Yes, there’s plenty of free parking at the marina. It’s not in a locked compound, but a security firm patrols the area and there are plenty of security cameras. Obviously you should take all the usual precautions, such as not leaving valuables on display etc.

Our courses all take place in Tasman Bay, along the coast of the Abel Tasman and/or Golden Bay and/or the Marlborough Sounds. All these areas are very sparsely inhabited, with little or no roads and shops etc. It’s probably best described as a wilderness sailing experience, with all the amazing opportunities and experiences that that provides.

Our courses are all pretty fully packed with covering the syllabus and practicing various skills. However, there is usually time in the evening to chill out for a bit and go ashore in the dinghy.

Although we’re not usually visiting marinas during the week on board, we do carry an inflatable dinghy and we anchor up or take a mooring fairly close to the shore. If you wish to take a trip ashore to the beach then this is possible most evenings.

If you need somewhere to stay just before/after your course then the Harbourside Lodge, which overlooks the marina, is probably one of the most convenient places to stay. Alternatively, Nelson has a wide range of accommodation options to suit all budgets.

There’s a public bus that takes about 25mins to Nelson City centre. It’s then a pleasant 20-minute walk beside the Maitai river to the marina. Alternatively, a taxi ride takes about 10-20 minutes (depending on traffic) from the airport to the marina.

We don’t provide any alcoholic drinks but (although the fridge is quite small) you’re welcome to bring a modest amount with you, in order to have a glass with your dinner.

Yes, we provide all the food for the week and the boat is fully provisioned for the whole week on day one of the course. We get great feedback about our food and can cater for your food preferences and any allergies, with prior warning. Breakfast is typically cereal, fruit, yoghurt, tea, coffee, juice etc. Lunch is a salad lunch/sandwiches, evening dinner is typically a mild curry, stir fry, spaghetti carbonara, spaghetti bolognaise, chilli con-carne, sausage & mash etc. Morning and afternoon snacks are also provided.

None of our courses are simply participation courses. At all levels there’s a syllabus that we follow and there are competencies that you need to demonstrate, in order to get each component of the course signed off. If you’ve read all the information provided on booking your course, and selected the course that’s appropriate for your current experience, knowledge & skill level, then, although it’s never 100% guaranteed, there’s every reason for you to pass. However, we always encourage you to focus on increasing your skills and knowledge and enjoying the week on board above gaining a certificate. Throughout the week your instructor will continue to give you feedback and to discuss with you how things are going and which things you should work on.

Sail Nelson is a sail only Recognised Training Centre. Our courses all cover manoeuvring under power but the certificates we issue are for the operation of sailing vessels with auxiliary engines. 

Coastal Skipper is a 5 day live aboard course for sailors with a reasonable level of existing experience that extends beyond Day Skipper. The certificate is issued to the student by the sailing school Instructor on successful completion of the 5-day course.

Yachtmaster Coastal is a more advanced qualification and the certificate is awarded to a successful candidate by an independent RYA examiner on successful completion of a practical exam.

Yachtmaster Offshore is also an advanced qualification,requiring more sea time to have been completed and a higher level of knowledge & skill than Yachtmaster Coastal. It’s also awarded to a successful candidate by an independent RYA examiner on successful completion of a practical exam.

At Sail Nelson both the Yachtmaster exams are conducted immediately following a 5-day preparation week with one of our instructors. The preparation week is an opportunity to practice for the exam and hone your skills. Not for us to teach you to be a Yachtmaster.

Yachtmaster Ocean is a separate additional qualification that can be gained after you’ve gained Yachtmaster Offshore and have mastered the art of using a sextant and have taken sun sights on an offshore passage. Yachtmaster Ocean is not offered by Sail Nelson.

We’ll send out some joining instructions on this when you sign up for a course. However, clothing just needs to be regular clothing that’s suitable for wearing outdoors, including a warm fleece or similar. If you have your own waterproof clothing then bring that too. Otherwise, we can provide you with some waterproofs. Sail Nelson provide lifejackets/harnesses that are regularly checked and are approved for commercial use.

Sorry, but please keep this for a separate trip. During the week we’ll be busy sailing, navigating and running the boat, so fishing would be a distraction and we’re not set up for dealing with a catch.

Yes. Nights are usually spent on anchor, or on a mooring and we’re usually in a different spot each night. Your accommodation on board and all your food & non-alcoholic drink is included in the price of the course.

Our yachts have 3 separate sleeping cabins and 2 single bunks in the main saloon. We can’t guarantee that you’ll get your own cabin, but you won’t have to share a double bunk with anyone else (unless you arrive as a couple already)

As on all boats, space is limited, so please bring just what you need for the week. This would normally be one small to medium size soft bag (typically 50-70 litres) plus your sleeping bag. Please us a a soft collapsible bag and not a hard suitcase or carry on bag. If you’re travelling and have excess gear that you won’t need on the boat then we can store excess baggage ashore for you.

