When Kory and I started seriously considering living on a boat, we knew we were ill-prepared for the task at hand. There was a lot to learn, and we had very little boating experience beyond the small pleasure craft. We researched different online sailing schools and determined that NauticEd was the best option for us beginners. This enabled us to get shore-side, theoretical training in most of the fundamental sailing skills prior to taking practical training on the Water. NauticEd also has ties to sailing schools all over the world, so we could pair our online education with real-world sailing practice and certifications whenever we were ready to do so.
NauticEd offers two free condensed sailing courses, “Basic Sail Trim” and “Navigation Rules Clinic,” so if you’re unsure whether this is the best training school for you, you can try it out before you buy other courses. Also, you can pay for one course at a time or purchase a package based on your intended goals for sailing.
Thus far, Kory and I have completed a great number of courses through NauticEd. He has a few more courses under his belt than I do, and has been certified as Captain and Bareboat Charter Master. I have been awarded the rankings of Skipper III and Bareboat Charter Master. Here is a list of courses we have taken through NauticEd thus far:
- Basic Sail Trim Course
- Navigation Rules Clinic
- Qualified Crew Member Course
- Maneuvering Under Power Clinic
- Skipper Course
- Bareboat Charter Clinic
- Anchoring a Sailboat Clinic
- Catamaran Sailing Confidence Clinic
- Skipper Small Keel Boat Course
- Coastal Navigation Clinic
- Electronic Navigation Course
- RYA Day Skipper Course
- SLC Examination Course and Test
After taking these theoretical training courses, we were ready for the practical experience. To gain our RYA Day Skipper certificates and our International Certificate of Competency (ICC) License, we completed and passed a 5-day practical training on a the water with an authorized RYA captain, Mark Thompson. Through this training, coupled with an online written examination, we also received our International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC) which is a globally accepted sailing license, preparing the way for voyages around the world.
Both Kory and I highly recommend NauticEd for beginners and advanced sailers, but it is most practical for beginners. The platform of sailing courses is very extensive, the course content is thorough, the interactive teaching animations and technology are great, and the testing (with immediate feedback) is very helpful in assessing understanding and mastery of the content.
The bottom line: to gain comprehensive sailing knowledge and theoretical training, NauticEd’s home study courses are well worth the time and investment (reasonable costs). Their certification is recognized world wide by charter companies and the courses are fun and engaging as well!