Beginner Cruise & Learn

Just Add Water

No experience required!

Enjoy 5-days of practice docking, navigating, and vessels under sail and power. Designed to teach anyone who is just starting their boating adventures as skipper or crew, this course is perfect for first-time boaters or those who have been away from the water for a while. Savor and take in the BC coast while learning to sail under the guidance of an experienced instructor.

GROUP COURSE
SAIL: $2,750 per-person
POWER: $3,300 per-person

Or bring your family and friends and enjoy a PRIVATE COURSE on your schedule, choosing your own boat, and customized instruction.

“Days were filled with the exhilaration of sailing, wonderful scenery, interesting new places to visit and the tranquility of mooring in quiet harbours and coves.” Reidun Eggen for THE PROVINCE newspaper

Learning is the Gateway to Having Fun on the Water

Getting Down to Details

No experience required – but if you have some, our instructors will challenge you at whatever level of skill you bring to the course.

Participants will receive their theory materials in advance and join us on a 5-day/5-night liveaboard course.

GROUP COURSE

  • Pricing includes: food, fuel, moorage, study materials, and instruction aboard a fully-appointed sailing vessel between 30-40′
  • Preparation includes theory study materials (received in advance to ensure preparation prior to arrival)
  • Course dates are published on our Calendar
  • Preboard the night before at 1600 p.m. so you can settle in and get ready for a full first day
  • Course begins at 0900 on the first day and ends at 1300 on the last day (disembarking the vessel is 1400)
  • Participants are expected to work together as crew on all cooking, cleaning, and other boat maintenance tasks

 

PRIVATE COURSES are available for groups of family or friends who want to choose their own dates, boats, or seek more 1:1 time with their instructor. On a private course – you choose your own provisions, decide where to go with your skipper, and control how many times you choose to be on the docks or at anchor. Pricing is ala carte – simply choose your boat and we will customize the experience for you. Costs for private courses are not necessarily more expensive, they simply allow more freedom.

 

For more information about group or private courses, email us at school@cooperboating.com.

 

GROUP COURSE participants will pursue:

  1. Competent Crew, Day Skipper and/or Sail Canada Basic Cruising Standard; AND
  2. PCOC (Pleasure Craft Operator’s Card)

 

PRIVATE COURSE participants may pursue the following:

  • Day Skipper and/or Sail Canada Intermediate Cruising Standard: $200
  • On-Board Coastal Navigation (Day Skipper Candidates Only): $250
  • Competent Crew or Basic Cruising Standard with PCOC: $200

GROUP COURSE PRICING INCLUDES:

  • Class Instruction
  • Study Materials
  • PCOC
  • Choice of Competent Crew or Day Skipper or Sail Canada Basic Cruising Standard Certification
  • Accommodation
  • Fuel & Moorage Fees
  • Meals Aboard

 

PARTICIPANTS SEEKING CERTIFICATION:  Theory materials will be mailed in advance for preparation prior to boarding.

GROUP COURSE PARTICIPANTS: Appropriate Sailing Attire & Transport To/From the Starting Base

PRIVATE COURSE PARTICIPANTS:  Private clients are responsible for the costs of all food (including for the skipper), fuel, moorage, and any certifications desired.

 

  • sail trim and basic sail theory
  • boat handling – under sail & power
  • basic boat systems and auxiliary motors
  • fundamental navigation
  • essentials of  weather
  • emergency preparedness
  • crew overboard training (under power and sail)

INTERMEDIATE CRUISE AND LEARN: With the rudiments of boat handling in hand, and once you take our VHF and Navigation Clinics, you are ready to enhance and expand your skills and experience on our INTERMEDIATE CRUISE & LEARN so that you are comfortable and capable to bareboat skipper and handle larger vessels for longer periods of time. Check it out for your next adventure!

CLINICS: If you are looking to further your ability to navigate safely and professionally on the water, and are wanting to take the next steps in your cruising certification, we have a number of clinics that you will need to take here at Cooper Boating. We have clinics for VHF/ROC(M)COASTAL NAVIGATIONDOCKING, DIESEL ENGINES, and more.

