Sunsail – Experience levels

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Determining Your Experience Level

Before you set sail,  it's important to determine what experience level you feel comfortable with. Cruising areas vary in terms of wind strength and sailing conditions, which can change from season to season.

You can use this as a rough guide, but to decide which cruising areas best match your experience, just email us or give us a call. We'll be happy to walk through your sailing history with you and recommend the best places for you to enjoy.

What experience do I need?
Based on our experience guide, you need to have sailed on a similar sized boat, within about 5 to 7 feet. Based on the type of sailing conditions you're used to (i.e. body of water, tidal vs. non-tidal, long or short distances, etc.), we'll help you pick the best destination for you.

Wind conditions
Wind strengths/direction shown within this website are those typically encountered during the sailing season. Please bear in mind that even in a Level 1 areas there is always the possibility of strong winds on occasion so please use this information for guidance only.

Anchoring and mooring
Our local base staff are more than happy to advise on local mooring and berthing practices. They will be delighted to refresh you on a particular mooring technique if you're a little out of practice. If you feel you need a little more help, you can book a skipper for your first day.

LEVEL 1
You will require a minimum of:

• 5 days or 100 miles as skipper or an equivalent yacht

Weather - 5-10 knots
Navigation: Line -of -sight sailing, basic knowledge of charts, able to plot your position
Anchor/Mooring: Primarily mooring buoys, areas of good holding for anchors, protected anchorages

LEVEL 2
You will require a minimum of one of the following:

• 10 days or 200 miles as skipper on an equivalent yacht
• RYA Day Skipper qualification
• ICC qualification

Weather: 10-20 knots
Navigation: Understand tidal flow, ability to navigate in open waters
Anchor/Mooring: Primarily anchoring, protected anchorages, Mediterranean style anchoring and or marina slips.
LEVEL 3
You will require a minimum of one of the following:

• 20 days or 400 miles on an equivalent yacht
• RYA Day Skipper qualification with experience to a higher level
• RYA Coastal skipper qualification
• ICC qualification with experience to a higher level

Weather: 10-20 knots
Navigation: Understand large tidal variations, cope with strong currents and be able to make a passage plan.
Anchor/Mooring: Primarily anchoring




*ICC or equivalent required.