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Live aboard a Catalina 34 and learn coastal seamanship on a 5-day course out of Carleton‑sur‑Mer. Hands-on watches, navigation theory and the chance to earn Voile Canada’s elementary cruising brevet make this an ideal step toward confident coastal cruising.
Live aboard a Catalina 34 and learn coastal seamanship on a 5-day course out of Carleton‑sur‑Mer. Hands-on watches, navigation theory and the chance to earn Voile Canada’s elementary cruising brevet make this an ideal step toward confident coastal cruising.
Book with Voile Aventure Gaspésie
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Operated by Voile Aventure Gaspésie · Carleton-sur-Mer, Québec
On a five-day, four-night cruising course out of Carleton‑sur‑Mer, Voile Aventure Gaspésie turns the fundamentals of seamanship into a lived-in skillset. Located on the southwest shore of the Baie des Chaleurs on the Gaspé Peninsula in Québec, the program places trainees aboard a roomy Catalina 34, sleeping on board each night while moving between anchorages and marinas.
The course is built around hands‑on practice: sail and engine maneuvers, docking, anchoring, sail trim, weather interpretation, navigation rules and safety procedures. Groups of four or five rotate through roles as skipper and crew for watches, which accelerates learning under real conditions. Practical drills are complemented by theory covering Canadian regulations, meteorology and seamanship. Successful students may qualify for the brevet de voile croisière élémentaire de Voile Canada after passing the required exam and logging their hours.
What makes this trip special is the setting. Carleton‑sur‑Mer fronts the sheltered Baie des Chaleurs, where a glacially scoured shoreline meets folded Appalachian bedrock, steep cliffs and low islands. Expect close coastal passages past spruce-and-birch shorelines, rocky ledges dusted with lichen, sea stacks and narrow inlets that feel private. Marine life is frequent: harbor seals haul out on ledges, porpoises and minke whales surface offshore, and bald eagles and cormorants ride the thermals and currents.
The Catalina 34 provides a comfortable classroom: two double cabins and a broad 12‑foot beam make life aboard easy during the course’s moving anchorages. Included items—onboard accommodation, required safety gear (PFDs, harnesses and tethers) and fuel—let the group focus on learning; bring your own bedding and personal foul weather gear. Note the $1,599 CAD tuition plus taxes and a 30% deposit to reserve a berth; for questions call 514-616-7288 before booking. Meeting is at Voile Aventure Gaspésie.
Beyond certification, this week teaches how to plan coastal cruises on the Gaspé, read local tides, and make prudent go/no‑go decisions. It’s ideal for sailors who want to progress from day sailing to coastal passages with confidence. As an operator, Voile Aventure Gaspésie plugs students into the local maritime fabric: instructors draw on regional knowledge of anchorages, prevailing winds and port etiquette, so graduates leave with both skills and a map of favorite routes. For anyone aiming to skip the shore and learn to lead from the cockpit, this course offers focused training in an uncompromisingly beautiful maritime classroom.
moderate.
5 days / 4 nights.
Moderate — expect short bursts of physical work (winching, lines, climbing in/out of dinghy) and the ability to move on a heeling deck.
No prior certification is required; the course is designed for beginners and intermediates seeking foundational cruising skills.
No; participants must bring a sleeping bag and pillow as bedding is not included.
Yes. Depending on performance and exam results, students can obtain the brevet de voile croisière élémentaire de Voile Canada if they meet the requirements.
Accommodation aboard, safety equipment (PFDs, harnesses, tethers) and fuel are included. Food, personal gear and possible marina fees are not included.
A 30% deposit is required to confirm your place; the full booking process is handled through the operator’s reservation link or by contacting them directly.
For questions before booking call 514-616-7288 as noted in the course description.
The Gaspé coast has a long maritime heritage of coastal fishing and small-port navigation; local instructors pass on traditional route knowledge alongside modern seamanship.
Respect marine wildlife by keeping distance from haul-outs and whale sightings, minimize single-use plastics aboard, and follow local mooring and anchoring guidelines to protect eelgrass beds.
Voile Aventure Gaspésie is a sailing school and training operator based in Carleton-sur-Mer, Québec. The business offers hands-on, liveaboard courses aboard a spacious Catalina 34 that focus on navigation, safety, maneuvering, anchoring, and passage planning. Trips run in the Baie-des-Chaleurs and surrounding gulf waters, and include short introductions, refinement stages, elementary multi-day cruises, intermediate cruises, and an extended twelve-day advanced or intermediate program scheduled 20–31 July 2026. Each experience emphasizes on-deck practice: participants sleep aboard, move between ports or anchorages, and apply seamanship skills in real conditions. Instruction covers daytime and night sailing, watchkeeping, helming, and emergency procedures, preparing participants to navigate coastal waters confidently and to qualify for basic sailing licenses where applicable. All courses use the Catalina 34 platform to ensure consistent training and an authentic cruising experience. Voile Aventure Gaspésie operates from Carleton-sur-Mer, providing direct access to island routes, sheltered bays, and local cruising areas. The format suits new sailors seeking foundational skills, crew members improving techniques, and experienced skippers refining specific competencies. Booking is by reservation with specified dates for the twelve-day July 2026 voyage; travelers can choose courses matched to skill level, reserve a berth, and receive detailed pre-departure information and local travel guidance available.
Book with Voile Aventure Gaspésie