In theory yes. However, we always recommend that you try to get in some independent sailing to consolidate your learning between courses. Alternatively, you can join us for a skill builder course as a stepping stone to the next level. Everyone learns in a different way and at a different pace, so sometimes (especially if you’ve already gained some experience prior to Competent Crew) it’s fine to go straight from one course to the next. Please get in touch to discuss this, if it’s what you want to do.

No. but Day Skipper & Coastal Skipper have mutually exclusive syllabi, that can’t both be fitted into one week.

No. If you have prior experience, knowledge and skills then you can join the RYA scheme at whichever course level is appropriate for you. Just make sure you’ve checked the advice on our website and/or in the G158 RYA Syllabus/logbook to see where you fit within the scheme.

We will always teach to upskill you regardless of the course you’ve signed up for. Competent Crew and Day Skipper students are often combined on the same boat/week and this works really well. If it becomes clear early on that you’ve picked the wrong course then we can switch you to the appropriate course and issue the relevant certificate at the end of the week.

The Day Skipper course has a very comprehensive syllabus that can be tailored to be quite advanced. We will always upskill you as much as possible, regardless of which level of course you’re taking. Coastal Skipper is more about passage planning, passage making & crew management. It assumes prior knowledge & skills and misses out a lot of things that are covered in the Day Skipper syllabus. So, unless you’re very confident that you’ve already got all the Day Skipper knowledge, skills & experience you should definitely do the Day Skipper course before signing up for Coastal Skipper.

We generally recommend that you go and consolidate your learning with some independent sailing in between all the course levels. It’s like passing your car driving test. Once you’ve passed you should continue to practice and improve your skills. Having said that, depending on your experience level prior to doing the first course it might be possible for you to immediately progress to the next level. This is something that we recommend you discus with us on an individual case basis.

The pre-requisite guidelines on our website for Competent Crew, Day Skipper and Coastal Skipper are exactly that: guidelines. If you’re unsure about which level of course to choose then please get in touch to discuss your specific case, as there is some flexibility.

To take the Day Skipper Practical course there’s an expectation that you have existing knowledge to the level of the RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course. This can be achieved through accumulated experience, independent home study or by completing the Day Skipper Shorebased course, which is probably the most reliable way to gain the requisite knowledge.

Sail Nelson have teamed up with Ardent Training to offer the RYA Shorebased Theory Courses online.

Coastal Skipper is a 5 day live aboard course for sailors with a reasonable level of existing experience that extends beyond Day Skipper. The certificate is issued to the student by the sailing school Instructor on successful completion of the 5-day course.

Yachtmaster Coastal is a more advanced qualification and the certificate is awarded to a successful candidate by an independent RYA examiner on successful completion of a practical exam.

Yachtmaster Offshore is also an advanced qualification,requiring more sea time to have been completed and a higher level of knowledge & skill than Yachtmaster Coastal. It’s also awarded to a successful candidate by an independent RYA examiner on successful completion of a practical exam.

At Sail Nelson both the Yachtmaster exams are conducted immediately following a 5-day preparation week with one of our instructors. The preparation week is an opportunity to practice for the exam and hone your skills. Not for us to teach you to be a Yachtmaster.

Yachtmaster Ocean is a separate additional qualification that can be gained after you’ve gained Yachtmaster Offshore and have mastered the art of using a sextant and have taken sun sights on an offshore passage. Yachtmaster Ocean is not offered by Sail Nelson.

Coastal Skipper is more about passage planning, passage making & crew management. It assumes prior knowledge and skills and misses out a lot of things that are covered in the Day Skipper syllabus. So, unless you’re very confident that you’ve already got all the Day Skipper knowledge, skills & experience you should definitely do the Day Skipper course before signing up for Coastal Skipper. The Day Skipper course has a very comprehensive syllabus that can be tailored to be quite advanced. We will always upskill you as much as possible, regardless of which level of course you’re taking.

Absolutely yes. For the operation of vessels afloat, RYA certification is probably the most recognised and highly respected certification scheme there is worldwide.

The sailing community, in general, is probably one of the most welcoming communities there is and sailors around the globe share a common interest. It’s perfectly normal for yachtsmen & women to introduce themselves to sailors they’ve never met before or yacht clubs they’re visiting for the first time. More often than not you will be welcomed into a local sailing community and given an opportunity to crew for someone and go sailing. You just have to ask!

Worldwide, probably the most universally accepted certificate for commercial operation is the RYA Yachtmaster Offshore Certificate with commercial endorsement. However, some jurisdictions (including New Zealand) also require additional local commercial certificates to be held.

It usually takes many years to achieve this and part of the journey will often include working through the RYA Cruising Scheme Syllabus, starting with the Competent Crew course and finishing with a Yachtmaster Preparation week, immediately prior to the practical exam. The Yachtmaster exam is carried out by an examiner who’s independent of the sailing school. It’s an endorsement that a skipper is very experienced and has a high degree of knowledge and skill, including crew management.