Beginner
IYT International Crew
A practical entry-level certificate for becoming a capable crew member.
Training routes
Day Sails x 5
2-3 Weekends
5-Day Intensive
Learn to Sail in Squamish
Sailing lessons and courses in Howe Sound: beginner-friendly, hands-on, and taught with calm, expert instruction.
At a glance
IYT
International Certification
Small groups
high-attention instruction
Sailing Courses
Day, Weekend, 5-Day, Private
Sailing course formats
Choose your sailing course
Day Sail
A hands-on sailing day in Howe Sound. Learn the basics and take part in sailing the boat.
Details
Weekend Course
A practical two-day liveaboard course. Build practical skills, explore Howe Sound, and experience life onboard.
Details
5-Day Intensive
Focused training for faster progress. Best if you want immersive training and IYT certification.
Details
Private Training
Bespoke, high-attention instruction tailored to your goals. Available on your boat or ours.
Details
A single sailing day in Howe Sound.
Join a fun, hands-on day sail in Howe Sound and learn the basics!
No experience required.
Take a single day as a taster, or combine 5+ days towards the IYT International Crew certification.
- You’ll learn and practice the essentials of sailing — steering, sail handling, mooring, ropework, nautical terminology, and safety drills — all from the perspective of a crew member.
- Great for complete or progressing beginners, locals, couples, friends, and anyone who has always wanted to try sailing.
Build your skills over a liveaboard weekend.
Take one weekend as a skill-builder, or combine weekends into a structured pathway toward IYT International Crew or IYT International Bareboat Skipper certification.
- Build confidence as a crew, or work towards your skipper’s license.
- Best for local students who want steady progression over several weekends.
- Great when you want structured learning without taking a full week away.
5 Day Liveaboard course
An immersive liveaboard training format for students who want focused progress in one block and earn an internationally recognized certificate.
- During the course, we will cover the entire syllabus to help you become a confident crew member, or take your skills to a skippering confidence.
- Best for students working toward IYT International Crew or IYT International Bareboat Skipper certification.
- Typical itinerary takes us beyond Howe Sound across the Strait of Georgia and into Gulf Islands.
Private Training
Bespoke, high-attention instruction tailored to your goals. Private training is available on your boat or ours for owners, families, and sailors with specific goals.
Train on your own boat, anywhere in BC, or abroad.
Or train on our boat, based in Squamish, BC.
Ideal if you:
- want to increase confidence in your skills
- want to take your family sailing, but you are unsure whether teaching them yourself is the right choice
- are an experienced skipper seeking focused coaching (docking, heavy weather, passage planning, emergencies, advanced sailing skills, instructor exam preparations, yachtmaster exam preparation)
- are buying or chartering a boat and want to build safe habits from day one
- would like to earn an internationally recognized certificate
About Patrik, your instructor
Hi, I’m Patrik,
Patrik Lindr · sailing instructor
Student testimonial
“It’s one thing to be an expert but entirely another to translate that into great teaching skills.
Patrik is one of those rare gems that do both. Calm but firm, he pushes you to do your best. Top-notch through and through.”
I am a sailing instructor with over 40,000 nautical miles as skipper and instructor, and more than 750 sailors coached across Europe and Canada.
I deliver first-class sailing instruction, either as bespoke private tuition, or as scheduled small-group certification courses.
With absolute attention to your individual needs, I help new sailors, boat owners, families, and aspiring or experienced skippers alike push their sailing envelope further and get the most out of their time on the water.
My teaching style is calm, practical, and focused on helping you become genuinely competent – not just collect a certificate.
I’ve been teaching sailing full-time for the past decade and hold some of the highest teaching qualifications in sailing, including IYT Recreational Instructor, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor & Cruising Instructor Trainer, and MCA Master 200gt.
Many of my students – from complete beginners to Yachtmaster and Instructor level – have gone on to incredible adventures and professional careers of their own.
40,000+
nautical miles
750+
sailors coached
10+
years teaching
Qualifications
IYT
Recreational Instructor
RYA
Yachtmaster Instructor & Cruising Instructor Trainer
MCA
Master 200gt, Yachtmaster Offshore
Training vessel
Tarka of Orwell
Tarka is a Vancouver 32 cruising yacht: offshore capable, carefully maintained, and well suited to hands-on training.
IYT certification
Earn internationally recognized IYT certificates.
We provide official sailing certification through IYT (International Yacht Training) programmes including:
Intermediate
IYT International Bareboat Skipper
For sailors building toward skippering and bareboat charter readiness.
Training routes
5-Day Intensive
3 Weekends
International Charter
International Certificate of Competence – ICC
For sailors preparing for chartering in Europe and the Mediterranean.
Usually paired with
Bareboat Skipper
Advanced IYT and Yachtmaster-level training
by inquiry
To avoid any confusion, please note that YMC is not an RYA Training Centre (RTC).
Learn more about certifications, prerequisites, and what they enable you to do