Capitana Sea School

Sailing Training

Private Sailing Training and Licensing from Beginner to Advanced
Annapolis, MD | Puerto Rico

Download the NauticEd Student Guide

Upon embarking on this new endeavor, it’s important to know that you’re in good, strong hands and that you’re not alone. And neither are we. Capitana has been able to partner with the most prestigious, comprehensive, and recognized training and certifying body in North America – NauticEd International Boating Education. This means that you get the best of both worlds – recognized certifications and professional on-the-water training.

If you want to learn how to sail or improve your sailing skills, then our courses are right for you. Our courses will guide and get you started whether if you have limited sailing experience or just as a refresher.

About ALL of our Courses:

  • Private and small-group training in Annapolis MD and Puerto Rico. We start with your sailing goals and build upon your experience, providing you with the training you need.
  • Learn practical skills on-the-water with our fully-licensed and professional sailing instructors.
  • Learn knowledge-theory online and at your own pace with NauticEd’s best-in-class eLearning platform.
  • Scheduling and prices vary according to season, location, boat, accommodations, and specifications.

Learn to Sail – Beginner Courses

There are several options to get started in sailing, from a basic skills introduction to crew to learning to skipper a small or large keelboat – near shore – offshore – on your very own sailing vacation in the Caribbean or farther afield.

Introduction to Sailing Course

Learn Sailing Basics Online

With our introduction to sailing program, you will gain an insight into all topics regarding sailing. This course is composed of an online interactive multimedia theory course  (about 2-3 hours) followed by a hands-on practical on-the-water introductory training session. Upon successful completion, you will receive a basic sailing instruction certificate. Our objective is to impart essential basic knowledge for sailing at the beginner level for keelboats 20 ft (6 m) to 25 ft (7.5 m) within approximately 4 hours of on-the-water time or at your own pace – as you wish!

Close haul - point of sail

What you will Learn:

  • Terminology and Communication
  • Parts of the Boat
  • Knots
  • Sailing the Boat
  • Safety on Board

Get started today! Learn more about the Introduction to Sailing Course›

Qualified Crew Member Course

“Knowledge is power” now you can be more than just ballast or UV deck protection. You can be a valuable contributing crew member. You will be more at ease when you know what’s going on, what to do, when to do things, why you are doing things, and that you are able to assist and be responsive in case of an emergency or simply when aboard.

Capitana Sea School crew sailing training

When it’s obvious that you know that a slip is more than an undergarment; it’s also a berth (space) between two piers in the marina to park your boat.

Be a participating qualified crew member on a sailboat from 21 ft to 55 ft (6.5 m to 17 m) with approximately 7 hours of online theory knowledge training plus 7 hours of on-the water training or at your leisure.

What you’ll learn:

We will cover a vast number of topics from anchoring, mooring, weather effects, navigation communications, etc. Learn more about the Qualified Crew Course ›

Skipper Small Keelboat Course

Learn to Sail – Beginner to Advanced

The longing is over, it’s now time to turn your canvas sailing painting into your own reality. Whether you’re a beginner learning the ropes or already experienced and wanting to master your skills, the Skipper Small Keelboat course will work for you. A small keelboat is a sailboat from 18ft to 25 ft usually with an outboard engine. This is not a one size fits all course. Your instructor will personalize the practical training to meet your goals and previous experience.

NauticEd American National Standards
Capitana Small Keelboat Learn to Sail sailing training

This course is designed to give you the confidence and competence to skipper a small sailboat up to 25 ft. We will start you out with an interactive online course to learn the essential theoretical knowledge. Then you’ll get on-the-water training with one of our professional Instructors trained under the American National Standards as set out by the US Coast Guard.

Upon successful completion, you’ll have earned the NauticEd Skipper Small Keelboat Certification which is a certification developed and recognized by the USCG. You’ll have the competence and confidence to safely skipper a small sailboat with your friends and family.

Learn more about the Small Keelboat Course ›

LARGE SAILBOAT, NEAR COASTAL, AND BAREBOAT COURSES

Sailing large sailboats, whether a bareboat charter on a sailing vacation or sailing your own large boat, near coastal and for multiple days requires many skills beyond local sailing. Capitana offers comprehensive training to prepare you to sail and charter anywhere in the world on keelboats and luxurious sailing catamarans. Optionally, we can assess you for the International Sailing License & Credentials (SLC) – accepted by Port Authorities worldwide.

Skipper Large Keelboat Course

Learn to sail large keelboats and near coastal cruising

Ahoy! You’ve come this far don’t stop now that things have just started getting real exciting!

