Women at the Helm - Courses

WOMEN AT THE HELM is both a training concept in a supportive learning environment created by our female instructors to foster women’s sailing skills and an Apprenticeship Program we developed to encourage women to either begin or further their careers in the blue economy.

Female-only courses and events at all levels offer a powerful opportunity to build on your sailing and marine skills with other like-minded women.  

We have programs for everyone!   From the full spectrum of RYA courses to technical workshops, to joining us in Caribbean or Italy for Regattas as part of all-female crews, to Atlantic Crossings….  Simply as a fun one/multiple day cruise, or retreat-style vacation with your girlfriends, either in the Caribbean or in the Med. 

Women-specific courses lend themselves to a cooperative learning environment in which everyone is welcome to take on all roles equally.  Our Women at the Helm courses cover the same syllabus as our coed courses, with the same technical skills and theory, we go to the same anchorages and marinas, sail on the same boats, and face the same weather. We just do it with a different mindset and company.  The confidence you will gain will allow you grow from being member of the crew all the way to becoming a qualified (even professional) skipper, as we simply make the learning process easier by sharing the challenges with your female teammates.

All our Women at the Helm events are led by our experienced female skippers, providing you the opportunity to not only learn alongside other women, but to learn directly from accomplished female instructors and mentors. We love to teach other girls and women how to make the most of their time on the water.

We are often asked, why should I join Women at the Helm?  …well, why not?

Men and women are different, and we have different strengths and weaknesses, which are only amplified in an environment that can be physically demanding such as sailing. When you share the same challenges due to body size and relative strength, it becomes easier to be equal on board and to collaborate to find solutions.

Note: women-only courses can be ideal for many sailors, but we understand that many women prefer coed trips, so you can choose both styles of program – and we will always support the individual needs of our course participants.

As part of our Women at the Helm program, we also provide the opportunity for women to learn alongside their partners.

Our tailored sessions are designed for partners seeking to refine their teamwork dynamics, particularly in areas like boat handling and docking — common stress points for many. During the training we specialize in working with couples who just need a bit of fine-tuning to enhance their onboard collaboration to make future sailing as enjoyable as possible.

We offer one-day or two-day workshops aimed at improving docking techniques and Man Overboard maneuvers, providing a targeted solution for couples seeking specific enhancements in their on-board teamwork and communication.

These sessions are flexible and can be held on your personal sailboat, whether it’s a smaller monohull or a larger catamaran, or you can join us aboard one of our vessels for practical instructional experiences.

Moreover, whether you sail double-handed or as part of a larger crew, we’re here to help you address scenarios involving emergencies. Our goal is to ensure everyone is equipped to perform at their best in critical situations, if they ever about to happen.

These special sessions, unless requested otherwise, are usually led by one of our amazing female instructors.

FOLLOW US ALSO ON FACEBOOK – https://www.facebook.com/Womenathelm