course is conveniently taught in just two days by top-notch professionals, beginning sailors can learn the basics during a holiday in the stunning Balearic Islands and still find time to explore the secluded coves, dine in local restaurants, enjoy the many shops, and relax on one of Mallorca’s 200 beaches.
Mallorca’s RYA courses are designed to introduce you to crew life with your sailing course mates, making the Competent Crew course the obvious next step while some graduates of the beginner course will feel ready to learn how to command a crew by tackling the RYA Day Skipper course.
Are you ready to get started learning to sail in Mallorca?
Start Yachting with the two-day, hands-on RYA beginner’s course that will teach you the basics of sailing and practical boating skills with highly-skilled instructors.
Graduate to the Competent Crew course to get valuable experience in how to command a crew and learn the more technical aspects of sailing a yacht.
Perhaps you are ready to Become a Day Skipper! Take control of the yacht and command your own crew with this 5-day, fully practical RYA course.
Discover the contrasting characteristics of sloops and ketches in terms of sail balance, ease of handling, and upwind performance. Learn about the advantages of sloops for efficient upwind sailing and the benefits of ketches in terms of balance, stability, and versatile sail combinations. Find out which sailboat configuration best suits your sailing style and goals.
Discover the ideal number of crew for a yacht based on its size, sailing experience, and type of sailing with our general guidelines. Our experts provide recommendations for crew sizes for small, mid-sized, and large yachts, as well as racing yachts.
Ensure the longevity and reliable performance of your small yacht diesel engine with these daily maintenance tips. Learn how to check oil levels, inspect fuel systems, monitor coolant levels, inspect belts and hoses, and prevent carbon buildup for optimal engine health. Follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedule and seek professional help for complex repairs.
Tacking and gybing are sailing maneuvers used to change direction. Tacking involves turning the bow of the boat through the wind, while jibing involves turning the stern through the wind.
Anchoring a yacht safely is an important skill for any sailor. Whether you are stopping for the night or taking a break during a long sail, anchoring allows you to secure your boat and rest easy. However, anchoring can also be dangerous if not done correctly. Here are some steps to follow to anchor a yacht safely:
Points of sail refer to the different directions a yacht can sail relative to the wind. Understanding the different points of sail is essential for sailing safely and efficiently. There are several points of sail, including close-hauled, close reach, beam reach, broad reach, and downwind.
There is no denying that sailing is the adventure of a lifetime. That’s why we have designed our Competent Crew course to teach you the wonders of life on a modern yacht. Our RYA-accredited Competent Crew course is the perfect springboard for those looking to get into yachting, providing a fun and safe environment for knowledgeable beginners and enthusiasts alike. The all-intensive five-day course is designed to help you on your journey to becoming a competent sailor and valuable crew member – whether you plan to take your family and friends on holiday or take the first step on your dream to travel the world. Budding crewmen will step onto our modern yacht to get a true taste of what sailing has to offer. Some prior experience is definitely desirable though not required – only the enthusiasm to learn. Those who have sailed or completed their RYA Level 1 and 2 courses will find the course more enjoyable.
The best way to learn to sail is to take an RYA course with highly-skilled instructors in a gorgeous place like Mallorca—where the weather is perfect and the sailing conditions are ideal for beginners. However, you can supplement that practical hands-on training with a few sailing books targeted toward beginners that will provide additional insight and information that you can use as you continue your sailing adventures or when you want to keep learning, but maybe the weather is not ideal for sailing.
Want to get on the fast track to feeling like an active sailor? When you begin learning the most crucial knots used onboard a yacht, even beginners will begin to feel like they are a valuable part of the crew! Learning how to tie proper knots is a crucial skill for all beginning sailors. Knots are used on a yacht for very specific purposes and learning to tie them correctly is only part of the skill. You must also understand how and when they are used. Select the correct knot for the job, then practice tying it efficiently and effectively until you have the confidence to get the job done even during unfavorable conditions at sea.
Every sail is not created equally. Some smaller yachts have only one sail, which makes sail selection a breeze. However, larger sailboats have several sails with dozens of different sail configurations. When learning to sail, it’s important to understand the different types of sails and how they are used. For example, if you want to go downwind faster, use a spinnaker. If you are headed upwind, you may want a code zero. In other words, different conditions require different types of sails with different characteristics.
Rigging and sails are closely related, and all are part of a yacht’s overall sail plan. There are dozens of types of sails and literally hundreds of various configurations. A sail rig is the way that the sails are attached to the mast. It is the setup or configuration of the sailboat and consists of the sail and mast hardware. It can get confusing. For example, the shape of sails depends on the rigging, so they overlap a bit. In this article, we will explore the most commonly-used modern sail rigs.
Take the helm, command your own crew, and safely take control of a beautiful modern yacht with the Royal Yacht Association’s most popular course, the RYA Day Skipper Certification. Make the important transition from crew to skipper as you develop practical skills and build your sailing confidence with a fun, informative, 5-day, hands-on course under the safe supervision of qualified instructors.
There are many requirements for the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore certification exam, but the one that offers the biggest challenge for many sailors is compiling the necessary 2,500 miles with at least 50 days at sea. This is especially difficult if you do not own your own boat. While building these crucial miles requires effort, there are many creative ways to accomplish the high mileage mark while also adding tremendous sailing skills to your repertoire. First, you must understand the mileage requirements. Then, you can begin to find creative and safe ways to build the necessary miles.
Learn to sail on the spectacular island of Mallorca to experience ideal sailing weather, stunning scenery, and a rich and vibrant culture — setting the perfect landscape for expert RYA sailing training. Mallorca Sailing Academy offers something for everyone — from beginners getting their first taste of the basics of sailing, to day skippers who want to enhance their RYA skills on the exquisite Mediterranean coastline.
Spain has some of the highest rate sunlight hours in Europe, with the towns and cities lying on the Mediterranean benefiting from the sunshine without suffering from the infamously excessive heat of the Iberian peninsula. All year round, the Mallorcan climate is relatively mild and is therefore suitable for all sorts of outdoor recreational activities like hiking, climbing, ball sports, and, certainly, sailing.
Mallorca is the biggest of Spain’s Balearic Islands in the Mediterranean, accompanied by Ibiza, Menorca, and Formentera. The culturally-rich paradise is a skipper’s dream, offering perfect sailing conditions for most of the year and an abundance of shoreline to trace and explore.
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