Yachting courses near Cape Town
Learn to sail a yacht at sea in False Bay, from Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club, about 50 minutes from Cape Town. Our keelboat courses are hands-on yachting courses: four 2-day levels that take you from complete beginner to the Competent Crew qualification.
You sail our Sadler 26 and L26 keelboats with a qualified instructor, following the World Sailing curriculum. Each level costs R1,895 per person, and the skills you show are signed off on your certificate of competence.
Family discount: 10% off the third and each further family member booked onto the same course.
Key facts
SA Sailing Academy runs yachting courses near Cape Town from Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club in False Bay: four keelboat levels of 2 days each, at R1,895 per person per level, which together earn the Competent Crew qualification.
- Price: R1,895 per person per level (R7,580 for all four levels)
- Length: 4 levels of 2 days each, with two 3-hour sessions of theory and practical sailing a day
- Qualification: Completing Levels 1 to 4 earns the Competent Crew qualification
- Experience needed: None for Level 1
- Venue: Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club, False Bay, about 50 minutes from Cape Town on the N2
- Boats: Sadler 26 and L26 keelboats
- Curriculum: World Sailing curriculum, taught by certified instructors, with a certificate of competence
- Safety: Life jackets and safety equipment provided; you need to be able to stay afloat
- Booking: 60% deposit to book; balance due 7 days before the course
From beginner to Competent Crew
Each level builds on the one before, so you book them one at a time. Most people spread the four levels over a few months.
| Level | What you learn | Length and price |
|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Safety, reading the wind, tacking, winches and knots | 2 days, R1,895 |
| Level 2 | Docking, moorings and man overboard under motor; gybing and heaving to | 2 days, R1,895 |
| Level 3 | Moorings, man overboard and anchoring under sail; reefing and changing the foresail | 2 days, R1,895 |
| Level 4 | Boat speed, sail trim and an introduction to racing; completes Competent Crew | 2 days, R1,895 |
| Race training | Levels 1 and 2, for sailors who have finished Level 4 | 2 days each, R2,195 |
Prefer one-to-one? Private keelboat lessons cost R3,495 for a day, and young sailors can join the 3-day youth keelboat course (R2,495).
Thinking of a life on the water?
SA Sailing Academy is run by its founder Neil Ashton, a Sailing Instructor Developer with over 50 years of sailing and coaching experience. Since 2012 we have trained more than 5,000 students, and many of our students and instructors have gone on to make a career of sailing, skippering yachts at venues around the world or instructing locally and abroad.
Competent Crew gives you real time at the helm and on deck at sea. If you have a bigger goal in mind, tell us about it and we will help you plan the next step.
Upcoming Keelboat Level 1 dates
Start here if you are new to yachts. Choose a date and pay a 60% deposit to hold your place.
14/11/2026 – 15/11/2026 R1,895 per person · R1,137 deposit to book
13/02/2027 – 14/02/2027 R1,895 per person · R1,137 deposit to book
17/04/2027 – 18/04/2027 R1,895 per person · R1,137 deposit to book
Good to know
Is a keelboat course the same as a yachting course?
Yes. A keelboat is a sailing yacht with a weighted keel underneath. Our Sadler 26 and L26 keelboats are 26-foot yachts, and you learn to sail them at sea in False Bay.
How long does it take to earn Competent Crew?
Four levels of 2 days each, so 8 days on the water. You take one level at a time, and each level builds on the one before.
How much does a yachting course cost?
Each keelboat level costs R1,895 per person, so all four levels to Competent Crew cost R7,580. Book three or more family members onto the same course and the third and each further person gets 10% off.
Do I need any sailing experience?
No. Level 1 is for complete beginners and anyone new to keelboats.
Can I do the course as day trips from Cape Town?
Yes. Gordon’s Bay Yacht Club is about 50 minutes from the city centre on the N2 outside peak traffic, so you can drive out each morning.
Is the course accredited?
Yes. Our courses are accredited and taught to the World Sailing curriculum by certified instructors, and you earn a certificate of competence for the skills you show.
What should I bring?
A waterproof, windproof jacket or a wetsuit, layers you can add or remove as the wind changes, dry clothes for afterwards and something warm for the club deck.
Kit, payment and swimming questions are also covered on our sailing course FAQ page.