The Iberian Sea School is an RYA Motor Cruising School to see the school's certificate of recognition click here

Each motor cruiser has a unique personality and each merits sympathetic operation. Even the most talented skippers find their boat handling improves with better technique.

It is amazing the number of owners and skippers stuck on their own in marinas because nobody wants to go to sea with them any more. My goal is to help you to become that marvellous thing, a capable and personable skipper, who manoeuvres a motor cruiser with ease and panache, utterly reliable in a crisis and a pleasure to be at sea with at all times.

I not only offer all the official courses in the Royal Yachting Association syllabus (shown below) but also Marina boat handling is a particular specialty. In just a day, I can transform your ability from ‘just average’ to ‘deeply impressive’. I thoroughly enjoy this work. It is very satisfying to see my clients now able to handle their own boat with confidence and style - in what previously was a difficult berthing situation.

My function is to guide owners and skippers into understanding what is important and what is not. Motor Cruising is fun and it is all about 'style' and 'panache'!! But without proper training a motor cruiser or power boat in the wrong hands can be extremely dangerous, much of my training is about safety as well as driving the boat effectively in a marina and at speed out at sea.

The Iberian Sea School offers all the RYA tidal Practical Motor Cruising Courses for which RYA Course Completion certificates will be issued. Courses can take place either in your own boat or in a boat supplied by The Iberian Sea school as shown below.

Day Skipper in your boat The first day of a 5 day course will be spent studying theory in my classroom near Vilamoura. The next four days will be spent using your motor cruiser practising marina boat handling, high speed navigation exercises at sea visiting a different marina or harbour everyday. I have a maximum of 4 people on these courses.  If you have done an RYA theory course in the last 3 years, you will only need to do the 4 practical days.

Day Skipper using The Iberian Sea School's Sunseeker Portofino 53 based at Vilamoura Marina or the school's Cranchi Endurance 41 based at Lagos Marina.  The first day of a five day course is spent in the school's classroom at Olhos de Agua near Vilamoura. The next four practical days involve marina boat handling exercises in Vilamoura or Lagos Marina, and high speed navigational exercises visiting various other harbours and marinas along the coast. I have a maximum of 4 people on these courses. If you have done an RYA theory course at any time over the last 3 years, then you will only need to do the four practical days of these 5 day courses.

To read a full length article about The Iberian Sea School's Day Skipper courses click here

Coastal Skipper can be taken either in your boat or the schools Sunseeker Portofino 53 or Cranchi Endurance 41.  It is assumed that clients will have completed the RYA shorebased Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster Offshore theory course.  The course will be over a total of 5 days and will involve marina boat handling exercises and navigation at sea making coastal passages visiting a different harbour or marina every day. 

Please email me on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or telephone me on 00 351 965 800702 for dates when I am available for an RYA course on your own boat.

RYA MOTOR CRUISING COURSES

Helmsman’s Course: Syllabus – Types of Craft - Engines and Drives - Engine Operation and Maintainance - Safety and Seamanship - Rules of the Road - Boat Preparation and Boat Handling - Securing to a Buoy - Berthing Alongside - Man Overboard.

Day Skipper: Syllabus – Preparation for Sea – Boat Handling – Navigation - GPS – Pilotage – Passage Making – Meteorology – Rules of the Road – Engines – Emergency Situations – Night Cruising.

Coastal Skipper: Syllabus – Passage Planning – Preparation for Sea – Pilotage – Passage making and ability as Skipper – Radar – GPS - Boat Handling – Adverse Weather Conditions.

Course Duration: Helmsman’s Course 2 days, Day Skipper 5 days (unless unless an RYA theory course has been completed during the last 3 years in which case 4 days, Coastal Skipper 5 days

Traditional navigation is learnt thoroughly first, then electronic navigation later

Bob Ball navigating using tradition techniques on board his Sunseeker Manhattan

Whilst GPS has taken all the stress out of navigation, it has also taken some of the excitement and most of the feeling of achievement when making a landfall close to a planned destination as a result of traditional navigation. And, whilst our GPS equipment is extremely reliable, we are totally dependant upon the American government (they could switch the entire system off for a period). We are also reliant on our vessel's electrical systems which in a salt water environment are notoriously fickle, and with just a small problem can leave us with no GPS.  I recently heard of a skipper of a 60 foot motor cruiser who - while cruising in the eastern Mediterranean - was unable to read his chart plotter positioned on the fly bridge because of very bright sunlight. He had no knowledge of traditional navigation, no charts or pilot books on board and despite having land on either side of him was completely lost. A telephone call to a friend in England did not help him find his position, but eventually a local naval vessel guided him to his destination.

Approximately 30 hours of a five day Day Skipper or ICC course will be spent learning and practising traditional navigation. After which if you should ever for any reason loose your GPS signal you can be certain of having the expertise required to reach your planned destination. 

4 / 5 DAY RYA DAY SKIPPER COURSES AND 5 DAY COASTAL SKIPPER COURSES ON 'SO PARA TI' A SUNSEEKER PORTOFINO 53 OR ON 'LADY AMBER' A CRANCHI ENDURANCE 41.

For details of the schools Sunseeker Portofino 53's accommodation, engines, fuel capacity and speed click here.

For information on how to book a course go to 'Booking Information' in the main menu (above left). 

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT 'SO PARA TI' INCLUDING DETAILS OF SKIPPERED CHARTER GO TO:  http://www.justcharters.com/

For details of Lady Amber's accomodation, engines, navigational equipment and several photograph's click here.

Lady Amber is also available for skippered charter, for more details go to:  http://www.all-boat-trips.com