Docking & Maneuvering
Masterclass
Eliminate marina stress.
Essential skills for mooring, anchoring, and tight maneuvers.
Confidence in Close Quarters
Navigating the open sea is pure joy, but entering a crowded marina can be a skipper’s nightmare.
This course bridges the gap between sailing theory and the practical reality of maneuvering a vessel in tight spaces. We replace stress with technique, ensuring your next charter is memorable for the right reasons.
What You Will Master
Docking & Mooring Mechanics
✓ Stern-to Mooring: Master the classic
"Med Mooring" into tight boxes.
✓ Lazy Lines: Handle slime lines without fouling the propeller.
✓ Shore Lines: Techniques for tying land lines to rocks or trees.
✓ Mooring Buoys: Approach and secure the buoy on the first try.
✓ Anchoring: Selecting the spot and setting the hook properly.
✓ Alongside: Smooth approaches for fuel docks and concrete walls.
✓ Bow-to: Strategies for docking in shallow port areas.
⚙️ Advanced Boat Handling
True mastery comes from understanding how your vessel reacts to wind, current, and propeller forces. We refine your touch on the throttle and wheel so you can maneuver confidently even without bow thrusters.
✓ Prop Walk: How to use the "prop kick" to your advantage.
✓ Springing Off: escaping tight spots using spring lines.
✓ Holding Station: Keeping the boat still in wind without anchoring.
✓ Tight Turns: Maneuvering and turning the boat 360º in narrow channels.
Anchoring & Seamanship
A complete sailor must be as competent at anchor as they are at the dock. We cover the essential skills needed to secure your boat in open water and plan safe passages.
✓ Anchoring Techniques: Selecting the right spot, scope calculation, and ensuring the anchor holds.
✓ Mooring Buoys: Stress-free procedures for catching and securing heavy mooring buoys.
✓ Navigation & Weather: interpreting forecasts and charts to make smart "Go/No-Go" decisions.
Take Command & Invest in Safety
By the end of this week, you won't just know the theory—you will feel the boat.
We ensure you leave with the muscle memory, the mindset, and the proven skills required to skipper your own vessel safely anywhere in the world.
Moreover, consider this a direct investment in your peace of mind.
A single scratch on a charter boat can often cost more than this entire course. Avoid expensive mistakes and insurance claims, and sail with the confidence that only true competence can provide.
ESSENTIAL MEDITERRANEAN MANEUVERS
Precision Handling in Tight Spaces
Alongside docking
Side-To & Fuel Dock Tactics
The most stressful moment of the week: Friday afternoon at the fuel dock. Tight spaces, strong currents, impatient queues, and spectators. Our Method: We drill the "Ferry Gliding" approach and the precise use of the mid-ship spring line.
You will learn to use the engine's torque to "walk" the boat sideways into a gap barely larger than your hull, stepping off calmly without jumping or shouting.
Med Mooring
Stern-To (Lazy Lines mooring)
The standard Adriatic park. Reversing into a narrow slot between expensive yachts, often with a crosswind trying to blow your bow onto the neighbor's anchor chain. Our Method: We teach you to calculate the vector of wind vs. prop walk. You will master the "Lazy Line" handling (without fouling the prop) and anchor chain calculus. We focus on rudder positioning and throttle bursts to keep the bow straight, ensuring you dock with geometric precision every time.
Anchoring Ashore lines
Long Lines & Shore Anchoring
In the Kornati islands and secluded bays, you anchor deep and tie long lines to rocks or trees. A mistake here means a wrapped propeller or a boat drifting onto the rocks at night. Our Method: We practice the dinghy triangulation technique. You will learn how to approach the shore safely, the correct knots for rocks (that do not damage nature), and how to tension the lines to withstand the changing thermal winds of the Croatian night.
Reality Check
Docking is not about luck. It is about momentum management and preparation.
We train until your hands know exactly what to do before your brain has time to panic.
Time & Location
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Duration: 7 Days (Sat-Sat)
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Check-in: Saturday, 17:00
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Check-out: Saturday, 09:00
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Base: D-Marin Dalmacija, Sukošan (Pier A)
Private Accommodation
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Occupancy: Single Occupancy
(1 Person per Cabin). -
Couples: Double bed available only upon request for couples.
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Privacy: No sharing with strangers.
Requirements
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Experience: Previous sailing experience required.
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License: International Bareboat Skipper recommended (but not mandatory if experienced).
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Health: Fit for active maneuvering.
PREMIUM ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE
We keep the pricing simple and transparent.
Your investment covers the yacht charter, fuel for intensive practice, marina fees, and
full comprehensive insurance—allowing you to learn without financial risk.
INCLUDED
✓ 7 Days Onboard a Modern Sailing Yacht (Private Cabin)
✓ Professional Instructor.
✓ Unlimited Fuel & Final Cleaning (Zero extra fees).
✓ All Marina & Anchoring Fees (High cost coverage).
✓ National Park Tickets (Kornati & Krka)
✓ Full Comprehensive Insurance (Zero liability for scratches or damages)
✓ Daily Breakfast & Light Lunch (Prepared onboard)
✓ All Tourist Taxes
✓ Exclusive Welcome Kit
What is Extra
✓ Dinners ashore & Alcoholic beverages
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
WHY SHOULD I TAKE THIS COURSE IF I ALREADY HAVE A LICENSE?
A license proves you know the rules; this masterclass ensures you can handle the boat. Most sailing courses focus on open-water navigation, leaving docking—the most stressful part of sailing—as a secondary topic. Our course focuses 100% on close-quarters maneuvering. It is the best investment you can make to avoid expensive insurance claims and the "marina audience" stress during your summer charters.
DO I NEED TO PAY FOR DAMAGES IF I MAKE A MISTAKE DURING TRAINING?
No. Our Premium All-Inclusive package includes full comprehensive insurance with zero liability for our students. We want you to push your limits and practice difficult maneuvers in a safe, risk-free environment. This "financial safety net" allows you to focus entirely on building muscle memory and confidence without the fear of damaging the yacht.
WHAT IS THE SPECIFIC FOCUS OF THE "MED MOORING" TRAINING?
Mediterranean mooring (stern-to) is a high-precision skill. We teach you how to account for prop walk, windage, and current. You will master the coordination between throttle and wheel, how to handle "lazy lines" without fouling the propeller, and how to use spring lines to depart safely from tight spots where the wind is pinning you against the dock.
WILL WE PRACTICE WITHOUT BOW THRUSTERS?
Yes. While our modern yachts are equipped with them, we believe true mastery comes from maneuvering the boat using only the engine, rudder, and lines. We teach you how to use the "prop kick" to your advantage. Once you can dock a 46-foot yacht without a bow thruster, using one becomes a simple convenience rather than a necessity for safety.
IS THIS COURSE SUITABLE FOR CATAMARAN OWNERS?
While this specific masterclass is conducted on a high-performance monohull (Beneteau First 44), the principles of momentum, windage, and line handling are universal. However, if you are looking for twin-engine specific maneuvers, we recommend our dedicated Catamaran Training or a Private Training session.
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ON THE BOAT?
We keep our groups small to ensure maximum time at the helm for every student. We typically limit the course to a maximum of 4 students. With our "Private Cabin" guarantee, you have your own space to rest after intensive days of maneuvering, ensuring you are sharp and focused for every session.