Do I need prior sailing experience?

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.

Can I earn a certification?

Yes. Depending on performance and exam results, students can obtain the brevet de voile croisière élémentaire de Voile Canada if they meet the requirements.

What is included in the price?

Accommodation aboard, safety equipment (PFDs, harnesses, tethers) and fuel are included. Food, personal gear and possible marina fees are not included.

How do I reserve a spot?

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.

Who do I contact with questions before booking?

For questions before booking call 514-616-7288 as noted in the course description.

Carleton-sur-Mer Coastal Sailing: 5-Day Liveaboard Cruising Course & Certification | Sailing | Workshop

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.