Do I need prior sailing experience?

No prior experience is required; the five-day course teaches basic navigation, manoeuvres, and safety, though comfort on a moving boat helps.

What is included in the price?

Accommodation aboard the Catalina 34, safety equipment (PFDs, harnesses), and fuel are included; food, bedding, and marina fees are not.

How do I reserve or ask questions before booking?

Call the operator at 514-616-7288 for questions before booking, as noted in the course description.

Who is teaching the course?

The listing name indicates the session is run with Marie-Edith; the meeting point is Voile Aventure Gaspésie.

Are meals provided on board?

No—participants are expected to bring and organize food for the trip; provisioning is also treated as a hands-on learning exercise.

Five-Day Sailing Course in Carleton-sur-Mer: Catalina 34 Liveaboard Training | Sailing | Workshop

Q: Can this lead to certification?

Yes—depending on your performance and logbook, the course can contribute toward the Voile Canada Croisière élémentaire brevet; theoretical exam must be passed within 12 months per the course notes.

Carleton-sur-Mer, on the south shore of the Gaspé Peninsula facing Baie des Chaleurs, is the starting point for a concentrated, hands-on five-day sailing course aboard a roomy Catalina 34. Croisière élémentaire 5 jours (avec Marie-Edith) runs in a life‑aboard format: four nights sleeping on the boat, moving each evening to a new anchorage or marina, practicing the skills that turn curious weekend sailors into confident skippers. The course is built around practical repetition. In a small group of four or five trainees you’ll rotate through helming, sail handling, mooring, anchoring, and basic engine maneuvers under the guidance of the instructor. Classroom moments cover rules of the road, weather interpretation, safety gear, and the essentials of matelotage; practical sessions turn theory into logbook entries and, for qualified students, can fulfill requirements toward the Voile Canada Croisière élémentaire brevet. The Catalina 34 used for training has two double cabins and a 12-foot beam, comfortable enough to host up to seven but sized for intensive hands-on learning. The local sailing grounds are part of what makes this trip exceptional. Baie des Chaleurs offers protected coves, scattered islands, and working harbors where you’ll practice close-quarters handling and reading tidal currents. Along the route expect rocky headlands, mixed forest shorelines, and small coastal communities—landmarks that make navigation lessons concrete and immediate. You’ll learn how to choose anchorages, plan passages between marinas, and secure the boat when weather or schedules demand. Practical benefits are clear: accommodation is included on board, safety equipment and fuel are provided, and the concentrated schedule makes efficient use of time for those traveling to the region. You’ll need to bring food, bedding, and personal foul‑weather gear; meals are a crew effort that doubles as informal instruction in provisioning and galley logistics. This program suits someone ready to commit five days to focused training, whether stepping up from day-sailing or beginning an extended cruising path. It’s a local operation rooted in Carleton-sur-Mer—Voile Aventure Gaspésie is the meeting point—and the liveaboard format offers an authentic taste of coastal voyage planning, seamanship, and small-boat leadership. By the end of the week you’ll have practical experience, a fuller logbook, and the confidence to plan your own multi-day coastal trips in the Gaspé and beyond. Cost is $499 plus taxes per person; full payment confirms your berth and part of the fee supports an Écovoile youth sailing camp for disadvantaged children, tying the course to local community work. Booking instructions and pre-course details are provided by email after registration; questions are handled by phone at the number listed in the course notes. Whether your goal is certification or simply to gain confident crew skills, this five-day liveaboard compresses a season’s learning into a navigable itinerary today.