To see the RYA certificate of recognition for The Iberian Sea School to run Sail Cruising courses click here

The Iberian Sea School (Martin Northey) offers the complete range of RYA Sail Cruising Courses from Lagos Marina in the western Algarve – Portugal.  I use Sueste 1 a Beneteau Oceanis 43, for information about Sueste 1 click here.   I do all the instructing myself, so you can be certain of getting the very best tuition.

Courses for people booking as individuals:  Because many of my courses are tailor made to suit the needs of my clients, it is best if clients email me with their requirements so that I can reply with dates that I have available and prices.

Courses for Groups:  Clients can book as a group & charter Sueste 1; this way, they can be enjoy a 5 day course with family or friends.

Own Boat Tuition:  I find that many of my clients who already own a boat actually prefer to have instruction on their own yacht.

RYA Course Completion Certificates:  Providing you have completed every part of the syllabus of each of the courses shown below, you will receive an RYA course completion certificate.

Introduction to Sailing – Duration 1 day.  This course is a gentle introduction to sailing for people who have never sailed before.  It will be an enjoyable day with instruction on how to coil up a rope, tie knots, how to use a winch, steer the boat, adjust the sails and assist in anchoring.

Competent Crew – Duration 5 days. This course is suitable for complete beginners & people with just a little experience of sailing with friends.  You will learn every aspect of basic seamanship which will include nautical knots, steering the yacht, reefing, safety, how to use distress flares, the correct way to use a winch etc etc. You will also go on an enjoyable cruise, visiting new places throughout the course.  By the end of the course you will be a useful & competent crew member.

Day Skipper – Duration 5 days. Suitable only for people have either already got some sailing experience or have completed a competent crew course. Whilst it is not a pre course requirement you will get much more out of this course if you have previously completed an RYA Day Skipper Shorebased course. On this course you will sail at least 100 miles exploring the Algarve coast, you will be navigating the yacht and learning all about sail trim, weather, man overboard, engine checks, pilotage, collision regulations & night sailing. By the end of the course you will be confident enough and proficient to skipper a yacht on coastal passages during the day.

Coastal Skipper – Duration 5 days. This is a much more advanced course and will consolidate everything that you have learnt so far plus add a lot more to your experience and knowledge.  It is essential that you first complete the RYA Coastal Skipper / Yachtmaster shore based course in order to get the most out of this practical course. On this course you will skipper the yacht for long coastal passages during the day and night. You will learn how to use all the yachts electronic navigational equipment including the GPS chart plotter. You will also attain a high level of competence in traditional navigation. You can if you wish take the RYA Yachtmaster (Coastal) Practical exam on the last day of this course.

Yachtmaster (Offshore) Exam Preparation course – Duration 5 days with the exam on the last day - click here for more information.

Where will you go on your RYA Course? - The RYA encourage sailing schools to go on a proper cruise on courses, the Algarve could not be a better place to do exactly that. For more information on cruising in the Algarve click here, and to see my article specifically on the Guadiana river by clicking here. Whilst there may not be time to go as far as the Guadiana, we will definately go to Ria Formosa just 40 miles to the east of Lagos, to read an article that I have written about Ria Formosa click here.

Itinerary - 5 day courses start at 8 pm on Sunday and finish at 5 pm on Friday. Lunch and breakfast are supplied every day, dinner is provided on board only on Monday evening. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings we eat ashore. Food in Algarve restaurants is excellent and costs between 7.50 euros and 12 euros for a main course. 

Frequency of courses - As will have been realised if you have looked at the menu above &  to the left, I also offer Motor Cruising and Powerboat courses and am generally booked up fairly consistently with these courses, so I am not able to offer sailing courses every week. To be sure of sailing with me when you would like to please enquire well in advance. If none of the dates shown below are suitable please telephone me or email as I may be able to alter my itinerary to suit your requirements, if I am unable to offer you a course when you would like to do one, I will recommend other schools in the Algarve where you will also receive very good instruction.

Sail Cruising Courses for 2010

Please note: All the courses shown below actually start at 8 pm on the day before the start date shown in the list below.  

April 19th to 23rd
October 4th to 8th
October 18th to 22nd
November 1st to 5th
November 15th to 19th
November 29th to December 3rd
December 13th to 17th


I have a maximum of 4 people on these courses & when courses are fully booked they will be deleted from the list above.

For course prices & any other information on courses please telephone 00 351 965800702 or send an email to: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Booking - For instructions on how to book a course click here.

Joining instructions - Will be sent to clients with an email receipt for payment in full. A 25% deposit is required on booking and the balance required 28 days before the start of the course.

References - I have been teaching sailing now for more than 25 years, to read the views of some people who have received instruction from me click here to go to my Yachtmaster training page and scroll down. I also have a page called 'Sail Cruising with ex students' where you can read all about the cruising experinces of some of the people who have learnt to sail with me.

Sueste 1 can be chartered with or without a skipper directly from All Boat Trips. for a day, a weekend or a whole week - for more information click here.

Prodigal Daughter can also be bareboat chartered for more information clik here.