Learning to command a larger sailboat in the 26- 55 foot range means that you have to know more theory knowledge and have greater practical skills. Boats of this size are more complicated, you’re traveling longer distances and perhaps anchoring up in a bay for a night or 10. No worries – we have you covered. The NauticEd Skipper courses are fully comprehensive in theory knowledge and Capitana will spend the necessary time with you to ensure your confidence and competence.

Upon successful completion, you’ll have earned the prestigious NauticEd Skipper Rank certification. After that, we encourage to go practice on your own to gain more experience. Then we recommend that you always come back for a brush-up or to learn more advanced skills.  What we won’t do is give you a certificate and send you off when you are not ready – not confident – not competent. We are here for you!

Capitana Large Keelboat sailing training

An extensive sailing course for beginner to intermediate sailors on keelboats 26 ft (8m) and beyond will also keep your skills buffed with an average of 20 hours.

The Skipper “Large” Keelboat course covers topics such as:

  • Weather and Sea Conditions
  • Sailing
  • Rigging: Standing and Running
  • Communications & Navigation
  • Electrical Systems and Auxiliary Power
  • Coping with Emergencies

Learn more about the Large Keelboat Course ›

Bareboat Charter Master

Learn coastal passage making, chartering, and everything needed to take multi-day sailing vacations.

A Bareboat Charter Master is someone who knows their stuff inside and out. Leading your friends and family on coastal waters for multiple days on a sailing vacation is where you need mastery of knowledge, skills and systems. If you are heading out for a week or so, it is particularly crucial that you have all the skills and knowledge to properly command the vessel. And so, like all our courses, we ensure competence. There is no certificate of attendance with Capitana – we are here to ensure you gain the mastery you certainly need for this type of lifestyle.

The Bareboat Charter Master Certificate goes beyond what is recommended by the USCG to sail a vessel. In addition to appropriate bareboat knowledge and skills we help you gain, a level of experience is also required.

Upon successful completion, you will have earned the NauticEd Bareboat Charter Master certification which is accepted by port authorities and charter companies worldwide. Note that for the Mediterranean and the Seychelles, an additional layer is required which is the SLC sailing license. The bareboat Charter Master Certification is a requirement to gain the SLC.

Capitana Bareboat Charter sailing training

Our Bareboat Charter Master sailing certification requires meaningful experience, comprehensive online course work, on-the-water training and a demonstration of your practical sailing skills. The Bareboat Charter Master course covers topics such as:

  • Beginner to advanced sailing and maneuvering skills
  • Coastal navigation
  • Anchoring
  • Boat management and troubleshooting
  • Bareboat preparation and provisioning
  • And more…

Learn more about the Bareboat Charter Master Course ›

International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC)

Get your SLC license, accepted by Port Authorities worldwide

The International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC) is a recreational sailing license valid for all yacht charter companies worldwide including Europe and the Seychelles.

NauticEd International Sailing License & Credentials SLC

Capitana’s training and assessment help you every step of the way! To gain an SLC, you must achieve the following:

  • Demonstrate (log) sufficient sailing experience in your history (typically 50 days of sailing)
  • Pass the online knowledge-theory courses for Bareboat Charter Master – approximately 40 hours of study
  • Be assessed for and demonstrate the necessary sailing skills and knowledge required by established international standards (we provide training and or just a pure assessment for those already skilled)

Learn more about the SLC License ›

Catamaran Endorsement

Extend your training to Catamarans and luxury adventure sailing

If you ever want to skipper a catamaran for yourself or on a sailing vacation in the Caribbean, Pacific, Mediterranean, or elsewhere: you’ll need to learn how to handle a double-hulled vessel. If you are already experienced on a large monohull, then the cross-over to a catamaran can be as little as one day of training. Whatever you need, we are here to meet your needs and ensure you are competent.

The Catamaran endorsement is an add-on to the Bareboat Charter Master certification. This means that once gained along with the SLC, you will be good to go regarding chartering sailboats and catamarans worldwide. That means ultimate freedom!

Capitana Sailing School Catamaran Sailing Training

When you Skipper your own or a rented Catamaran, you’ll enjoy more comfort, stability of two hulls, speed (Cats are faster!), and dual engine maneuverability along with the freedom to explore your own paths on your own schedule. The Catamaran Endorsement covers topics such as:

  • Aboard your catamaran
  • Essential catamaran tips and techniques
  • Sailing and maneuvering a catamaran
  • Docking, mooring, & anchoring
  • Reefing and heavy weather

Learn more about the Catamaran Endorsement ›

Student Guide for Sailing Training

Download the NauticEd Student Guide
to learn about your global sailing certification