Academy is challenging by design, and we expect everyone to come prepared. If you’re worried that your sailing experience may not be enough — or if you’re unsure about your social/leadership skills — we strongly encourage you to apply for Sailing Academy + Skipper Academy. This gives you two full weeks of training before you start working with guests, and greatly increases your chance of passing.
If you don’t pass your Academy week, it’s sometimes possible (depending on availability) to join the following Academy week or enroll in Sailing Academy to gain additional practice before trying again.
From our experience 10% of our students fail, half of those who fail do so because of poor social and communication skills (team leadership, guest management, conflict handling). The other half struggle with docking skills, stress management, and performing under pressure. Both areas are equally important — you need to be able to handle the yacht safely and lead a crew with confidence.
Our advice:
Come well prepared (study, practice sailing, refresh your docking skills).
Be open, social, and ready to show strong leadership and teamwork.
Treat Academy as both a technical test and a real-world leadership challenge.
Passing Academy unlocks your path into a professional career at sea — so give yourself the best possible chance.