IYT, recognized worldwide...

Professional trainers
Challenging cruising area
Tropical climate
Broad range of yachts
Affordable prices

The perfect yacht training ground...

The IYT yacht training program has something for everyone, whether you're just starting to look at the idea of learning to sail or you're a capable captain looking to gain an accreditation that will allow you to sail in different locations all around the world.

Gulf Charters Thailand offers three recreational level sailing courses; Crew, Watchkeeper and Bareboat skipper certificates. In addition we offer our alumni a comprehensive mile-builder program that gives ongoing access to opportunities to build real ocean cruising experience (see below for details).

Our training area includes the entire coastline stretching 120nm from Pattaya down to the Ko Chang Archipelago which includes over 50 palm tree lined tropical islands. The climate is warm; the water is clean and clear, perfect conditions to learn to how to sail. The area is not without its challenges, just north of our Pattaya cruising ground is Laemchabung Port, Thailand's main deep sea port, from there we can head into the Bangkok Bite. This is an excellent opportunity to navigate through congested waterways gaining first hand experience of international water buoying, lighting and the need to exercise your new found knowledge and understand the rules of the road.

Being a yacht charter company, Gulf Charters is able to offer our students the opportunity it experience sailing across a broad spectrum of yachts from 25ft sport racing yachts, midsize cruising keelboats to 52ft world cruising catamarans.

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Crew Certificate...

The first course of Crew certificate assumes you know nothing about sailing and the aim of the course is to teach you how a boat works, how the designer takes care of stability, how the sails work, what the bits are called, the tasks normally performed by the crew, the commands they are given and what actions are required to be done by the crew when so commanded. There is not so much navigation, planning, safety consideration etc. The aim is that you understand what the skipper is doing but not necessarily why he is doing it.

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Watchkeeper Certificate...

The watchkeeper is a course which is much more involved in planning the passage, briefing the crew, problems that you may encounter and how to deal with them, maritime law in risk of collision, light recognition, collision avoidance, heavy weather tactics, safe anchorage, first aid, etc. The aim is that you understand all that needs to be done before you depart, during the passage and berthing the boat at its destination.

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Bareboat Captain certificate...

The skipper course is more about seamanship skills and thinking the passage out. Lots about tides and currents unforeseen dangers and the considerations you have to take into account, navigation, fixes and plotting, handling in difficult conditions, weather forecasting and understanding met, passage planning - pilotage, more on collision avoidance, lights etc and application. The bare boat captain certification allows you to charter yachts all over the world and is recognized by all major yacht companies such as Sunsail and the Moorings.

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Mile builders, experience is everything...

Gulf charters relocates its yachts regularly between its bases in Pattaya and Ko Chang, an overnight voyage of some 130nm of offshore sailing. In addition we take on international yacht deliveries in and around Asia and sometimes as far a field as Europe and America. Gulf charters offers its sailing school alumni the opportunity to participate in the these deliveries to build sea miles and confidence with the benefit of having an experienced and professional captain on board.

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