Private Sailing Lessons in the SF Bay Area

Learn to Sail Faster, Safer, and with More Confidence.  Your Personal Instructor, Your Boat, Your Pace.

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Stop waiting your turn in a crowded group class. At Passage Nautical, we offer the only one-on-one private sailing lessons in the San Francisco Bay Area. Our unique approach cuts your learning time in half and builds true, lasting competence on the water. Ready to become a confident sailor?

Get Your Personal Lesson Plan

The Problem with Traditional Group Sailing Lessons

Traditional “weekend warrior” courses pack you into a classroom and then onto a crowded boat. This leads to common frustrations:

  • Wasted Time: Half your paid time is spent in a classroom, not on the water.

  • Slowest-Student Pace: You only learn as fast as the least experienced person on board.

  • Lack of Helm Time: You spend more time watching than actually sailing the boat.

  • Hidden Costs: You pay for the course, club dues, and then high rental fees just to practice.

There is a better way.

The Private Lesson Advantage: Master Sailing in Half the Time

Imagine learning on your own private yacht with an expert instructor dedicated 100% to you. That’s our method. It’s faster, more effective, and ultimately, a better value.

  • 100% On-the-Water Training: Your paid time is spent sailing, not in a stuffy classroom. We use a world-class online curriculum for theory, which you can complete at your leisure.

  • Personalized Curriculum: We start where you are. Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced sailor needing to master a specific skill, your lessons are tailored to your goals.

  • Maximum Helm Time: You are always sailing, trimming, and docking. You build muscle memory and real-world skills from your very first hour.

  • Total Flexibility: We schedule lessons around your life, not a rigid class schedule.

  • No Hidden Fees: No monthly club dues. Just expert instruction that gets you competent and confident, faster than any other school.

Getting Started Package

How It Works: Your 3-Step Path to Sailing Competence

  1. Free Sailing Goal Assessment: Start with our quick  Boating Lesson Questionnaire  or a 15-minute call. We’ll learn about your experience and what you want to achieve, then design a personalized plan.

  2. Online Theory with NauticEd: Complete your classroom learning online with the world’s most advanced sailing curriculum, recognized by the US Coast Guard. Learn at your own pace, anytime, anywhere.

  3. Private On-the-Water Instruction: This is where the magic happens. You and your private instructor head out on the Bay to apply your knowledge with hands-on, expert coaching.

Have Questions?
Call us directly at 510-236-2633 or email us at [email protected]. We’re happy to chat about your sailing goals.

What Our Students Say… 

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Check Out Our Private Boating Club – Training Included

Are you looking for a sailing experience where you can boat as much as you want for a low monthly fee? And your training is included! Check out our Nautical Access Sailing Club. 

Lessons & Certifications

8-Hour (2-days) Private Intensive Skill Building or Competent Crew

This 1-day course is a great choice for either:

  • Skill building intensive based on the area where you need to improve skills
  • Competent Crew skill building course so you can be an onboard asset

In the intensive lessons, the focus is on your area of interest and where you need the most coaching to grow your competency.  

You move at your own pace and the entire experience in customized so your goals are met in the timeframe.

24 Hour (4-day) Introductory Thru Intermediate Private Lessons

Our 24-hour course is perfect for beginners and experienced alike who are looking to focus on advancing existing slkill set.  Private lessons allow you to focus on honing specific skills, from sail handling to close quarter manuevering under power. Private lessons allow you the flexibilty to schedule them on your time – weekedns or weekdays.

Training is adapted to your learning style so you can fast track to greater skill sets faster and be boating on your own in no time.

We customize the curriculum to take you where you want to go.  The custom focus of the lessons creates a rich learning environment and increased retention.

SLC – International Sailing License On-The-Water Practical

To charter a yacht  in the Mediterranean, Seychelles and almost anywhere in the world these days, requires an international sailing license. The licenses vary based on which country you want to charter in, but the most widely accepted and convenient credential to obtain for US Sailors is the NauticEd International Sailing License and Credentials (SLC).

We issue the SLC ithrough NauticEd and it is valid for all yacht charter companies worldwide. As a NauticEd school, we help you obtain this valuable credential.

The NauticEd SLC is relatively easy to obtain.  To gain an SLC, you need to pass the NauticEd online theory courses for bareboat chartering and demonstrate sailing skills according to established standards.

Contact us about getting started today!