Full payment is due at the time of registration.  Cancellations made 61+ days prior to the course start date will be subject to a 30% plus tax cancellation fee. The remainder will be refunded via the original method of payment. Cancellations made less than 61 days prior to the course start date are ineligible for a refund. We cannot accept any changes less than 61 days prior to the course start date.

All participants in training programs must be COVID-19 negative upon arrival to our facilities and be willing to submit to a COVID-19 test upon request.

COURSES MAY BE CANCELED IF CLASS SIZE DOES NOT MEET MINIMUM ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU PURCHASE MEDICAL AND CANCELLATION INSURANCE FOR YOUR PEACE OF MIND. BEGIN WITH YOUR FAVOURITE TRAVEL AGENT.

Welcome Aboard!

Beginner Cruise & Learn

Just Add Water

Starting From

$3850

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Upcoming courses

Whether you seek training in Canada with Cooper Boating or south of the border in Bellingham, WA with NW Explorations, here’s a look at the many training opportunities available.

For more information, email us at:

British Columbiaschool@cooperboating.com
Washington Statetraining@nwexplorations.com 

TRAINING & EVENT CALENDAR – 2022/2023

 

 

Oct 3 & 5

Oct 13

Oct 18

Oct 21

VHF/ROC(M) (Classroom) – Vancouver

Bay Skipper 1 – Vancouver

Coastal Navigation (Classroom) – Vancouver

Basic Power – Vancouver

November 19

VHF/ROC(M) – Online (Register by November 7)

January 9 & 16

VHF/ROC(M) – Online (Register by December 23, 2022)

March 2, 4, 5

March 9, 11, 12

March 10, 11, 12

March 25-31

Day Sail – Crew Course – Vancouver

Day Sail – Bay Skipper – Vancouver

Basic Power – Vancouver

Beginner Crew & Skipper Cruise & Learn – Sidney

April 8-10

April 9-10

April 9-10

April 9-10

April 13, 15, 16

April 14, 15, 16

April 13-17

April 15-17

April 20, 22, 23

April 22-24

April 27-May 1

April 21-28

April 23-May 3

3-day Power Boat Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

2023 Charter Client Check-Ride Weekend – Sidney

Refresher Weekend – Sidney

Docking Clinic – Sidney

Day Sail – Crew Course – Vancouver

Basic Power – Vancouver

5-day Power Boat Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

3-day Women on the Water Power Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

Day Sail – Bay Skipper – Vancouver

3-day Power Boat Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

5-day Power Boat Course – Bellingham with NW Exploration

Beginner Crew & Skipper Cruise & Learn – Sidney

10-day Advanced Sail – Sidney

May 4, 6, 7

May 4-8

May 6-8

May 6-8

May 6-13

May 7-8

May 7-8

May 7-8

May 11, 13, 14

May 12, 13, 14

May 13-15

May 18, 19, 20

May 18-22

May 20-22

May 20-22 

May 25-29

May 25, 27, 28

May 25-June 1

May 27-29

Day Sail – Crew Course – Vancouver

5-day Power Boat – Bellingham with NW Explorations

3-day Women on the Water Power Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

3-day Power Boat Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

Beginner Crew & Skipper Cruise & Learn (Sail) – Sidney

2023 Charter Client – Check-Ride Weekend – Vancouver

Refresher Weekend – Vancouver

Docking Clinic (Power & Sail) – Vancouver

Day Sail – Bay Skipper – Vancouver

Basic Power – Vancouver

3-day Power Boat – Bellingham with NW Explorations

Day Sail – Crew Course – Vancouver

5-day Power Boat – Bellingham with NW Explorations

3-day Women on the Water Power Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

3-day Power Boat – Bellingham with NW Explorations

5-day Powerboat – Bellingham with NW Explorations

Day Sail – Bay Skipper – Vancouver

Beginner Crew & Skipper Cruise & Learn (Sail & Power)- Sidney

3-day Power Boat Course – Bellingham with NW Explorations

Sept. 29–Oct. 6

10-day Advanced Sail – Vancouver