Learning to Handle a Boat | Sea School
If you want to learn to sail or handle a motor boat , then what better place to do than on the Algarve ? You may not need to obtain qualifications in the UK to take out a sailing or motor boat , but in Portugal as in other European countries , it is a requirement to have the necessary competency certificate .
There are a number of sailing schools on the Algarve , and one of the first to be started was by Martin Northey , who founded the first RYA ( Royal Yachting Association ) sea school in Portugal over seventeen years ago . He now runs the Iberian Sea School at Olhos de Agua near Vilamoura , where he offers both sailing , power boat and motor cruiser courses . Most of Martin ’ s clients come from the UK . Some live full time in Portugal , some have holiday homes and some come out just for the course .
“ Many of the people , who live here , will use their own boat to learn on , which I much prefer ” says Martin . “ People need to do a competent crew course , a day skipper course and a day skipper practical course to be able to take out a boat in sheltered waters . That ’ s three 5-day courses , although some people choose to do the practical course on-line ”. Once they have the relevant certificate , they can of course use it anywhere in the world .
“ In Portugal , the sea is not rough and we are protected from the Atlantic swell , but you do need to know how to navigate . It ’ s a huge expanse of sea – not like the Solent between the south coast of England and the Isle of Wight , where many people learn to sail . There used to be a much bigger demand for motor boat courses , but that is changing because the cost of fuel has gone up so much . I have a client who came to me in 2009 and did a three day motor boat course giving him an ICC certificate ( International Certificate of Competence ) for Powerboat Level 2 . Now he wants to take his ICC for sail ” he says .
Martin offers a variety of sailing courses from a two day Start Yachting course , which is a gentle introduction to sailing for people who have never sailed before to a 5 day Competent Crew course , which is suitable for complete beginners and people with just a little experience of sailing with friends . The latter costs € 598 , which includes an evening meal on the first night . The rest of the time they go out for their meals , with the client paying his or her own way . “ They stay on the boat for five days and I give them breakfast too . We often get couples , which is nice ” says Martin .
Robert Harris has been running Algarve Boat Courses , which is based in Lagos , for the last 5 years . He teaches people how to handle jet skis , small speed boats and motor cruisers . For an introductory two day power boat course , with a maximum of three students , he charges € 395 . This includes the boat , the course , fuel and certificate . “ You don ’ t need to have any experience to do this course . I sometimes try to persuade a client to do the course in three days , as it gives them more time to do a bit more . With this Level 2 certificate , you will be able to charter a boat and get started . I focus on teaching the basic skills , how to moor up the boat in a marina and basic safety skills , such as man overboard ” he says .
“ In Portugal , the sea is not rough and we are protected from the Atlantic swell , but you do need to know how to navigate . It ’ s a huge expanse of sea .”
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