Personalized Sailing Instruction in Vancouver

We provide basic cruising, intermediate and advanced cruising, along with specialized sailing courses in coastal and celestial navigation. 

Our International Yacht Training (IYT) programs include yachtmaster offshore, yachtmaster ocean, and coastal navigation master certifications, along with the international certificate of competency and Cevni for European inshore navigation. 

Train on true bluewater boats, 

the Oyster Heritage 37, a proven round-the-world blue water cruiser, 

the Alberg 37, which recently completed a 20,000 mile Pacific circuit,

 and the Contessa 32, a world-girdling offshore beauty. 

These vessels are not marina boats; they are offshore boats with real ocean history, ready to prepare you for your sailing adventures. 

We deliver sail and power vessels internationally, with recent deliveries including a Leopard 46’ catamaran from Fiji to New Zealand and offshore monohulls across the Pacific, along with private yacht deliveries worldwide. 

Our instructors actively skipper offshore passages, ensuring that your training reflects current, real-world experience, making our sailing courses in Vancouver the perfect choice for aspiring sailors.

Who is this training for

*Beginners who want strong foundations

*Future yacht owners

*offshore passgemakers

*Sailors upgrading to Yachtmaster

*ICC candidates

*Those preparing for extended cruising

If you want more than a weekend sailing experience- we’re built for you

Train locally, sail anywhere

From the Gulf islands to the open Pacific

from GPS to sextant

from first lesson to offshore passage

Great seamanship is rarely self taught

it is passed down

In thre 1960’s. Lars ( Larry ) Hansen, our chief instructor, Lived aboard  a Columbia 40 in San Francisco bay.

Lars was taught passage planning, weather routing, and celestial navigation by  Durand Keifer, an American Naval Admiral- the vessel’s owner.

Durand entrusted the boat to Lars for extended periods, allowing him to sail the California coast and beyond, using the principles that remain foundational to our offshore training today.

After moving to Canada Lars was mentored by Dominique Prinet, at the time the only Celestial Navigtion instructor in Western Canada. Dominique later retired and passed that instructional role to Lars.

This was not simply a course transfer, it was a continuation of a teaching linege leading to the Yachtmaster Ocean certification

Today our training blends:

modernGPS,AIS, 

 radar systems

offshore weather routing principles

traditional paper chart navigation

celestial navigation techniques

Technology enhances seamanship,

it does not replace it

Our instructor team

Lars ( Larry ) Hansen

Raised on the Chesapeake, sailing since childhood, navigating offshore before GPS, Lars assisted in editing the coastal navigation book used by Sail Canada instructors on the Pacific coast, waters known for strong currents, fog, rocks, floating debris, challenging passes, and rapid weather changes. His experience and seamanship were honed over decades And over 20,000 miles offshore

Ben Laird 

.Ben recently completed a Pacific circuit aboard the school’s Alberg 37- a 20,000 mile 2 year voyage from Vancouver to Mexico, Polynesia, the Salomon Islands,Japan, and the Aleutians before returning home.

Vitali Didenko

Vitali sailed from Vancouver to Polynesia aboard a 50’ steel schooner and assists with offshore deliveries

vitali is an electrical engineer

 Sarah White

Masters degree in non destructive technology marine surveying. 

she and her partner Mike have sailed and raced extensively worldwide. 

Pierre Richard

Pierre owns the school’s Contessa 32 berthed in Nanaimo BC

he is an emergency room physician, calm under pressure, practical,and deeply safety oriented.